The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-08-20

Think. too. in such an event, how false s.r
position how low We shall have fallen in TIA
eyes OF the world! ho~ unenviable the place ss
sh all occupy in history through all time!
Ii is idle gasconade to say that, thus eituata6-
We can defy Europe. Let the South. by eooc.'
ding emancipation, secure the sympathy and m.
permanent services OF her four millions of lshor.
ers, without action OF ours then throv into IN.
scale against US the thirty millions Of En,l.rJ
the forty millions of France-and uho sh.Il So
how many tens Of millions besides !-snd vh:,
chance for success or for reputation, shall ve
have, struggling for nothing than self-exissence.
in s4uivocal attitude before the world matched
against opponents who shall have forestalled M
and assumed the initiative Of progress.
While the contest assumes no higher characse,
than that OF portion Of great nation desiring
q separation from the mother country and forci.
bly, casting off liz authority, ~hat more symps.
thy can We expect FROM Europe than We our.
selves gave TO Spair when she lost Mexico, or "a
Mexico when Texas struck for Independence.
Until the issue is changed. SO that the great
question of human liberty becomes involved in
it, We must expect from European powers at ii,
best only Indifference coupled. probably With
the feeling that a. Mexico succeeded sgaiuss
Spain. and Texas against Mexico, 50 will South.
ern Confederacy finally maintain tseli as>ipss
us.
After thus ably and Justly disposing Of the oues.
ton in its relations both to our domestic ana
foreign policy. he eloquen,ly and foribly eiv,s
the " sum Of the whole matter" in the iolosip,
which We cannot persuade ourselves to abridre:
That declaration o. emancipation was NOT \.
sued year ago, do not regret. Great cha.e.
es must mature in public opinion before the,
can be safely carried out Extreme messures |.
be Justified and 10 be efiectual must often b.
preceded by long tried Cancellation. Yet in ma.
tona' emergencies il may be as dapce,ous N
disappoint as 10 anticipate public opinion. And
l confess my fears for the result IL decisive ms.s
ures are longer delayed.
Stand where We are We cannot; and To 20 ON
is less dangerous than TO retrace our s,eps We
ought never TO have proposed emancipation with
compensation TO loyal slave owners, nor declared
TO the disoyal, as ty law We have, that their
slaves shall be liberated without compenss,iop
if we did not intend 10 follow out the polio, ve
commenced. We have incurred the odium let
US reap the benefit.
Nor do perceive how we can free the slaves
of rebels, yet reasonably expect to retain slavery
in the border States, even in case they pcrsss h
refusing the offer Of the President. Having 10.
tervened 80 far, extirpation OF slavery, the ouy
policy becomes the safest also.
All men in the North will not acQuieece.
Neither did all acquiesce when the var vas con.
menced; vet who that 10 loyal opposes il nov
Aud What would have been the result had -
waited, ere We commenced the war, for unani.
mitys
Some will fall off So be il. There IL snan
loss in that Ard there Is come gain. Bessr
an open enemy than worthless friend Il \
time that men were taking sides Az thiaev
now stand l see no use in conciating the IN
loyal. He who is not for us is against us
/ think the people are ready. I believe
that the loyal citizens Of the Moth, with ssch
small proportions OF exceptions a. in rslica
national changes must be disre garded are to-day
prepared fer emancipation They have paid lce
Il in treasure, in blood; not by their option.
They feel that the sacrifices that they have msds
aud have still to make, are too vast to have bses
incurred, except in purchase Of great pledge d
perpetual safety and peace.
Rejecting men feel, too, that such pledes b
a national. not merely q Northern necessity. The
South exhausted and sufTering, needs il TO The
full as much as We. She viii soon perceive. II
she does not already, that two parts Of Oue o.
ton, or even two coterminus nations, can never
again exist in amity on this continent one slave
and the other free. She cannot but see that r..
eitive slave Law difficulties, If no Others existed.
would suffice to prevent this.
IL IL not the question whether paper decls.
ration, easily issued will or viii not be followed
BY thousand practical difficulties. The uprsos-
ing OF an ancient and gigantic abuse always in
wolves such. Nor should We be called upon TO
predict in advance (for who can entirely forsee y
how each Of these will be ultimately solved. The
true question is, whether greater difficulties, even
insuperable ones do not beset any other policy.
Pressed home as We are. TO avoid obstacles b
impossible. We can but select the least tormi.
dable. The lives Of the best Of us are spent 10
choosing between evils.
When dangers surround VA, We must yak, in
a measure, by faith. Let US do what We can,
and leave TO God the Issue. We may best trus,
Him when We enter his path Of progress BE
aids those who walk in il.
feel assured that final success awaits us ID
pursuing such path. And see no other rosd
out Of the darkness.