Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1862-11-07

In the hands of its citizens. A
chief magistrate who permits II
so to remain becoms responsible
for the consequences. For he
has the right under the law and
the Constitution to take private
property, wlth,iust compensation
offered, for public use, whenever
1t is apparent that any public ex-
lgency demand such eppyopria-
tion.
Forgive what may seem curt
speech if | say that, in nv Judge.
ment, a President with a just
sense OF duty has no option in
such a case.
In due exercise Of your afficiaI
power, in the strictest accordance
with law and the Constitution.
you can deprive the enemy oi
that which, above all else, has
gwen, and still gives him, aid
and comfort. You can declare
emaEcipated the slaves, the sup
pliers of his commissariat.
Gradually yon can deprive hlm
OF these; and for every hundred
thousand productive laborers he
loses, you may have hundred
thousand soldiers. With their
aid you can reach the rest.
What then remains for him? lie
must tain his ranks to cultivate
his plantations. lie must labor
for his own food, or must perish
for the lack Of it.
The people are forbidden to
give aid and comfort to the reb-
els. What of a Government
that has the power to cut offfrom
aid and comfort all the rebles of
the South and fails to exercise
IL?
We ought to do that which is
right, even il the recompense be
distant and uncertain; but we add
folly to injnstice if we neglect
great act of benelicence that is to
be rewarded, even now, by our
own preservation.
Yet again. Can you look for
ward to the future OF Our country
and imagine any state OF things
in which, with slavery sill exist
ing, we should be assured OF per
manent peace? | cannot. We
can coStltutionally eXtirpate sla-
very at this time. But if we
fail to Go this, then, unless we
hereafter intend u violate the
Con -titution, we shall have a iu-
gitive slave law in operation
whenever the war is over. Shall
the North have sacrificed a hun
dred thousand Ives AID two
thols 3nd millions o. treasure 10
come to that at last: Not even
a guarnty Of peace purchased II
so enormous cost? after volua-
tary cx .rtions on the part OF our
people 20 which the history Of
the world furnishes no parallel,
is the old root OF bitterness
still to remain in the ground to
sprout and bear fruit IN the fu
ture rs it has born fruit in the
past.
The questions are addressed
to you. For upon you and upo
Your action more than upon any
one thing does the answer Ge-
pend. You have, at this time,
more power than any constifu-
tlonal monarch in the world
The English Government al
ways acts according to the poll
cy approved By the constitution
al advisers Of the Crown. ! on
would violate usage only if you
should act without the aaYlce, or
even contrary to the opinions, OF
your constitutional advisers. /
DO not mean that you could con-
tinue to do this with prePriety
or even with safety: | merely as
sert thlt the power is, in point
of tact, IN your hands. Aad for
snch power, what a response
billty to God and man
1t is within your power at
thi, yer, moment not only TO
consnmmate an act OF enlighten-
e satatesmanship, but, as the
Instrument OF the Almighty, TO
restore to freedom race Of men.
l. you are tempted by az upper
i,hable name It is within yolr
reach. We may look through
ancient and modern history, yet
scarce ind a sovereign to whom
God offered the privilege OF be-
slowing on humanity a boon so
vast.
Such an offer comes to no hu-
name being twice. Il is made
to YOU today. How long it will
remain open-wheiher IN three
months or In one mont. from
now VIII sill be at your option to
accep. it-God, who reads the
hearts Of men, alone knows.
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