Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-10-13

A LETTER PROM hlRAA KETCH.

New York Journal Of Commerce, from
the distinguished Hiram Ketchum, the
lifo long, personal and political friend Of
Henry Clay:
1.-THE power Of this Government to
emanclpate slaves is claimed because
the exercise OF tho power, it i alleged
10 necessary TO suppress tho rebellion.
The fact Of such necessity is denied. On
the contrary, it is affirmed with great
confidence that the policy Of emancpa.
ton avowed by the administration will
serve only to render the suppression Of
the rebellion more difficult Of accom-
plishment, prolong the war, increase the
expense OF the government, and, more
than all, will require q greater sacrifice
OF human life. This is easily shown
So far a. universal emancipation has
been attempted BY Congress or the Pres
ldent, 1t has created divisions among
the people of the loyal States; a large
number Of this people compose the rank
and file of the army; the camps are d.
vlded; such division prevents union,
not only in sentiment but in action
This impairs the strength and efficiency
Of the loyal States in suppressing the in
surrection. No such division would
have been created, if the single consti-
tut'onal object to suppress the insurrec-
ton had been declared to be the pur.
pose aud policy Of the Government
This purpose would have been pro,ecu.
ted with as much zeal by the soldiers of
Kentucky and Missouri as the soldiers
Of New York and Massachusetts.
"While the avowed policy Of eman.
c'patlon coos the ardor, and thus weak.
ems the loyal States, it strengthens the
rebels by uniting them, and intensfying
their rebellious sentiments. This result
is sufficiently deu onstrated by what we
know Of the enemy. Not that it makes
tho leaders more desperate, for that
would be impossible, but it furnishes
the leader. with an argument to shake
the fidelity of such OF their followers,
and there arc many such, who yet cher
ished an attachment to Il e Union. This
argument may be briefly stated thus
we told you that Republican admin
istration would abolish slavery; you dis
believed it, but you now see they are
attempting it; we are therefore proved
to be right; secession or rebellion upon
the coming in OF the Lincoln admins
tartion stands justified and must be per-
severed in.'
"rhese are the actual and clearl,
manifested consequences of attempting
moro than the suppression Of the rebel.
lion.
'The conclusion is, thatthe advocates
and supporters of the right and expedi-
ency Of declaring universal emancipa
ton by the Federal Government, in or
der to suppress this unhappy insurrec-
ton, have committed great error. ani
they are to be resisted at the balIot-t OK
and on the hastings with all the power
and influence that patriotic citizeos can
employ. There cannot be any doubt on
this subject in any sound mind. 1t is
no answer to say that slavery is WRONG,
and ought to be abolished; that cannot
make usurpatcn right. When cmanci
patton comes, as como it will under the
infleace Of an enlightened public senti-
ment, let it be the result Of legislation
acknowledged to be lawful. Usurpa.
ton is the great enemy Of popular liber-
ty. Power mnst be taken in a peaceful,
constitutional manner, from the hands
OF those who would accomplish eman-
cipation by usurpa.ion Of power. What
one Congress has done, another Con.
gress can undo. The power to change
their representatives is with the people
the place to inaugurate that change is
at the ballot-box- To that ballot box
let Us all rally.
The questions to be decided there
sc: lst, Shall we suppress the rebel
lion in the shortest time possible, by the
use Of constitutional means, and leave
the institution Of slavery where it vas
left at the formation ct the Constitu>
ton, in common with all 9th or questions
of domestic legislation, subject to the
jurisdiction of the States respectively /?
Or, 2d, Shall we, in suppressing the re.
bellion, destroy the institution Of slave
ry, let the slaves in the whn,,e country
free, with full power to s.ssert and mair,.
tain for themselves ny force or otherw ;..e,
equal Pol'tir"a al and social rights with
their to-. mer masters?
ror one, l will not support '.ny can
didate for Congress at the ems ding cleo
ton who will not fully and unhes,tat-
ipgy answer the 6rst of ST ese questions
in the affirmative, nor e i'll l support
any candidate for Congress who ans
wers the second question in the affirm
alive. l shall do nothiug to promote
servile war, and when the contest comes
between races Of men, my place is by
the side of the white man.
"Ibelong to no political party organ.
izatiou, never having joined any SINCE
the Wing party ceased to exist but
call upon every Wing, ard every son OF
Wing, in this State and out Of it, to
! resist with all its power and influence,
every attempt TO subvert or impair this
sac. ed instrument, or any other Of its
provisions. 1t came to US recommended
by George Washington it WINS ratified
by . most intelligent and thoughtful
people ; we have prospercd under it.
IT Is OUR ONLY BOND OF UNION.
"HIRAM KErcav NJ
A NOBLE WoMAN.-Mrs. Cordelia