The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-07-25
The Ieffersopiap 9eMccraf
JULIUS o. CONVERSE, Editor.
CHARDON, OHIO, FRIDAY, JULY IS, 1852,
The Presidents Conference with the
Border State Men.

ence at the Executive Mansion, with the
Members of Congress from the Border
States, is reported by the National Intel /
ligencr, to have read TO them the follow
ing address. We ihink our readers will
generally agree with us, that it is the
most significant and cheering manifesto
that has yet emanated from his pen:
"GENTLEMES: Aftor the adjournment of
Congress, now near, shall have no oppor.
tunty of seeing you for several months.
Believing that you of tho Border States
hold moro power for good than any other
equal number of members, feel it duty
which I cannot justifably waive to make
this appeal to you.
intend no reproach or complaint when
assure you that, In my opinion, if you all
had voted for the resolution in the gradual
emancipation message of last March, the
war would now be substantially ended
And the plan therein proposed is yet one of
tho most potent and swift means OF ending
il. Lot the States which are in rebellion
sec definitely aud certainly that in no event
will the States you represent ever join their
proposed Confedoracy, and thoy cannot
much longer maintain the contest. But
you cannot diyest them of their hope TO ul-
timately have you with them SO long as you
show determination to porpotuate the in.
stitution within your own States. Beat
them at elections, as you have ovorwhelm-
ingly done, and, nothing daunted, they still
claim you as thoir own. You and l know
what tho lever of thoir power is Break
that | sver before their faces, and they can
shnke you no more forever.
Most of you have treated me with kind
ness and consideration, and you must not
now think improperly touch what is OK.
clusiyely your own, when, for the sake of
the whole country, l ask, "Can you, for
your States, do bettor than to take the
course l urge :" Discarding punctitio and
maxims adapted to more manageable times,
and looking only to the unprecedented stern
facts of our case, can you do better in any
possible ovont? You prefer that the con-
stitutional citations of the States to tho ua.
ton shall be practically restored without
disturbance of the institution; and, if this
were done, my whole duty, in this respect
undor tho Constitution and my oath of Office
woad be performed. But it is not done,
and we are trying to accomplish it by war.
Tho incidents of the war cannot be avoided
If the war continues long, as it must if the
object be not sooner attained. the institu-
ton in your States viii! be extingushed by
nero friction and abrason-by the mere
, incidents Of tho war. 1t will be gone, and
you will have nothing valuable in lieu of it.
Much of its value Is gone already. How
much better for you and for your people to
take the step which at once shortens the
war, and secures substantial compensation
for that which is sure to be wholly lost in
any other event How much better to thus
save tho money which else wo sink forever
in tho war How much better to do il
whilo we can, lest tho war ore long render
us pecuniarily unable to do il How much
better for you, as seller, and the nation, as
buver, 20 soil ouRand buy out that without
which the war could never have been, than
to sink both the thing to be sold and the
price Of it, in cutting ono another's throats.
do not speak of emancipation ut once,
but of o decision at once TO emancipate
gradually. Room IN South America for
| colonization can be obtained cheaply and in
abundance, and whom numbers shall be
large enough to be company and encourage
ment for one another, tho freed people will
not be go reluctant to go.
/ am pressed with difficulty not yet
mentioned--one which threatens division
|
strong. An instance of it is known to you.
Ger. Hunter is an honest man. He was,
and hope still is, my friend. l valued him
none the less for his agreeing with me in
tho general wish that all meu everywhere
could be freed. He proclaimed all men
free within certain States, aud repudiated
} tho proclamation. lie expected more good
, and less harm from the measure than
D could believe would follow. Yet, in ropu
} dating it, gave dissatisfaction, if not of
fense, to many whose support the country
9 cannot afford to lose. And this is not tn,
end of it. The pressure in this direction il
still upon me and is increasing. By CONGO
/ ding what | now ask, you can relieve tn,
: country in this important point.
Upon these considerations | have agair
begged your attention to tho Message o
: March last. Before leaving the Capitol
: consider and discuss 1t among yourselves
;, You are patriots and statesmen, and as sue
= pray you consider this proposition; and a
the least commend IL to the consideration
l. of your Statos and people. AS you woul,
B. porpetuate popular government for tn
l. bost people in the world, beseech you tba
" you do in no wise omit this. Our common
u country 10 in great peril, demanding tn
% loftiest vows and boldest action to bring
l. speedy relief. Onco relieved its form O
J. government is saved 10 the world; its be
n loved history and cherished memories ar,
l. vindicated, and its happy future fully assure
'f and rendered inconcoivably grand. To you
81 moro than to any others. the privilege
10 given to assure that happiness and swell
that grandeur, and to link your own name
B. therowth forever"
> The MteHigencer adds:
A! the conclusion OF these remarks
I, some conversation was had between th
President and several members Of the del
~, egations from The Border States, in whicI
10 it was represented that these States coul
n n not be expected to move in so great
Ga matter as lha. brought TO their notice il
d, the foregoing address, while as vet III
O. Congress had taken no step beyond tn
mt passage of resolution expressive ra.he
of sentiment than presenting substanta
as and reliable basis of action.
30 30 The President acknowledged the fore
w nr of this view, and admitted that the Borde
nd States were entitled to expect a sub
or slanIial pledge OF peculiarly aid as the con
dition OF taking in;o consideration propo
siIon SO important in its relations to thei
a. social system.
l; was further represented, in the con
Tnfpnrn thet tho nannla nf l.