Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-02-28
cOunuuieaisl
Emanolpation in peIaware

FRIENU ECkEL;
Your correspondent, G. $. L.,
threw down the ganntlci upon this fubiect-l
took It up In your last Issue, he declines any
further cuntcet, and tetires without an effort to
sustain his argument. He complains that i'm.
puted motives. ! did not to him did gene
rally; il the shoe fits him let him wear il, Bot
| dscam auy intention to go outside Of II fair
liuc OF argument, much less to be unjust to him,
for respect him highly aud would not Willingly
give him personal offence.
Ii have "arguel with tortures" OIL put him
upon the illogical rack" | hope he will pardon
me- Nothing was further from my Intention
than to give him pain,
| endeavOred in my reply chiefly TO combat
g. $. LIS constitutional argument against the
| Emancipation Bill to show that even regard
ing men ns property, slavery may be abolished
without compensation, aud without the consent
Of the owners; that G. S l.. hmsei proposed q
plan which was, according to his view, uncon-
stiiutional; further, that the system Of slavery
deprived men of constitutional rights that pro-
perty in man was even under State law qHqlt-
lied right-Ond that neither the Constitution OF
4 the United States nor the law Of God recognized
such u thing us right of property in human
beings. To this legitimate and fair argument
get for answer, that its oil "gas, "all hosh ~
'decamation," not icgai. So c. s. l.. substi-
tutes ridicule for argument; aud might quote
Aristotle, aud Addison, and Whately, and Camp
bell all day, with more appropriateness than he
has, to prove that riIicne is not argument but
is the refuge of weakness aud defeat.
II is of no consequence that G.. s. l.. support
ed Lincoln, or attended Republican Conventions
or was committed as Republican as early as
1856 or was voting for the gradual emancipa-
tion of slavery when was baby - or us he e1-
presses it more poetically and with Romance
worthy Of his younger days, "mewling and
pHking in the nurses arms" Of course not;
but when men denounce system as "a great
wrong VIZ do not expect them 10 change sudden.
" without motive. We do not expect men TO
declare unconstitutional the very measures they
have long advocated. Those who have laborel
SO long and so faithfully in this good cause, rs
am happy to say &. g. J. has, are expected TO
continue their advocacy Of similar measures
But hold here is the 'm0st nnklndest cut Of
all q. s.. l.. refuses TO have any further ar
gument with me because nm a ''ra1ical," md
therefore accord ng 10 las logic sin favor of de
stroying the Constitution and of breaking up
this glorious unon.' That's just the reason
why am not conservative, and n cOmnro.
mser. II does not neGess lfly follow that a
''Iadical is an impruden or immOlerale man,
or is such rascal ns G. s. L. regards him but
it seems to me, he is one who desires to strike
at the root of this Rebellion, and such men will
not be ''euntemned," neither will they produce
''chHouc cohthsoh, winch poeUchlly expressed
means, suppose, "conluson worse coniound-
Ell In these days Of cur victories | fear cola
promising men amongst Us, as much an the
power Of the rebels.
SO following the beneficial example Of Hin
who came ''not to destroy" wish not to de
stroy either the temple OF liberty or the snctet
bond OF Union, or the rights OF any class o
men, Of whatever complexion. One Of III,
highest interests involved in this contest is tn,
manhood or chatte hood Of four millions of tel
low beings; and do wish to destroy system
that takes away that mauhood-a system tha
I has weakened aud poisoned the tap-root Of ou
Constitution-that takes away liberty which il
the glory OF His service, the type Of His resur-
reetion and the promise Of our own.
LIHERTAs