The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-07-02
~ the Lsnsing 1spab lican.
Cause 0oa CuDos

reat rebellios. The slavery propasandists. des-
airing Of obtaiaing farther concessions By threats
nd bluster, determined on IN appeal to arms
easoning il this wise ION the issue Of slave.
= exteusion We have been beaten. 1t il not
,alatable to the North, even if disguised -
. popular sovereignty" pin The election Of
Lincoln means just this: The Free North ~iH
Lase ~ more Of it. True, We can be protected
n individual rights 70 within State limits; but
his will not answer. We want room-ths Dor |
Ter States are becoming rapidly united for |
lave labor. and must take their place a. slave |
breeding localities. II We can obtain the abso-
late control Of the fertile southwest plains, our
social system viii prosper, and our political i'm
portancs BE- maintained.
We have President and Cabinet favorable to
our views. Our long cherished plan Of separa-
ton, can now be matursd. We can, throu Oh
those in Official position Who sympathize with US,
deprive the North Of the means necessary for Of
fensive operations. Their shirs-of.war are At
tached to the Pacific, Mediterranean and Afr-
can Coast squadrons. Their army 10 small, and
our friends 1t the North will discourage enlist
ments They will not sustain the President in q
var Of subjugasion. We will sppear in force at
the very doors Of the Capitol; We will compel
an agreement 70 . treaty, which, while it &C.
knovledges our independence, shall secure to Us
the Government property within our limits. and
guaranty usmolested possession Of the territor!
We much need. Our plans shall be 90 veil ma
tured, our action 90 prompt that the North
must yield. We will open our forts, free to the
commerce Of the world. Our ministers shall
present our claims to distinct nationality in for
eign courts, and thus, without bloodshed, We
will quietly set up for ourselves.
So much for the cause Of our rebellion-now
for the cure, and how 10 apply it.
| As sIavery extensions WAS the cause, it follows
- logical sequence that the abolition Of slave
~ is the only remedy. certain class OF North
erp politicians will dispute this proposition, and
evince decided symtsns of hydrophobia at the
mention of il. Rave away, gentleman; you, and
vsur Southern associates have been trying to
tinker this Slavery questio. for twenty years.
A higher power thaa yours now holds il. lie
has dscreed that this war shall wither the hith-
srto strong arm of it's Political power, and that
in the process Of time, even it, name shall be
forgotten.
But how? The sceptical Democrat laughs in
credslously-"y you can't do it." The ardent
earnest Republican, more fsrveut than wise
ave ,ls' '.-p.. ..A~~e. iii rA.vo1--a MT apnreci
he issue an edict Of emancipation Why dom
you, ~ inpulsve friend, fly 70 the moon simp
ly because you can't, nor can the President over
ride constitutional provisions. II the question
q 70 the legal acts Of the President, under tn,
exercise Of the war power, was clear, it woul(
be . grave inquiry whether . sweeping decla
ration Of general emancipation, would be exact
y the thing At this stage of the disease; bat, Al
experiment 10 now in successful operation on The
ceast Of South CarolinA, Georgia and Flerida
which in the opinion OF one whs has carefully
investigated the Whole subject, solves the prob
lem.
Some Of the finest plantations in the Ssutt
are situate in the localities above mentioned
Some we're deserted through fear of the "Yaa
kees,"; the prspristors Of others were warned
off by proclamation from the rebel Governor
that they "woald b considered a. traitors to
the Confederate Government" If, after given
date, they (the owners) we're found in pesses
sion.
Thaaa plantations are now under tho vv.srv
of agents appointed By, and responsible to, the
Government Of the United States. They have
inaugurated paid system of negro labor.
have visited several Of these agents, and 6nt
the following to be facts: The number o
''hands" worked, vary frem 200 to 500. They
are paid from % to $l3 per month, and are IN
der the control Of . white overseer, ian intelli
gent asricslsurist) The improvement on the
old system 10 especially manifest in two particu
lars. Fret, in the amount of work performed
and again, in the labor saving means and appli
ances introduced BY the agents, aud the vel
stocked libraries Of agricultural works, where,
before. such thing a. intelligent treatise wa
unknown.
In lieu of the old fashioned hoe, weighing two
pousds. with an ''eye" three inches in diameter
We have the light goose neck" And instead
Of plough cumbersome and unwieldy, We find
the neat, tidy article that boy can easily man.
age. Pages might be filed in describing the
benefits accruins from the new system.
Now, without considering tie inhuman and
barbarous atrocities pervading the old system Of
compulsory labor, it must be ackuow lodged that
the new regime has, in An economical point Of
view, isnsuerable advantages. The negroes
are we'll fed, well clothed, we'll worked and rork
we'll. They do not fear the lash, nor do they
look for forced sale at auction resulting in the
separation Of faniliss. Among them are intelli-
gent men. capable Of approaching the value of
oil Improvements in the culture of Southern pro.
ductiOns. They are not machines nov.
Hew will this state OF Affairs effect the institu-
ton! So soon - the superiority of Northern
arms ID prsvss, and the rebel States compelled
to submit to the Constitution and the laws, the
former occupants Of these plantations will return.
Where they left system Of labor aimless and
to great extent Improbable, they will find
new and an improved one. Labor, directed BY
an active and intelligent miad-labor, which.
while it enriches the pocket, leaves the con-
science clear. They cansos fail to appreciate
the many benefits arising from the new order of
things.
Thus do we look for the abolition of slavery.
Not BY edict Of President or proclamation of
Geaeral, but BY the SILENT effective operation of
. system Of psid labor, csngenial to the cline,
profitable to the planter, honorable to al con
aAAA \ q