Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-02
The Question OF Emancipation in the Northern
Congress. s.a
friend has handed US New York Herald, OF
the 7th inst, from which We make the following


A friend has handed US New York Herald, OF
the 7th inst, from which We make the following
extract:-- s.-< ,-..s7 --szz- Z =, 800 10 =
"The progress Of the debate on the Confiscation
bill is developing the conservative, Constitution.
loving sentiment in Congress. 1t is . struggle OF
law and order against anarchy and revolution. The
observations of Senator McDougald (opposition) OF
California, on Monday and Tuesday, are well worthy
the attentive consideration Of the whole people, and
their endorsement by Mr.. Cowan, (republican) OF
Pennsylvania; is most gratifying evidence OF patri.
otsm, amidst the fierce passions Of party spirit
"Shall we,' says the latter gentleman, "stand by
the Constitution, or shall we open wide the held OF
revolution, and go back to the doctrines OF &udal
ages, and introduce feuds which centuries cannot
quietly That is what this bill proposes. The pas
sage Of such bill will make the whole Southern
people our enemies The scheme Of colonization is
entirely impracticah]e. And further, the bill is d.
rectly in conflict with the Constitution, for the pre-
servation of which alone the war is waged. The
bill is unnecessary, lmpolitc and totally useless
The bill is unconstitutional because the Constitu-
ton provides that no bill of attainde- shall bc
passed, and no person punished for crime without
regular proceedings in Court This bill is in fact,
q bill of attander, and Congress has DO power to
pass il"
This covers tho whole ground. And what is Mr.
Cowans opinion about emancipation? lie says:
~ protest against that section Of the bill freeing
the slaves, entire departure from the princi-
pies Of the Constitution, and especially impolitc at
this time Because we are in war, we ought not
to make law which was unconstitutional before. !"
"What have the negroes done to secure freedom at
this time, when the course of their masters seem
especially to invite them to strike for liberty p
Nothing. They simply rely on their masters, like
domestic animals, with sort Of blind instinct ~
He concludes with "a hope that the bill would not
pass, but that Congress would attend to the meas
ures necessary to secure success in the great srug
gle in which We are engaged"
This is the language Of patriot; and if all men
in Congress had only so spoken and acted from the
beginning neither civil convulsion nor disunion
would exist to-day. There is one great result pro-
duced by this war. The eyes Of millions Of men at
the North are opened to the real character Of the
negro, and they have discovered, from the expe-
rence of our troops and Generals what We have so
long proclaimed to them in van-the natural nie-
riorty Of the negro to the white man, which can no
more be removed than the color of his skin by any
amount of legislation. 1t is the negros nature to
be the servant of the Caucasian He "relics
on his MASTER" says Mr.. Cowan with sort OF
blind instinct" 1t is evident therefore, that that
part OF the bloody programme which contemplated
serrie instruction is already exploded. The ne.
gro is happier and better oil, physically, morally,
socially and religously, under the mild Christian
Servtudc of his white master at the SOUTH than he
| ever was in any other condition Stree the dawn Of
creation, ever will be till the coming Of the mil
lennium To leave the negro to himself, and put
him into competition with the white man, is to de-
stroy him as eifectud1ly as our civilization has dc
stroyed the red man of the forest Servtude is the
| ncgro's normal condition 1t is calculated to pre-
serve the race from extinction, and to render it hap
| py and at the same time subScrvent to the happl
ness Of the white man. That white men should
wage war Of determination against white men, t.
change the condition Of blacks for the worse is
absurdlty too great for the common sense of any
people, and much more Of the intelligent and prac
teal people of the United States. Mr. Lincoln re
cognizes the fact and therefore, even if the fanat
les in Congress should succeed in carrying thei
bill, it will be met with his Veto"