Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-12-11
GALLTPOLIS.
THURSDAY. :: DEC. II. 1859.
RThe second session Of the S8l

event OF the day was tee feauihS VI soo
Presidents Message. No document OF
saximilar character has been more anx-
iousIy looked for since the days OF
Washington. nor any one more gene
raIlyread and pondered over both North
and South. II bears on its face the un-
mistskable marks Of "a. Lincoln" II
will hardly be charged that any Of bis
Cabinet framed it. 1t possesses that
unique style peculiar to the President,
and must impress every candid, honest,
loyal man with the belief, that spirit
of pure patriotism inspired the writer.
We have not room for the whole el
it In this weeks issue, and as the city
dailies have an extensive circulation in
this county. all who desire to do so,
can read it therein or have already done
50, we forbear publishing it at length.
The principal topic, as was expected,
is the Emancipation question. On this
the President takes firm, decided
stand. No special pleading, no quib-
bling, bat fair, candid, comprehensive
view is laid before the American people.
And this, too, by man who removed
Gen. Fremont for the same thing; who
modified or revoked the order Of Gen.
Hunter; and who begged the border
State men to make Emancipation a
question before their people. Why this
change? Why do that now, which was
wrong in the beginning? Simply be-
cause it has become apparent to every
one, not a knave or a traitor, that the
issue now, is the death of slavery, or
the death of the Republic. The Presi-
dent and all loyal men prefer that the
Republic shall lise-lhe death of slave
ry is Emancipation. The President
has declared it. He sustsins it in one
Of the most earnest, aTgumentative
State papers that ever emaasted from
any occupant of that chair.
Yet he avoids all extremes. He sus-
tains Emancipation. not from any love
of the blacks, but because it will great
" ameliorate the condition of the poor
whites of the South. He looks at il as
a question of justice to them that they
be relieved from the iDtolerable burdens
of theirlabor system. As aquestion Of
policy IN crushing out this rebellion,
can any one truly loyal doubt its vital
ity? Has any honest man failed to see
that slavery has become the implacable
foe of this Union "as it was?" The
history of this rebellion, ifit proves any,
thing, proves that beyond peradvent-
ure. In future, it will be a matter of
surprise that the patience of free peo.
pie was not long ere this exhausted, and
that the Juggernaut Of slavery had not
at once been doomed to destruction by
tbe same measure now made use Of.
Yet the sleuth- hounds of treason are
every where misrepresenting to the
honest people, the true designs of the
President in putting an end to slavery
and the rebellion by one blow.
Itis useless to argue that slavery is
the cause of this rebellion. Where the
institution most strongly exists. there
every vestige Of Unionism is extinguish-
ed, either willingly or by force. Is not
the President, then, using this power
for the very purpose Of restoring the
Government to law and order. Slavery
on the one side has marshaled her forces
for the death struggle. She stops at
no means to accomplish her end
That end is the destruction Of this Re-
public. Shall freedom be fettered by
policy which only serves to strengthen.
and sustain her deadly foe? Let those
who cayil about the means employed
70 throttle that foe. take their position
under The black flag. The Union win
be saved. Slavery might have existed
for ages, but row it is too late. Never
more can both exist in this Republic.
The President does not make this
war for Emancipation. The prime
moving power with him rs the salvation
Of the country. The surest mode is to
weaken the enemy in his most vital
part. His "offence has this extent, no
more" Yet the Vallandighamers will
howl in the ears Of the people about
'abolitionism." as though all depended
on the entire destruction of every op
ponent of slavery. Their frantic bu.
useless Efforts only prove their knowl.
edge Of the 6naf result to treason and
rebellion, as well as the wisdom of the
President in adopting it as the only
means left US of maintaining our Ma.
tional existence.
The Presidents scheme of gradual
or compensatory emancipation must
strike every thinking mind as worthy