Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-01-10
Policy Of The Government.

It seams very plausible to say, ''Let
slaves be dealt with the same as other
property in the hands of rebels, and let all
property in the hands of men st war
against the Government be confscated at
once" 1t is also asked, Why should any
difference be made in favor of slave prop
erty? No doubt, to thousands of honest
minds these propositions reach to the bot
tom Of the subject. Without in the least
doubling that our anti-slavery sympathies
and sentiments are quite as deep and wide
as those of our neighbors. we candidly
confess that our reason is not fully satisfied
with the above view. We are not quite
sure that, in the nature and relations of
the case. there is not something which
makes difference relating to slave prop
erty on account of which the administra-
ton may we'll hesitate, before applying
the same rule indiscriminately to both
species of property. To conGscate all the
horses, and cattle, and merchandise, &c.
&c &C., of the rebels will not tend to
destroy the value of the same classes of
property in the hands of loyal men. On
the other hand, to coniscate the slaves of
the rebels. either by law or military meas
ures, could scarce fail 20 destroy all prop
erty in man throughout the country. But
would not such result cause rejoicing in
every good heart Undoubtedly, so far
as justice and humanity, and Divine Law
are concerned, nothing could be more
gratifying than such an end to slavery,
and, perchance too, by such means. But,
unfor unatcly, our country has long stood
upon ground very different from either JUS
tee, humanity, or the Divine Law. Our
constitution, our federal Government, and
our comfy as states, have been based up
on gigantic oppression Of our fellow man,
upon towering and Heaven defying injus-
tlce and upon the doctrine of devils ill.,
stead Of Gods. The moment the country
inundated large class of human beings
as body and soul offering to the cupid
ty, lust, and ambition of another class,
that moment, all our talk of love Of Free
dom, of justice and righteousness, became
the most m nstrous hypocrisy and det,st-
able phariseeism under heaven, and so it
has been, and our whole civil polity has
ever been the greatest, political and IN
tellectual monstrosity this side the bot
tomIess pit. And now reader, it is such
government that Mr. Lincoln was elect
ed aud inauguratsd to administer, and up
on such basis. only. can he, as President,
act, until revolution shall have changed
the country and Government, The con-
stitution gives loyal shareholders rights, or
wrongs, involving that the war shall be ESQ
far as consistent with its Objects carried
on in a manner as little detrimental to
their favorite institution and property, as
to the institutions and property of the
Northern States. This we know involves
that, if possible. slavery shall remain statu
quo. MIR Lincoln, having accepted the
Presidency of such compact cannot do
otherwise than enter in the spirit and let
ter of the Institution; as much as into the
spirit and letter of northern interests
How then can he avoid doing just as he
does? When satisfied that the rebellion
cannot be put down without conf: eating
the slaves, he must and will confscate
thcm-not before. To expect Mr.. Lin
coin to act like a christian man, while ad-
ministering our unchristan pro-slavery
government, would be about as reasonable
as to expect a christian to sit down upon
Satan's throne and administer his males
tvs laws, and remain christian while so
doing. No sensible man will ever class chris
tianity, or justice or righteousness, with
any person. governmenment or law, which
tolerates or upholds slavery. No christian
can obey the laws, much less administer
them, so long as they require him to help
the STAKEHOLDER rescue his slave.
A president who administers the gov
eminent according to its spirit, cannot do
as we are told Lincoln should do, namely {:
Let slavery take care OF itself. He must
symnathize with shareholders, for the gov
ernmen:, constitution and Laws certainly
do this. We are in bad fix, "carnal,
sold under sin, and it is time we were re-
deemed and regenerated Whether it
will be done by the war, the future must
disclose.
THE HEIGHT OF MEANNESs AFTER
taking a paper months, or years, to re-
turn it through the Post Office unpaid for,
marked Refused. "-EIchuage.
Not only is it "neanness' but worse
than robbery. The highwayman is gen
tIeman 10 such man. Some publishers
are publishing the names of such scamPs,