The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-03-13
The Presidents Message.

In another column we publish q mes
sage transmitted by President LINcoLN to
Congress, on Thursday last, and we ask
those oc our readers who have not already
done so, to give it a careful perusal As
indicating the policy of the Administra-
ton, at this grave emergency, on the Sla-
very question, it is significant and I'M
portant document.
1t will be observed, that the President
recommends the gradual abolition Of Sla-
verv. but not without giving adequate
compensation to the loyal owners. The
resolution which he proposes for adoption
by Congress, is carefully worded, and
couched in language which cannot be of
fensive even to the most ardent admirer
of the peculiar institution. "Ihat the
United States ought to cooperate with
any State which may adopt gradual abol-
ishment of Slavery, giving to such State
pecuuiary aid, to be used by such State
in its discretion, to compensate for the In
conveniences, public and private, produ-
ced by such change Of system" We can
not see how objection can be well taken
to the terms of this resolution. The prop
osition is in the nature Of an offer only,
and the President especially so states In
his message. Congress is not urged or
even asked to pass law for the emaDci-
patton of the Slaves of any State, until
that State has itself taken the initiatory
steps for that purpose. 1t is recommen-
ded only ''that the United States ought
to cooperate with any State" which
takes of its own accord such steps as may
be calculated to relieve itself of Sla-
very.
We are we'll aware that there are many
Radicals in the land, who desire to sec
Immediate and universal emancipation,
and this, too, without afording any COM
pensation whatever 'for the inconvenien-
ces, public and private, produced by such
change of system" 1t is clear, therefore,
that this class will object to the PROPOSE
ton of the President, inasmuch as it does
not 60 far enough towards the accom-
plishment of the object which they have
so much at heart But such gentlemen
should remember that, by measure such
as they would have, the innocent and 10y
al would suffer equally with the most rab-
Id Stakeholder and Secessionist who has
taken part in the Rebellion. This cer-
tainly would not harmonic with that old
and beautiful saying, that "it is better
that ninety and nine guilty should escape,
than that one innocent man should suffer"
yes, even if that innocent man should
be a Stakeholder. We wish to see the
rights of loyalists everywhere respected,
and whatever exigency may arise in the
future, or whatever stringent measure
may become eventually necessary tc put
down the Rebellion and preserve the
Union, we would have the Government
be magnanimous in its policy, because we
think it can now afford to be so.
1t would be difficult indeed to foresee
what action Congress will take upon this
proposition, as there seems to be great
diversity of opinion and sentiment there
in regard to the question of emancipation.
But the proposition is one which should
command the earliest and most serious
attention of that body, and the President
predicts that if it be subs antially adcp,
ted, the most beneficial results wiz flow
from it.