The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-03-20
The Presidents Message.

@ The Presidents Message.
The message Of the President to Congress,
recommending the passage Of a resolution
rendering aid 10 such Slave States as might,
II their own volition, adopt system Of grad
ual emancipation oftheir slaves, was receiv.
ed in time barely for our last weeks paper,
but so late as to preclude any comments
upon it in tina. tissue.
hisimportart document, originating with
the President himself, and which took every
body, even Congress, by surprise, has at.
tracted the attention of the press and she
public to marked degree, as it naturally
would, and it has been greeted with dis
versty Of views, as also was natural. The
aggregate of the views expressed about it,
however, is favorable. s-,,ras
Vhe. time has manifestly come Cor some
definite action on this subject. The relations
Of slavery to this rebellion is so intimate,
that in justice to the moral sentiment of this
country and to the public opinion of the
world, it had become political necessity to
look the subject fhlly in the face, and adopt
a definite policy in reference to il. 1t had
become necessity while carefully avoiding
any infringemcnts of the constitution, or
trenching on the rights of the States, 10 take
snme position which, would show the world
that this great and christian nation, while II
had no Legislative control ever slavery, vel
distinctly deplbred its rx:s'e1ce and was
willing in the exercise Of a pate,nal regard
for the interests Of all the States, and in
vindication of ITS own hanor, TO cooperate
with, and extend aid to, any State which
night elect to adopt system Of gradual
emancipation.
Viewing the message in this light, it is an
important, a timely. and it will be popular
document 1t is consessedly strictly legal
and constitutional OF course it will be
warmly applauded, anl as severely censur.
ed. Its results may not be realized imme-
diately, bit it will do good nevertheless. It
will lead to discussion. 1t brings up deli.
cate and vital subject to the public view in a
shape which will compel the nation to look
at and sooner or later act upon it. 1t recog-
nizes slavery as the cause Of all our troubles,
and proposes to those who uphold and are
responsible for that cause, to aid them in
getting rid oft.
One Of the most noticeable features of this
message is the cordiality with which its first
appearance was greeted by all shades o!
opinions and politics in the country. This
was owing primarily, undoubtedly to the
demand on the part of the great mass of the
people for such a measure, but some were
influenced by other considerations. Those
who care nothing about slavery, per Sc, and
who would not be greatly troubled to have
itspread all over the free States, and who
hate with q bitter yirulence any thing labeled
emancipation" were melted to look with a
a sort of appreciation upon this measure,
not because it promised to remove the evils
ofslavery, or settle our national 1Hficulties,
not because it proposed fair and practica-
bic form OF emancipation, but because it had
so little abolition ABOUT it, especially because
they could not trace its paternity to Sumner,
Greeley and others Of that school, and be.
cause they saw in it a prospect for split
between what they are accustomed to de.
nominate the conservative and radical wings
OF the Union party of the country. OF the
latter class is our neighbor of the .Mercury
He says in so many words that he hopes
Congress and the people will favor it, be.
cause it is gradual anil not sudden enamel
patton" and because he oviews it AS pro
position merely to head of Summers system
Of sudden emancipation
But we are not disposed to dwell upon the
various reasons which conspired to give te
this important suggestion of the Presiden,
so cordial reception. 1t is sufficient t.
know, that no measure Of SO much moment
was ever before on its reception so geper
orally approved by all classes of men and
shades Of opinion. This unanimity may no,
last We may, indeed, look for opposition
in fact, some pro-slavery democrats already
intimate that they may have been too hasty
m endorsing for any reasons, and in the
mildest form. any scheme or plan to abolish
slavery. They think, and truly, that slave
~ out Of the way, their party and their vo
CATION would be oone IN s fs Tex =