Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-24

able and convincing letter to Secretary Chase
in favor of GENERAL EMANCIPATION AS THE
CONDITION OF ENDURING PEACE. 1t is the
statement of a writer without passion or pref
udice, but who thinks like patriot and reasons
like statesman. The kernel of his theory
is in the following paragraphs
eff emancipation is to avail us as a peace
measure we must adopt it boldly, resoutely,
efectually. 1t must be general, not partial;
extending not to the slaves of rebels only, but
to every slave on this continent. Even if it
were practicable, which it is not, with slavery
nonresident in the northern states, and abol-
ished in those which persist in rebellion, to
maintain it III che narrow border strip, it is.
precisely there, where negro fugitives can the
most readily escape, that its maintenance
would the most certainly lead to war.
Mr.. Owen adopts the plan OF universal
emancipation unreservedly, and defends it
with reasons, if not altogether new, yet stated
with directness and force peculiarly his own.
Some five or six weeks hence in pursuance
of the policy of the 22d OF September, the
president will be required to issue an ultimate
proclamation of freedom to slaves within dis
loyal states. So far he has the courage
and power to make it effectual, it will be an
element of incompatible strength to his cause.
But it is partial measure for all that. 1t
does not recognize the treason and guilt of
the system such. 1t Furnishes it in one
place, and pardOns it in another; while there
is nothing in the essential character OF the in
stitution that justiies discrimination in favor
of any part of it. 1t has offended altogether
If its mischief has been less potent in the
border states, give thanks to the non-slave-
holding, or rather notwithstanding sentiment
which has gained foothod on the soil. This
was the salt which saved the border states at
time when they were ready to perish.
1t is the height of insanity-pure, full moon
madness-to attempt to slavery in the
disloyal states till after the war. 1t is scarcely
less so to attempt to divide it by vague and
indefensible line, saving it on one side and
destroying it on the other The wrong it has
done to the country is not wrong of
locality, but wrong per All that is
good, and generous, and manly, and pa
triotic in the country has wrestled for eighty
years with this public enemy, eliminating in
bloody and protracted war. 1t is war of
ences our shorts sighted statesmen have at
tempted to harmonic when they could not
ignore them. The free labor system, occu-
plying at first scarcely more than the extreme
northern belt of states, and thus at disad-
vantage but for the intelligence that illunin-
ated, and the justice that marshaled its
progress,-the slave labor system, occupying
the rich central and southern states, with
everything on its side save the habitual ap-
probation that waits upon good and righteous
cause-they have tried to exist together under
one government, and have failed. Wise and
sagacious men have for years foreseen that
the experiment was an unnatural one, and
must come to an end-peacefully if the
slave states acquiesced in the natural
superiority and title to control of the
free labor system-violently if their rest
less ambition stood for a single hour in
the way of its natural progress By the vio-
lent method the experiment has come to an
end. Whether the war continues year, or
ends in a week, the experiment is equally at
an end The president is wise in recognizing
the fact so far us it affects the rebel states,
and does well by the country in destroying
there the power of the pernicious system.
But he does not do the best thing-the snake
is scotched, not killed-while he leaves
broad belt of slave territory untouched, with
its black blood coursing through the centre
and heart of the country.
Would an edict of general emancipation be
constitutional? The constitution has a per-
feet regard for the common defence and the
general welfare. 1t is the absolute and ire
pealable canon public safety. 1t justifes
in war all measures essential to that end. 1t
approves any policy that looks honestly to the
salvation of the country. In a confagraton
great blocks Of stores, towering masses Of ar
chitecture, far away from the fire, may be
leveled to the earth, and no sensitive proper
ty-holder can rightfuly complain. For the
public safety is the supreme law. But here
is the estate of the ncendiary himself, under
the protection of which he devised the ex-
plosives, and fashioned the combustibles
with which he has set half the country
in flames. Destroy it, and by divine
justice the conhagration and the incen-
dheiy VIII perish together. w Quiz II be prac-
ticable? If the administration were weak,
and approached the task like an unwilling
boy whipped to school, it would be doubtful.
No proclamation, no effort to maintain the
government against the conspiracy of its foes
would be eiectual without a judicious and adj
equate expenditure Of courage and power to
make them so. But with an administration
strong in the conscious integrity of its pur-
pose-fortiied by the convictions of the great
masses of the free people of the country
with the voices of bereaved children and wo-
men calling on it to restore peace to their DIES
olate homes, and the blood of the slain crying
for vengeance from their nameless graves
nothing is impracticable which will hasten the
death of the rebellion and restore peace and
unity to the land
Such is the substance of Mr.. Owens argu-
ment. Leading Missourians are arguing in
the same way and asking to have the war pow
er used to abolish slavery in Missouri The
president aims to exterminate slavery in
order to save the Union; but not assum-
ing authority to destroy it in the loyal
b., -