Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-10
The Presidents Emancipation
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We find in the Louisville Journal the follow
ing comments upon the Presidents recommends
ton in favor OF encouraging gradual emancipation
by pecuniary aid from the General Government
to those States who adopt that policy:
The President recommends the adoption of the
measure as a means of extinguishing in the re
voting States the hope that they in any event
will ever be joined out of the Union by the now
loyal States Of the South The end i certainly
legitimate. Is the measure adapted to accom-
plish the end? The President is persuaded it is
Herein we differ with the President
The whole efficacy of the measure. as the Pres
ident admits depends on the free choice" of the
States concerned. But what one even of the
border slaveholding States has in anv manner
shown the slightest indication of "A wish or will
ingness to adopt system of emancipation. grad
ual or otherwise? ASsuredy not one On the
contrary. the settled opinion of these States,
without exception, appears to be that the present
Is OF all times the most inopportune for the vol
untary agitation OF the question of emancipation
IN any OF Its aspects We believe this is in fact
the settled opinion of them all.
Consequently, the measure, it adopted by Con
greSs. would he imperative. 1t would lie inert
upon the statute book. As not one OF the States
would call for the cooperation the measure
offers. the measure would be not merely ineffec
tual. but in the line of its purpose absolutely
without results Nay, 1T might, by serving 10
naugurate a domestic controversy which in the
nature OF things could not be determined one
way or the other for rlany years, nourish instead
OF extinguiShing the hope at which the President
would strike. The casting of apple of dis
cord into the loyal ranks of the border slave
holding States al this time could but prove unta
vorabe 20 the true interests OF the country; and
there Is danger that the adoption OF this measure
would he such movement. In short the mea-
sure. II adopted. could not, conceive. pro-
duce the effect the President designs and might
produce the very opposite effect.
We. therefore. whilst agreeing with the Presi-
dent that the measure is in itself lawful and in
nocent, differ with him in respect To IL policy
We dO not think II Is adapted 10 accomplish the
end proposed, but rather the contrary. Indeed
there l. according To our judgment but one ie1-
Slbie mode OF accomplishing the end proposed 50
Tar As It yet remains unaccomplished. and that
mode i the wise and vigorous prosecution of tie
WAR for the re establishment of the Government
We believe the hope in the Secedn. States that
they will ever be joined out OF the Union by the
Boraer Siaveholdme States is now exceedingly
slender. If it exists at all, and in our opinion the
measures that have reduced this hope 70 il pres
ent dimensions are the best measures To extin
gui>h it altogether
We however. would include in these measures
aS We have heretofore suggested in our columns
an early proclamation of amnesty u the deludei
masses who shall lay down the weapons OF rebel.
lion and return To their allegiance Such proc
lamatou would prove the most effective of war
me lsUreS And we own We should have reioiced
10 zee IL IN the Place OF the measure actually BRO
p"sed. We hope TO see it in addition to this
m ensure
We cannot dismiss the message without con
graduating the loyal public an the cleaness and
emphasis With which the President therein recog-
nizeS the right OF each slaveholdins State to deal
as it shall think fit with the subject of slavery
without interference on the part of the Federal
authorities. Amongst the other soo3 effects that
We may promise ourselves from this important
feature OF the measure ! prompt and general
howl from he whole abolition pack