The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-12-12

,
this Egypt of the West,withou: paying toll at
the crossing of any national boundary. Our
national strife springs, not from our permaD-
ent past, not from the land We inhabit, not
from our national homestead. There is no
possible severing of this We would multiply
and not mitigate evils among US. All its
adaptations and aptitudes demand union and
abhor separation. In fact, they would ere
long force reunion, however much OF blood
and treasure the separation might have cost.
Our strife pertains to ourselves, to the pass
ing generations of men. and it cannot with
out CONFUSION be hushed forever with the
passing of one generation.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED.
In this view | recommend the adoption of
the following resolutions and articles amend
atory to the constitution of the .Iited States.
Resolved, by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America, in Congress assembled, two-thirds
of both houses concurring, that the following
articles be proposed to the legislatures or
conventions of the several states, as amend
ments to the constitution of the United
States, all or any of which articles, when rat
fled by three-fourths of the said legislatures
or conventions to be valid as or parts of the
said constitution, viz -
Article-Every state wherein slavery now
exists, which shall abolish the same therein
at any time or times before the first day of
January in the year of our Lord one thous-
nine hundred, shall receive compensation
from the United States as follows, to wit
The President of the United States shall de-
liver to every such state, bonds Of the United
States, bearing interest at the rate of---for
each slave shown to have been therein by the
eighth census of the United States. said bonds
to be delivered 10 such state by installments,
or in one parcel at the completion of the
aholishment according ly as the same shall
| have been gradual or at one time within
such state, and interest shall begin to run on
any such bond, only from the proper time of
It's delivery, as aforesaid and afterwards. Any
state having received bonds as aiO.esa.d, and
afterwards introducing or toleratlng slavery
therein. shall refund to the United States the
bonds SO received OF the value thereof, and
all interest paid thereon.
Article All slaves who have enjoyed act
ual freedom by the chances of the war. al
anv time before the end of the rebellion
shall be forever free, but all owners of such
VINO shall not have been dislova, shall be
compensated for them at the same rates as Is
provided for states adopting the abolishmen,
of slavery. but in Such a way that 10 slave
snail be twice accounted for.
az ,ax
and otherwise provide fer alonizing ftet
cOlored persons, with their 1WI consent, al
any place or places without the nited States
DISCUSSION on THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
beg indulgence to discuss tiese proposed
articles at some length. Without SLAYER,
the rebellion never would have existed
without slavery It nh not continue
Anon, the flirr,ds OF the tni~r,, there !:
grca, diversity Of sc!.ti'heI.t anG of po..c, =.
r, gard to sla, cry, AID the Africa. VAC,
amongst US; s,m' would abolish 1t sudd. j,
and without 'omprr satlon: some wou.c
abolish it gradually ard with compensation
some wcuId remove the freed people from US
and some would retain them with US, arc
there are yet other minor divelsiiles. Be
cause Of these diversites we waste muci
strength in struggles among ourselves. b,
mutual concession We would harmOnlZe ant
act together. This would be a comprOmis
among the friends, and not with The enemie
of the Union. These articles are intende,
to embody plan of such mutual concessions
If the plan shall be adopted it is assumed
that emancipation will follow, at least in sev
era of the states.
As to the first article, the main points are
first, the emancipation second, the lengtl
of time for conSumating it,thir:y-seven years
and third, the compensation. The emancipa
ton will be satisfactory to the advocates O
perpetual slavery, but the length of tim
Should greatly mitigate their dissatisfaction
The time spares both races from the evils o
sudden arrangement. In fact, from tn
necessity of any arrangement. while most G
those whose hahitual course Of thought wi
be disturbed by the measure, will have pass
8 ed away before its consummation. They vii
never see it. Another class will hail tn
prospect of emancipation, but will deprecat
the length Of time They will feel that
gives too little to the now living slaves
Dul IL ISdilS gives tltul IL SdNS Z
them from the vagrant destitution whic
,, must largely attend immediate emancipatio
in localities where their numbers are yer
great. and it gives the inspiriting assuranc
. that their rosterity snail be free forever
The plan leaves 10 each state choosing t
act under it, to abolish slavery now or at tn
end of the century. or at any intermedlat
time, or by degrees extending over the Who'll
= or any part OF the period, and it obliges II
two states to proceed alike. 1t also provide
= for compensation, and generally the mode {
: making it. This it would seem, must furths
! mitigate the dissatisfaction OF those who Fl
= vor perpetual slavery, and especially of thos
y VINO are to receive compensation. Doubtle:
some Of those who are to pay and not to r.
ceive. will object. Yet that the measure
. both just and economical is certain.
THE ECONOMY OF EMANCIPATION.
It The liberation of the slaves is the destru
J., ton of property-property acquired by d
d scent or by purchase, the same as any 9TH
e property. 1t is no less true for having bee
: often said, that the people of the South a
Y no more responsible for the original intr
" .iucton OF this property than are the peop
J. of The North; aud when it is remembered he
j urh. sitatingy we use, all of US. use the cote
= and sugar. and share the profits of dealii
J. in them, it may not be quite SAT, to say tn
S the South have been more responsible tn;
at the North ior its continuance. If, then, fol
le common object this property is to be sac
" feed, is it not Just that i to ne dore at
ID common charge, and il with less money.
le money easier paid, We can preserve the ben
~ fits of the Union by this means better TIL
ID ", can by the war alone, is it not more &c
!, nomical to do it9 Let US consider it then.
@ Let US ascertain the amount we have expen
~ ed in the war since the compensated emar
Of patton was proposed las: March. and cons