Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-02-14
20 AN OLD ISSUE REXINEn. !"

Neu-ye s-tneTe uOes-- seem ~ 10 be a
disposition to revive the issue on the Slavery
question" but the Freeman fails to tell us
where this disposition had its origin, or
who are responsible for it. 1t says there is
coming to be very large and very formida-
BILE party at the North, who cry out let it
alone you have no right to touch it, as soon
as bold thinkers suggest that the axe should
be laid at the root Of the tree" but gives us
no information as to who these bold think
ers " are, or the means through which they
propose to accomplish their obect-the I'M
conditional emancipation Of the slaves. 1t
asserts that " this party is led by those who
were formerly Democrats, aud counts in its
ranks the majority Of those once hostile to
the Republican party together with many
who were apparently-while the Republican
party existed.-ardent advocates Of keeping
Slavery within the smallest possible limits in
this Government 1t accuses these Of adj
vocating -" the danger of treating Slavery as a
rebel that has no rights which the Govern
ment is bound to respect" 1t admits that
/
ment may coufscate all rebel property-in-
GLIDING slaves and are confident in the be-
lief +" that Slavery is to be destroyed through
the agency of this war" but accuses them Of
continually opposing every measure, wheth-
er in Congress or in the army, that looks di-
rectly towards that result, and adds
"sIaycy is too strong, 700 well euuenched. has 700
much vitality die II itself just yet We u favor
Of assisting nare-f1r her slow processes Of killing The
evil have not yet accomplished much and n this wc be-
hcve that are hut pursnngto their gcal conscqucn-
ces the ideas upon which the Republican patty vas
founded "
We agree with the editor Of the freeman
that " Slavery is the cause Of this war" and
would rejoice heartily as any one TO see
the acoursed blight swept from the land but
we disagree with him in the manner by which
to accomplish the object. lie would do it by
means Of proclamatlons and edicts from the
President or Congress- we would do it by
putting down the rebellion, and making the
property Of the rebels-sl1Ues jncludea-pay
the penalty Of their treason against the gov
ernment His method we consider impractica-
BILE and of no avail. tending to divide the poo
pie Of the loyal states in their present unani-
nous support Of the Administration, thereby
weakening its power against the rebellion, and
is subject 10 the gravest doubts on the ground
Of its con,ttuuonality; ours is practical, avail
able and constitutional, and continues in the
support Of the Administration the same uui-
ty that has generally characterized the 10y
al people Of the North.
But whence comes the revival Of this old
issue Of slavery: Have the loyal men Of the
'lavehodiug states asked any new guaranty
for the institution, other than that which was
decided in the last Presidential election: Not
at all. Has Mr.. Lincoln gone outside Of the
platform on which he was elected, or outside
the limits of the constitution, for the purpose
Of protecting or defending the institution
This is not alleged. Has Congress taken any
new action tending to strengthen the bonds
Of the slave or extend the area Of Slavery
Not at all. Are the people Of the loyal states
any less abhorfeat Of the insti' ution, or any
less determined to confne il within its pres
ent limits and prevent It's extension over ter
gross to exclude IT,: Not in the least, but
have a greater hatred than even Of an insti-
tuition which makes war upon the Constitu-
and the Union because its leaders are hurled
from that power which they have so long en-
joyed and so much abused Will the issuing
Of a proclamation Of emancipation to the
slaves strengthen the Government and aid in
the suppression Of the rebellion The Free
man and the advocates of the emancipation
policy claim that it will and here is Just
where we take issue with them. Such a
course would unite as one man the people of
the slave states 10 support of the rebellion,
which. added to a divided publicopinion in the
free states, would strengthen the hands Of the
rebels, and render impossible the work of re-
storing tie supremacy Of the constitution over
the seeded states Missouri, Kentucky,
Eastern Tennesse and MARYLAND would thus
be thrown away for the sake Of an unconst-
tutional and imperative proclamation. which
after all must be put in effect by federal