Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-12
Better and More of 1t.

Better and More OF It.
The news keeps getting better and bet
ter. The little bit of bad luck down at
Newport was just calculated to make pee
pIerelish the news from other quarters.
. To-day we have the greatest news of the
war. Manassas is ours-witbout blow
or gun fired! This is what we have long
believed would take place eventually, but
We had never hoped for it 50 soon. The
whole army on the lower Potomac has
fallen back, the despatch says.
The PresIdent's PIan-An Parties
Suited.
The special and surprise message of the
President on the subject of slavery, has
cut the knot of the vexed question and rec
ouciled all differences, if we may judge
from the universal satisfaction with which
it is welcomed. Radicals and conserva-
tives receive it with equal delight, each
claiming that il is in the line of their own
policy. The New York Tribune which has
been clamorous for immediate and univer-
sal emancipation, and has held any sup
preston of the rebellion WORTHLESS that did
not secure the destruction of slavery, can
hardly find words to express its delight
over the Presidents message, aud the New
York Herald, which has opposed emanci-
patton with all its energy, and treated any
damage to slavery us necessarily an out
rage on the Constitution, is equally graft
fed with the message, and considers it
death blow to the emancipatiouists.
The truth is that the proposition of the
President is not in the line of the extreme
views of either the radical emancipation
lists, or of the pro-slavery conservatives.
1t is a simple suggestion that the General
Government shall offer to share the cost of
emancipation with any State or States
willing to adopt the measure. This i'm
plies of course that slavery is nm evil, and
that the slave States have good reason to
wish to be rid of it. But it also implies,
as the message indeed asserts plainly
enough, that it is not matter which the
General Government can touch, without
the consent of the States. The movement
for emancipation must originate with the
people of the States where slavery exists,
and the President asks Congress to say that
wherever and whenever the people move for
this reform, the General Government will
generously cooperate with them. Ifall par
ties are ready to accept this moderate and
unobjectiOnableb basis of action, the whole
slavery difficulty is solved, so far as the
political relations ofthe question are con-
cerned. The Presidents argument for his
measure as one of self-preservation has
much force. Doubtless the rebel leaders
would despair of gaining over any of the
border states after such states had inaug-
urated a scheme of Emancipation. Whether
the Presidents proposition, if Congress
adopts twill lead to any immediate move
ments in tho border states for the abolition
of slavery may be doubtful. But stand
ing offer from the general government OF
help in such an enterprise will have good
moral effect, and eventually there will
doubtless grow up an emancipation party
in all these states.
For the present, the adoption of the
Presidents suggestion by Congress would
have the good effect to shelve all the fan
ciful and disOrganizing schemes on the
subject by which popular opinion is in
danger of being distracted and demOralized
in the free States, and to re-assure the
people of the South that the General Gov
eminent will not inaugurate any movement
for the abolition of slavery, or touch it
anywhere without the free consent and in
vitation, the inevitable effect of a state of
war of course excepted. While such a
declaration as this is unanimously sustained
at the North, the most jealous of slave
holders can have no pretense for seeking
the destruction of the Union to insure the
safety of slavery. And yet the declaration
would be most satisfactory to the enemies
of slavery, as Indicating that the General
Government is committed to the policy of
freedom, and that its action will hence
forth be in that direction, with only such
limitations as the constitution and laws
have enacted.
Thus tho Presidents proposition is a
peace measure, in several ways-peace be-
tween hostile parties among loyal men,
and proaer of peace to the insurgent
States. 1t is coup Fetat, in fact, display
ing much sagacity in its inception, siguta-
cant in its aim and purpose, and likely to
be most important in its effects.
Tar shot with which the Monitor dis
aSlsd the Merrtmac are described by the
SeientIfe AMERICAN. They arc made of
huge blocks of forged iron turned in
lathe. Heirhinr nhen finished 2sh nnr,nas