Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-01-23
on every hand by the rebel leaders, that the


Oh every hand by the rebel leaders, that the
war is for their emancipation. Nop 'could a
proclamation of emancipation have any ad-
ditional effect upon nemind Of The negro p
Not at all. He understands from his master
that such is the object Of the war. A proc
lamaticn oould MOI strengthen has belief. Then
for all practical purposes of producing an
uprising of the slaves with all its attendant
| butcheries of innocent women and children
and other unutterable horrers, if any body
is ready to welcome them as an adjunct, and
attendant of this unfortunate war, the slaves
have all the inducement 70 do so, founded in
the belief of their own dehverance through
the interposihon of northern arms, that they
could have were Congress to pass an act max
ing emancipation the object and aim of the
war; for the slaves understand already that
such is the object and design of the Republic
can Party. A proclamation OF emancipation
then, could work Us no good in that direction.
But ho0 ,could il affect tie thousands upon
thousands Of still loyal men in euery one of the
seeded States Wouldd not inevitably al
ienate every one Of them? Would they not
turn upon us and say, YOU declared the OBJ
,ject of the war to be to restore the Union
and the Constitution, and yet you propose to
violate and overthrow the Constitution YOUR
selves, by depriving the States which you
claim still belong to the Union and owe obe-
dience to the Constitution, of their constitu-
tional right to manage their local institu-
tons p Most certainly that would be the
result.
Now, we are in favor OF thus policy, in
bliri; that slaves shall, tor the purposes of
this war, and in its prosecution, be treated
precisely upon the footing OF other property,
being the exact status which the rebels them
selves give 10 it. We would therefore have
it subject to eonfscation like other property.
We would not have our army return fugi-
tive slave any more than we would have it
return fugitive horse from the enemy,-and
such we understand to be the distinct policy
Of President Lincoln. Mr. Crittenden, of
Kentucky, gives his cordial assent to this pol
icy, and it is the policy which will wipe out
slavery ultimately, and save the Union pres
emily, and therefore we are in favor of it
most heartily.
But finally, the moment it becomes appar-
ent that the only way to preserve the Union
is to fall back upon the emancipation policy,
upon John Brown raids: involving the
utter desolaton of the South, and even the
extinction of its inhabitants it may be, how
ever horrible that alternative is to think of
we should accept it in preference to per-
manent disruption of the good old govern
rnent of our fathers. But, in the name of
humanity, let that be the ultima ratio regum
the last resort of the government In the
meantime, let Republicans stand by our RE-
PUBLICAN PRESIDENT, Honest old Abe"
Where shall eee drift If ,oe abandon and OPP
pose him, as the enemies Of the Republic haze
donef Let us stand by him, and ere long
the " better angels of the natures of the
Southern masses will recall them from their
wanderings and restore them at once % their
love for, and allegiance to, the Union. Ino
prodigal son must needs herd with swine, and
feed upon husks, and be clothed in rags, ere
he could say will arise and go to my faith
en-" So will it be with our wandering South
ern brethren.