Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-04-25
EMANCIPATION IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

lrict of Columbia:
"FelIow-citizens of the Senate and
House of Representatives;
The act entitled an act for the release
of certain persons held to service or labor
in the District of Columbia, has this day
been approved and signed. | have new
err doubted the constitutional authority of
Congress to abolish slavery in this Dis
trict, and have ever desired to see the
National Capitol freed from the institu~
ton ia some satisfactory way, hence
there has never been in my mind any
question upon the subject, except the one
of expediency, arising in view OF all the
circumstances.
If there be matters within and about
this act which might have taken course
or shape more satisfactory to my ludg-
ment, do not attempt to specify them.
! am gralified that the two principles OF
yotr pensation and coioniz atiUn are both
recognized and periodically applied in
the act. In the matter Of compensation
it is provided that claims may be pre-
sented within ninety days from the pas
sage of the act, but not thereafter, and
there is no saving for minors, "feme COW
ert," insane or absent persons. | pre-
sumo this is an omission by mere oversight,
and | recommend that it be supplied by
an amendatory or supplementary act.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Washington, april l6.
This is probably the shortest, as it is the
most important message ever transmitted
to Congress by any Of our presidents
With one stroke of the pen it proclaims
the heart of the nation free from the lep-
rous faint that has infected it since the
first dawn of our national existence. At
last, after many years of angry, heated
debate, upon the floor Of Congress, and
by the press, and by the people, and from
the pulpit of every church in the country,
slavery is forever banished from our ma
tlonal capital. The flag of the great re-
public there floats over none but free
men. Government has purged itself Of
that great vilainy. Would to God that
it dared to go the full extent of its duty
and declare every slave free, wherever
found But bless God for small begin
nings, for that is the way to secure lar
ger favors. 1t may be that the abolition
of slavery in the District Of Columbia is
but the initiatory step towards radical
change 10 the political and social organi-
cation of our country. 1t may be but
the entering wedge that is to rend asun
der this stupendous wrong that sits
like a nightmare upon the country. The
recent message OF the President recon-
mending system of compensatory eman-
cipation to those states who by their leg
islatures should choose to accept aid from
the general government, has an honest
squint, and looks as though he was deter
mined to do all in his power to weaken
the system and TO give greater strength
and stability to the government. His
messages on this point are proof OF the
saying that Revolutions never go back
ward
In all the messages of President Lin
coin he has shown a spirit Of Christian
manliness, determination to do right,
and to deal fairly with all classes and
localities, that even his most violent OPP
posers devoutly admire. He shows none
of that savage ferociry which breaks forth
in every bulletin OF the rebel president
and his generals. There is no act of
cruel retaliation towards those who are
endeavoring to pull down and destroy
the temple of freedom. Whenever he
urges emancipation, either in the District
of Columbia or any Of the states where
they may desire to initiate it, with one
hand he presents arguments and with the
other he offers gold TO remunerale them
for any loss they may sustain in abolish
inc an institution older than the govern,
ment. The more we see of President
Lincoln, the more occasion we have to
admire him. Honest, frank, sincere, not
like some Of his predecessors using words
to conceal his meaning, he is emphaiiclly
the man for the people and the man Tor
the times. From the day of his nomi-
nation at Chicago to the present, his
name and fame have shone brighter and
clearer as time wore on. Ii has been
done by no ostenlatious display, fancy
speeches, or statesman craft, but 10y a
disposition that CLOVIS in such messages
ms the above ard kindred ones that meet
Tue public desires and move the popular
heart. While our six hundred thousand
volunteers are battling 10 every quarter
OF the rebel states TO maintain the SUI
premacy of The flag, the constitution. and
the laws, and offering their blood free as
water to maintain them, he bestirs him
self to curtai as far as possible the cause
of that rebellion which our brave yolun-
teers are endeavoring TO crush; for he
well knows it is with governments as
with human bodies, neither can be heal
thy unless the tumor be removed. We
wish every member of Congress, or even
a majority of them, would bring TO bear
as exalted patriotism, as disinterested a
l. Al, =.