The Portland daily press., 1862-12-02


lions within hfty years, If not prevented by
any political folly or mistake 1t contains
more than one-third of the country owned by
the United States-certainly more than one
million of square miles. Once half as popu-
lous as Massachusetts already is, it would have
more than seventy-five millions of people. A
glance at the map shows that, territorially
speaking, it is the great body of the Republic
The other parts are but marginal borders to it.
The magnificent region sloping west from
the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific being the
| deepest, and also the richest in developed re-
sources, in the production of provisions, grains,
grasses, and all which proceed from them.-
This great interior region is naturally one of
the most important in the world. Ascertain
from the statistics the small proportion of the
region, which has as yet been brought into cul-
tivation, and also the large and rapidly in
creasng amount of its products, and we shall
be overwhelmed with the magnitude of the
prospect presented. And yet this region has no
sea-coast, and touches no ocean any where.
Part of our nation, its people, find their way to
Europe by New York, to South America and
Africa by New Orleans, to Asia by San Fran
cisco.
But separate our common country into two
nations, rs designed by the present rebellion,
and every man Of this great interior region is
thereby cut off from some one or more of these
outlets, not perhaps by Il physical barrier, but
by embarrassing and onerous trade regula-
tions; and this is true wherever dividing or
boundary line may be fixed. Place it between
the now free and slave country, or place it
south of Kentucky or north of Ohio, and still
the truth remains that none south of it can
trade to any part or place north of it,and none
north OF it can trade TO any part or place south
1T, except upon terms declared by govern
meut foreign to them.
These outlets west, east and south, are indis-
/ A ~.
itiEg, and TO inhabt the vast interior. Which
of them may be best is no proper question:
All are better than either, and all of right be-
long to that people, and to their successors
forever. True to themselves, they will not
ask where line of separation shall be, but
will vow rather that there shall be no such
line. Nor are the marginal regions less in
terested in these communications TO and thro
them to the outside world. They too, and
and each of them, must have access to this
Egypt of the west, without paying toll at the
crossing of any national boundary.
Our national strife springs not from our
permanent past, not from the land we iuhabit,
not from our national homestead. There is
no possible severing OF this but would multi
ply and not mitigate evils among us. In all
its adaptations and aptitudes it demands
union and ashors separation. In fact, it would
ere long force reunion. However much oil blood
our strife pertains to ourselves to the passing
generations of men, and it cannot without
CONFUSION be hushed forever with the passing
OF one generation.
In this view, recommend the adoption of
the following resolution
Resolyed-By the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of Amer
lea, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both
Houses concurring, that the following articles
be proposed to the legislatures or conventions
Of the several states, rs amendments to the
Constitution Of the United States all or any
of which articles, when ratified by three
fourths of the said legislatures or conventions,
to be valid as part or parts Of the said constitu-
ton, viz:
ARTICLE Every State wherein slavery
now exists which shall abolish the same there
in at any time before the first day of January,
in the year OF our Lord 1900, shall receive
compensation from the United States as fol-
lows, TO wit: The President of the United
States shall deliver to every State bonds of
the United States bearing interest, at the rate
Of for each slave shown to have been
therein by the eighth census of the United
States said bonds to be delivered to such
State by instalmenis or in one parcel at the
completion of the abolishment, accordingly as
the same shall have been. gradual or at one
time within such State and interest shall begin
TO rnn upon any such bond only from the proper
time of its delivery as aforesaid and afterwards.
Any State having received bonds as aforesaid
and afterwards introducing or toerating slay-
cry therein, shall refund to the United States
the bonds so received or the value thereof and
all interest paid thereon.
ARTICLE-All slaves who shall have enjoyed
actual freedom by the chances of the war, at
any time before the end of the rebellion, shall
be forever free; but all owners of such who
shall not have been disloyal, shall be compen-
sated for them at the same rates as is provided
for States adopting adjustment OF slavery, but
in such a way that no slave shall be twice ac-
counted for.
ARrICLE-Congress may appropriate money
and otherwise provide for colonizing free col
ored persons, with their own consent, at any
place or places without the United States.
| beg indulgence to discuss these propos ed
articles at some length. Without slavery, the
rebellion could never have existed Witho ut
slavery, it could not continue among the frien ds
OF the Union. There are great diversity of
sentiment and of policy in regard to slavery
and the African race among us. Some would
abolish it suddenly, and without compensation.
Some would abolish it gradually, and with
compensation, Some would remove the freed
people from us, and some would retain them
with US, and there are yet other minor diver
stiles. Because of these diversities we waste
much strength by struggles among ourselves.
BY mutual concession we should harmonize and
act together. This would be compromise
among the friends and not with the enemies of
the Union. The articles are intended to en-
body plan of such mutual concessions.
Ii the plan shall be adopted It is assumed
that emancipation will follow at least in sever
al OF the states. As to the first article the
main points are list, the emancipation; I'd,
the length of time consummating thirty-seven
years; and Sd, the compensation.
The emancipation will be unsatisfactory to
the advocates of perpetual slavery, but the
length of time should greatly mitigate their
dissatisfaction. The time spares both races
from the evils OF sudden arrangements, in fact
from the necessity ofany arrangement. While
most of those whose habitual course of thought
will be disturbed by the measure will have
passed away before its consummaton. They
will never see it. Another class will hail the
prospect of emancipation, but will deprecate
the length of time. They will feel that it gives
too little to the now living slaves. But it really
gives them much. 1t saves from the yagrant
destitution which must largely attend imnedi-
ate emancipation in localities, where their num-
bers are very great, and it gives the inspirit-
ing assurance that their posterity shall be free
forever.
The plan leaves to each State choosing TO
act under it, to abolish slavery now, or at the
end OF the century, or at any intermediate
time, or by degrees, extending over the whole
or any part OF the period and it obliges no two
States TO proceed alike: it also provides for
compensation, and generally the mode of max
ing it. This, it would seem, must further nit
igate the dissatisfaction of those who favor
perpetual slavery, and especially of those who
are TO receive compensation. Doubtless some