Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-08-28

owners fair price for their slaves If we act
now, before protraoted contest has exhausted
our resources, yes. II we wait the termina-
ton Of a three or four years war, very certain
ly, not. In that price deportation must not be
estimated. The south asserts that negro slaves
are indispensable to her. That is only so far
true, that she does absolutely need hired negro
workmen, and ought to be deprived of them.
Her agriculture would, for time, be ruined
without them. But no good man desires set
tlement under which any section of our country
would be even temporarily ruined.
Nor can ii be doubted tina, the south, how
ever strong her prejudices and traditions in
favor Of owning her laborers, has herself been
brought by the pers of the war, to think Sc.
riously cf change Of system as the only means
left her to obtain aid and comfort from, Europe.
Nor can all her leaders be wholly blind to the
fact that such change of system would ad-
vance, in the end beyond calculation, her ma
terial prosperity.
Suppose declaration, TO the effect that the
government, urged by the necessity of self
preservation, takes, at fair valuation the
slave property of the south Will such a dec
laration cause negro insurrection and indis
crminate assassination of whites throughout
the slave states? The result, so far, has clearly
shown that the negro, mild and long suffering,
Ulu OlNtl dlluClftU W HIS ONIeT, IS lllIlt NlS-
posed to resist under an organization of his
own. Once assured of freedom, he will grad
ualy join our cause-tlat is all. He can then
be hired aborer or soldier, as may seem fit
payment being made for him if his master
proves to be loyal, and his services being con-
fiscated if these are due to a rebel. In all this
we are clearly in our right.
Look now at the question i'll It's foreign as
peci, under the chances of European interven-
ton. BE those chances great or small, inter-
vention may occur, and that ere long. If it
occur, its character will chiefly depend upon
what shall have been the antecedent action of
our government in regard to slavery. If, pre-
viously to such intervention, we shall have is
sued u general declaration of emancipation,
then we shall stand before Europe as the cham
pions of human liberty, while our enemiss will
be regarded as the advocates of human servi-
tude. Public opinion in England, in France,
and throughout Europe generally, will then
prevent the respective governments from inter-
venng, except it be in our favor. No Euro
pean government can place itself in the attitude
OF slavery protector.
If, on the contrary, we shall have left the is
sue as it now stan Is, our policy indicated only
by the coniiscation act not broadly and boldly
announced, and more especially it the south,
vi SAVING lbStltulioiI,
comedies, at the price of foreign recognition
and support, voluntary system of gradual
mancipaton-not at all an unlikely move
then the sympathy of public opinion through
out Europe will be with the south, and will
sustain any action in her favor. Think, too, in
such an event, how false our position ! how
low we shall have fallen in the eyes of the
world how unenviable the place we shall oc-
cupy in history through all time.
1t is idle gasconade to say that, thus situated
we can defy Europe Let the south, by con-
ceding emancipation, secure the sympathy and
the permanent services of her four million
of laborers, without action Of ours then throw
into the scales against us the thirty millions of
England, the forty millions of France and
who shall say how many ,ens Of millions be-
sides ?-and what chance for success, or for
reputation, shall we have, struggling for moth
ing NJ bier than self-exstence, in equivoca at
titude before the world. matched against OPP
ponents who shall have forestalled us and as
sumed the initiative of progress?
While the contest assumes no higher charac-
ter than that of portion Of a great nation de-
string a separation from the mother country
and forcbly casting off its authority, what more
sympathy can we expect from Europe than we
ourselves gave to Spain when she lost Mexico
or to Mexico when Texas struck for indepen-
dence? Until the issue is changed, so that the
great question of human liberty becomes in.
yolyed in il. we must expect from European
powers at the best only Indifference COUPLED
probably. with the feeling that as Mexico sue.
coed against Spain and Texas against Mexico
so will a southern confederacy finally maintain
itself against us.
That declaration of emancipation was rot
changes must mofnre in nublic oninion before
thev can he safely carried ont Extreme meas.
ures to he justified and n he efTectuol. mus,
often he nreceeded bv long-,ried Cancellation
Yet in national emerGences il NAV be as dan.
reruus TO disappoiht as to anticipate public
oninion. And confess NV fears for the resul,
if decisive measures are longer DELAYED.
Stand where we are we Cannot. and to &C
on is less dangerous than n rctr,ce our stems
We ought never to have nronosed emancinatior
with comnensation IN lnyol slave owners. no,
declared 10 the dislovol as bv law we have
that their slaves shallb he liberated without com
nensntion. If we did nG intend 70 follow ou,
The nolicv we commenced We have Incurred
tho nd;nm 10, ne reon tho bone6, Nor do
nerco;ve how we can free Tho slaves Of rebels
rct reasonably expect IN rcto;n slavery in m,
iorder states even in ooso tboy rors;st in re
Gns;nc the offer of tho nres;Jsnt HAVING in
,or,,nnaJ so for ext;rro,!nr ~ sIoyor,, tho onI,
eaac,uaI nol;cv becomes tho soGest also
All mon IN tho nor,h ,v;Il NOT acop;esce
Na;,hor 1;d all oco,;osoo wbon tho ,yar wa
commerced, vet Who hat ia IovoI onnoses
nowp And what would have been tbe resul