The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1862-09-27
Saturday, September q, 1862
a Great Responsibility.

Perhaps there never was . govern.
ment having q heavier weight Of re-
spons'6'lity resting upon it than de.
wolves upon ours at the present time.
and has been resting tbere since the
commencement Of the war. Not only
has It been under the necessity Of shap-
ing civil policy to meet the exieencies
OF The strange times and wonderful
events upon which il had fallen and
which It must needs direct; but the
vast military movements. 50 gigantic in
their huge proportions a. to astonish
the world. were under its immediate d.
rection and control. Those who envy
the President and bis Cabinet tlei,
places have a poor appreciation of their
Tremendous da.y and accountability.
There has been a very narrow line
OF duty to walk upon from the begin
n'ns. 50 far n human wisdom could
perceive. What ought to have been
done could NOT be done in many in
stances, because Of the obduracy of
the people; Al least that portion of them
who glory in the title of "Couserva
t''es." But as the war progressed. the
ng'di'y OF Conservatism began 10 give
way. and the folly of conducting the
war on peace principles became so man.
iiess. that the demand for more vigor.
Gus measures could no longer be with
stood. Then it was that Congress plac-
ed the power in the hands Of the Exec
utive-apowcr he already possessed
oy the rules OF war TO use every
means at mis- disposal to crush the re-
beiiion. Previous to this lime the Pres.
'dent did not have the whole of the re-
sponsibili:y upon his own shoulders,
bat now he has; and the present and
the future. God and man. time aud
eternity demand Of him the proper ex-
ercise Of his authority.
1t cannot be denied tha, The success
OF our arms has invariably led our peo.
PIE and tho governments farther fiom
the only righteous policy which should
characterize the sdmin,rstion Of affairs.
while every reverse OF . serious nature
has driven them nearer TO this policy
What do these indisputable facts
prove? Simply that in every mans
neart there is an abiding conviction
that the sars and speedy way to end
This var is to H6erafe tie slasss and US.
them again ct the rebels. And it would
seem tha, our reverses are sen, upon
US. as the plaques were upon Egyp.
{" drive US t. the path Of duty.
Another question arises here. 1t il
this. If the var can be soonest ended
with the least loss of life, least labor
and treasure by freeing the slaves. and
that is not done. who is responsible tor
the ezcess Of lives, blood, treasure and
tears which must follow from refusing
10 adopt this course? As We have said
from the beginning. the Administration
IS responsible. and the blood of all the
seedlessly slain will be found in the
skirts Of the President and his advisers.
Verify this is 4 fearful responsibility
And what is 10 be gained by efusing
TO adopt this self-eviden,ly wise policy?
Nothing under Coos heavens but the
continuance Of that system Of slavery
which has been our curse from the be-
ginning. and must ever remain 10 while
it exists in our midst. In other words,
il is to preserve the ''fruitful cause of
al our woes
Does It not seem passing strange"
that our government should not hesitate
:" sacrifice its own citis,ns BY the tens
Of thousands and hundreds Of thous-
ands to .pare Slavery. and yet does hes.
itats to sass i,s citizens BY striking the
rsbslIion through slavery! Were such
thing reported to ne Of a foreign ma.
ton. we should pronounce i. Islander.
and at once say that no sane men would
adopt policy SO suicidal as il,a.. But.
alss! it is too true Of our nation.
Bat there Is another view of the sub.
,sct worthy Of the most serious consid-
sra.ion; and that is. il our government,
does not libersie the slaves. and the
rebel government should End itself
driven to extremes, !. will fall upon |
emancipation as . last resort 10 prop
up It's sinking fortunes And il ih.,
event should occur. then forever fare
vel, to che Unicn. II Oh. Southern
Confedsrscy can enlist four millions of
sIaves on iss side. and make friends oil
them By making them FxEE. boon pe
ksd rstaled to 5sstor. then will the reb-
sls peycr be conquered. They will AL