Washington telegraph. [volume] (Washington, Ark.) 1839-1871, 1862-12-17

MS country, and the best interests OF all her
citizens, require of him policy which, to
superficial and hasty thinkers, may appear
UNJUST; and which may afford his enemies the
means Of rendering him odious in the sight of
his constituents. Then, indeed, should his
patriotism be founded upon rock. Then he
needs more than the old Roman courage. His
martyrdom is not threatened in the shape of
Punishment or death: but in the form more
difficult of endurance,) Of popular Reputation,
aid loss of that honor and esteem which none
can forego without pang, However conscious
of right
So hard, indeed, is it for the legislator to
act at variance with the popular breeze; so
grea is the temptation to shrink from all de-
cided action, which may commit him to the
mercy of the demagogue that when we find a
law, odious at the first glance, and evidently
against the grain of some strong and deem
rooted popular prejudice, passed, ncverthe
less, by majority of both houses of any legi.-
tive body, and approved by the executive. it is
almost proof conclusive that there exists for
that law, some overwhelming public necessity.
which appeals so strongly to the consciences of
those who are sworn to do their duty in the
premises, as to compel them TO its passage. -
the risk of popular disgrace In a cou.. try
where people chose IL cir own representatives.
and select from among themselves the person
IN whose wisdom ami patri, tisln they most
rely, 1t is possible, indeed, that this district OF
that one, may be betrayed by the object OF
| Its choice, but it is utterly impossible that
u majority of those representatives shouI,,
prove recreant to their trust Tne law must.
OF necessity, have been honestly passed; AMI it
becomes the duty of the people TO accord to il
hearty acqulescence, at least until long
anu calm reflection may leave them no other
alternative than to decide that a majority of
the representatives of the eople, have proven
false to their trust
We have been led to these reflections by the
many hasty and ill-advised complaints which
have appeared in the public press against that
portion OF the exemption law excmpting from
military service one person for the control OF
every twenty slaves. We have listened. also
with sympathy, to tie murInurs OF the ctmmu-
nifty, and have fearel the creation OF d public
sentiment, which, if INDUCED too tlr, may
lead TO consequences disastrous to our cause
The law may be good. OF it may Dc bad NJ
human beings are infaliHle. Still, il has been
the result of the deliberative wisdom of our
representatives,, whose patriotism We have IL.
rea on to question: and We owe it to them. a.
well as to cur cause, to consider il calmly, in
all its aspects, before we decide upou it,
propriety, or worse still, be driven to dIscou-
tent, and slacken our exertions for the pres
ervation Of all our rig4ts, now 81 deeply i'm
periled.
First and foremost in this consideration.
looms up the infamous proclamation OF Presi-
dent Lincoln. What does this mean Who
doubts its import is blind. Why should we
mince matters and speak giug,lly in the press.
Of things proclaimed and argued in the corner.
OF the streets ! 1t means to iuyise the slaves
upon every plantation in the South, to seryile
instruction. Would ,hat- element Of des-
truction cease, think you, upon each planta-
ton, after 1t had vented its fury there: Wogld
the families Of the poor be safe? Could the
soldier in the field sleep sounlly in his camp,
ana Happy in the thought that his wife aud
children at home, were not shareholders, and,
therefore, free from the horrible calamity
1t is absurd The demoniacal sweep Of that
infamous design, includes all-rich and poor.
All are equally concerned in its defeat. 1t
riH be defeated, aud scarcely ripple the sur
face Of domestic life but how By no other
possible means than wise and prudent gov
ernmeut OF the slaves upon their own planta-
tons They are tractable creatures, and
easily led by wise and humane discipline on
tie par, Of the superior race. This impress
siJiiity to outside influence, re,.ders them
uait to be left alone. Who ever knew plan
tation Ct slaves without a resident master or
overseer, which did Lot become dcinOralised
and vicious They make tit hotbed for the
macLinations Of the abolition emissaries; and
there volcanic fires may be engenIered, which,
in their eruption, may destroy a whole com-
munity. You who are conscript, whose family
remains in the c-untry, put the question to
yourself are you Wiling tH@N thS Jul -N~'A
ing plantations should be LETT without mas
ter? Ii not. then remember that none OF the
owners of those different plantation. is e1-
exempt because o. his ownership: he is only
allowed to stay and control and care for his
slaves. III case there be other white person
there who can do 50, aud VINO Is not subject to
couscriptlon. If there be, he may own
tho saLd slaves and lie IL, nevertheless, sub
ject, equally with you, to shoulder his mnsket
and defcnd those rights and immunitius COM
mon to ali, and under which, in course OF
years, you VI our postccity may be tue largest
Shareholders "A the land.
Some one must be with the slaves: that Is
certalG. The poor creatures are liable 10 be
led astray and ruined. They need control.
discipline, kindly advice. They mast lie cared
for and ciot-ed. They must be kcpE Al work,
and by the products Of their industry, sup
port our armies They form reserved
strength. Ii has been our boast that they
engble us to throw all our freemen into the
! field. Our women and children are not COM
/ petent to govern them and direct their laboi.