Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-05-03
2uancipatiou Projects.

war has given birth is that the men most in
terested in maintaining slavery are those who
have most efitctually undermined the iounda-
tons of tho institution. TO benefit slavery
the Democratic Convention at Charleston
was rent in twain, and to extend it, Mr.. VIM.
l.. Yancey fired the Southern heart" The
Abolitionists, with all their wild rawlings for
quarter of century and more, have not done
half as much towards emancipation as Davis,
Toombs, and Stephens.
Years ago, the Southern people with one ac-
cord agreed that slavery was an evil. but IT.
radicable in its nature. 1t has been said that.
of late, that sentiment has been revolution
lied, and that it is now regarded as one Of
Heavens best gifts to man. So. at least. the
politicians have told us, and SO the newspa-
pers assert; but we do not believe word of
it. 1, is impossible that SO radical change
could have taken place in the minds Of any
people. The opinion that slavery was an
evil was the result of the experience Of a CEN
fury or two, and the question, therefore, arises
what could have transpired within the last
twenty-five years to upset all the conclusions
of the past The history Of the United
States will be searched in vain for the cause,
for it never had an existence. 1t certainly
will not be found in the astonishing progress
made in the free States, when compared with
their Southern sisters, in all things that 60 to
make q great nation.
If anything has forced the Southern peo-
pie to rally more determincdly around the in
stitution it was no higher feeling than that of
obstinacy. For years and years they had
been assailed by the abolition fanatics of the
North, and so hot and furious grew the fight
that all fellowship ceased, and even churches
were rent in twain. The misfortune was that
the Southern people attached too much i'm
portance altogether to the Garrisons, Bur-
leighs, Smith and the ng-minded women in
pants. They regarded them as the opponents
of Northern sentiment; but the events of the
war have demonstrated that they are only a
small fraction Of the people-powerless to con-
troll or shape the policy of the Government.
In word, then, to rid themselves of the as
saults of the Abolitionsts our Southern fellow
citizens have turned aboltionist themselves,
if not purposely, at least in fact In tho pros
ecution of the war, slaves will run away and
rebel masters may catch them if they can.
More than this, the indications are, that be-
fore ten years have elapsed gradual enamel
patton will be inaugurated in the border slave
States. Slavery is not A. paying institution
by any means, even in Virginia. We heard
an instance few days ago Of gentleman
who, before the war broke out, had farm in
that State and plantation in Mississippi,
both worked by slaves but it required the
profits of the latter to make up the losses of
the former. In the end he was forced to
move all his negroes down South and turn his
Virginia property into sheep ranch.
In this state of affairs the Government, as
we learn from late dispatches from the East,
proposes to step in-that is to say the FEEDER
al Government will meet half way any slave
State desiring to emancipate, and contribute
an equal proportion toward the compensation
of tho owners. AT least President Lincoln
has made suggestion of that kind to Con-
gress, and Congress, we presume, will carry
it out.
1t is not proposed, be it remembered, that
the Government shall take the initiative by
any means in freeing the slaves upon any
plan, but that it shall act as an auxiliary to
any State that may resolve upon taking such
a step. 1t could not of its own motion inter-
ferc between the master and slave without
violation of the Constitution, for the defence
Of which the whole North has rallied almost
to man. After the soreness resulting from
the conflict has passed away the probabilities
are that Kentucky will lead off in this great
work, and Delaware, Maryland and Missouri
will follow Virginia, which ought to be the
first, will probably be the last, for the "Moth-
er Of Statesmen" seems to have grown deliri-
Gus of late. She can no longer discern the
side upon which her bread is buttered, but
soon the fever will subside aud renewed
health aud vigor await her.
The war has, at least, stripped slavery of
the divine attributes once ascribed to it. 1t
is no longer subject which must not be
touched in any manner. shape or form. II
We had no rebellion it is possible that in ten
years more no one would be suffered to speak
OF the institution but with 'bated breath,
tor 1t was being rapidly converted into sort