The Portland daily press., 1862-10-11

hichtnond uOes not Toll at midnight, without
the mother clasping her infant to the breast,
fearful that the slaves had risen. 1t is attested
also by the actual condition of things when
John Brown entered Virginia; as pictured in
the familiar words:
He captured Harpers Ferry
With his nineteen few
And he frightened Old Virginny
Till she trembled through and through
OBJECTIONS TO APPEALS TO SLAVES.
We are told that such an appeal will offend
the Border States, and that in this moment of
trial, we must do they tell us. 1t is of course
slave-masters who speak for the Border States
and permit me to say. such persons, continuing
To swear by slavery, are not competent wit
nesses with regard toit. Believeing in slavery,
welded to slavery, they are as incompetent to
testify when it is in question, as husband and
wife are incompetent to testify for each other.
just in proportion as we have followed them
thus far we have been misled, and we shall
continue to be misled so long as we follow
them. Their influence has been perpetual pa
ralysis. Nobody can counsel safely at this
moment who adheres to slavery as the origin
and handspring of the rebellion. Put not
your trust in slave-masters; do not harken to
their promises; do not follow their counsels.
Such is the plain lesson of English history-of
French history-of Dutch history-of every
country which has dealt with this question
aye, of Russian history at this very moment
and such also is the positive caution of English
statermen.
OFFICERS WILL FLING DOWN ARMS.
Another objection to this appeal is that Of
ficers in our army will fling down their arms
Very well. Let the traitors fling down their
arms; the sooner the better. They are un-
worthy to bear arms, and should be delivered
up to the Kissing and execration of mankind
Inf xrrill r<Nfy,x st.<
mission of the United States, by such an inn
putation on their loyalty or common sense. As
officers they must know their duty too well,
and, as intelligent men, they must know that
the slaves are calculated to be their best and
surest allies.
'sIpE ISSUE"
Another objection is that slavery is "side
ISSUE" which must not be touched until the
war is ended. But these wise obiectors forget
that it is precisely in order to end the war that
slavery is to be touched and that when they
oppose this effort, they make "side issue' in
behalf OF slavery, calculated TO weaken the Ma
tional arm.
SLAVE INsURRECTIoN.
Another objection has its origin in pity, that
the rebels may be saved from slave insurrec-
ton. God forbid that | should fail in my duty
OF humanity or tenderness even; but / know
no principle of war or ofreason, by which our
rebels should be saved from the natural conse-
quences of their own conduct. When they
rose against paternal government. they set
the example of insurrection, which has carried
death to many firesides. They cannot com
plain If their slaves, with better reason, follow
it. But this whole objection proceeds on
mistaken idea of the African slave The story
OF St Domingo so often quoted against him,
testifes to his humanity. 1t was only when
Napoleon, in an evil hour, sought to re-enslave
him, that those scenes of blood occurred which
exhibit less the cruelty of the slave than the
atrocious purposes of the white man. The AZ
rican is not cruel, vindictive or harsh; but
gentle, forgving and kind. Such is authentic
history; nor does it appear, when the slaves
left their masters, on the appeal of the British
commanders, during our revolution. that they
were guilty Of any excess. 1t is true that la
Dor was disorganized and the whole commune
ty weakened; and this is what We seek to ac-
complsh in our rebel States.
SLAVES WILL OVERFLOW NORTH.
And yet one more objectionis sometimes ad-
advanced. 1t is said that an appeal TO the
slaves will cause them to overflow into the
North, where they will compete with other la
Dor. This ill-considered and trivial objection
subordnates the suppression of the rebellion
to question of labor, when to a candid OBJ
server it is clear that no such question can
arise. There is no danger of any such over
flow into the North. 1t is precisely the pres
sure OF slavery, and not the license of freedom,
that now causes the overflow that occurs. If
slavery were removed, the Africans would go
back instead of coming here.
SUCCESS ONLY THROUGH EMANCIPATION.
But, fellow-citizens, shall not leave the ar
gument at this stage. 1t is not enough to show
that slaves can render us important assistance,
by labor, by information or by arms and that
there is no reasonable objection to calling
upon them with other 10y, lists in support of
!. the Union. The case is stronger still. With
out the aid Of the stdres this tcar cannot be
ended successfully Their alliance is, there
fore, a necessity. In making this assertion, |
know well the responsibility assume; nor do
l assume II lightly. But the time has come
when the truth must be told Let me be un-
derstood. War is proverbally uncertain, and
will not doubt that fortune will again light
upon our arms. The force of the rebellion
may be broken, even without an appeal to the
slaves. But am sure that with the slaves
our victory will be more prompt, while with
out them, it can never be eiiectual-compete-
ly to crush out the rebellion. 1t is not enough
tobeat armies. Rebel communities, envenomed
against the Union, must be reclaimed and a
widespread region must be pacified. This
can be done only by the removal of the cause
OF all this trouble, and the consequent assimi-
lation OF the people, so that no man shall call
another master. If slavery be regarded as a
disease, 1t must be extirpated by knife and
cautery, for only in this way can this healthful
operations of national life be restored Ifit be
regarded as motive it must be expelled from
the system, that it may no longer exercise its
disturbing influence. So long as slavery con-
times the States in which it exists will fly
madly fruln the Union but with the destruc-
ton of slavery, they will lose all such motive
and will rather prefer to nestle under its wing.
The slave States, by the influence of slavery,
are now centrifugal; but with slavery out Of
the system, these same States will be centrip-
etdt. Such is the law of their being. And it
should be the policy of the Government at this
time to take advantage of this law, for the ben
eft of the Union. Nay, from the necessity of
the case this should be done.
EFFECTIVE FINALIrY OF THE WAR.
Is not our duty clear? And is not the Pres
ident completely vndicated? By Emancipa-
tion we not only hasten the war to Il close but
we give to 1t that effective .fadiity which will
prevent it from breaking forth anew, and which
can be obtained in no other way. The head of
the hydra will be destroyed, and its root ex-
terminated, so that it cannot show itself again.
Without Emancipation the whole contest is
delivered over to present uncertainty, while
the future is left to glare with all the horrors
of civil strife unsurpassed. There is a chap
ter of Don Quixote entitled, "a Conclusion in
which Nothing is Concluded and this will
be the proper title for the history Of this war,
if Slavery is allowed to endure. If You would
trampe down the Rebellion you must trample
down Slavery, and, believe me- it must be com
pletely done.