The Placer herald., 1862-05-03
Lincoln's Emancipation Policy.


urging upon that body to commit the Nation
to abolitonism by passing a law ITO aid with
money" any State to emancpate their neI
groes within her territory. 1t will be seen
that these gentlemen begin to understand
whittier the country is drifting under the
"wise, efficient and conservative policy of the
present National Administration"
Mr.. Crittenden (ky) said there was a con
sultaton of the Border State men this morn
ing, and he came into the House to move a
postponement of the resolution till Monday.
He was not able, however, to make the mo-
ton, having been cut off by the previous
question. 1t seemed to him that the use of
the previous question, when arbitrarily made,
does the work of many secessionsts, and is
injurious to free deiberaton and legislative
dignity. He did not doubt the patriotism
and integrity which had induced the Pres-
dent to recommend the policy now under
consideration, but he did not believe the
measure was exactly suited to the times.
lie would not speak at length of Kentucky
and her sacrifices for the Union, but the way
to conciliate that State is not to press this
question upon her. The way to concliate
it he insisted that she, or any other State,
should give up any of her political rights?
It one institution should be taken from her
control, what will be the result! The prop,
osition would induce agitation at a time
when it could do no good, but tended to ei-
feet evil. What, he asked are we fighting
for9 Was it not to uphold the Government!
Yet gentlemen have run on their logic do
ing the greatest possible harm, by advoca
ting the performance of every possible enor-
nifty in order to weaken the enemy. They
should sink from their high position. They
were not called upon to violate the laws of
God and man in order to put down the re
bellion. They should behave dutifully to-
ward their country, and enforce the obliga
tions due to the Constitution. In this they
would do their whole duty. He believed the
President mean: to do right, but he could
not consent to the policy proposed. They
have in their hands the suppression
of the insurrection and hostility to the Gov
ernment, and the reunion Of two great sec.
tions into one harmonious whole-our below.
ed Republic. The aim ought to be that and
alone, leaving out altogether all unhappy
and perplexing controversies. Why should
they indngein such petty slrifes when this
great empire is trembling in their hands?
Mr.. Wick.ife remarked. if, as the gentle
man from Pennsy ylvania (S'evens) yesterday
said. this resolution meant nothing at ALL he
(Wicklife) thought Congress ought not to
trouble themselves about it. No doubt the
mover of the resolution could tell what was
meant by it. lie (Wick!itft) desired light
on the subject.-To day his colleague (Crit.
tenden) asked leave to make single state
ment This was refused Yesterday, when
the resolution was introduced, the mover
sprnng the previo is question, thus seeking
to cut off debate the gentleman declaring at
the time he was under pledge to call the
question. With sill respect to the House, he
did not believe thirty men would vote for a
tax to purchase negroes. If it were left for
him to say whether the slaves he might own
should be emanci pated by being paid for out
of the Treasury of the United States, he
would reply no. He would rather they
should escape by the underground railroad,
rather than the people should be taxed to
pay for any losses he might thus sustain.
He denied the constitutional power first to
interfere, and then appropriate money to buy
slaves. He might be accused Of want of
loyalty for expressing his old fashioned SEN
ments. In the course of his remarks, he
said that if the people of Kentucky shall be
left to their free choice, with the continuance
of their right to control their institutions in
their own way, they would say, I'VE prefer
the Government framed by our patriotic
fathers rather than join one hanging togeth.
er by rope of sand. which cannot stand. "
1t seemed to him the resolutions proposed in
effect to give up the cotton States, provided
the border slave States would continue with
the North.