East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-03-25
The President on the slavery
Question.

The following article from The N. 4.
Journal Of Commerce. democratic Journal
Of " the most straighteSt sect" shows in
what favorabIc'hght the Presidents prop-
osition is viewed in quarters from whence
we have right To expect the most intel
ligent conclusions, Taking the view of
the message held by this journal. there
can certainly be no objection to adopting
the principle recommended by the Presi
dent, the carrying out Of which remains
where il properly and legally belongs,
entirely with the States themselves. 81
The message Of President Lincoln
presents TO Congress the question which
| has for many Jcars been discussed at the
North and AT ,he Sonth and recommends
the adoption s..ose conservative views
which have been 50 earnestly contended
for by the sincere fr;suds Of the slave
and Of the Union, in opposition to the
madness which would plunge North and
South, master ard servant, into helpless
ruin. ..4.,.off... e.. I..sl bro15 ada
1t should be distinctly observed in con-
sidering the MESSAGE :iiat Mr., Lincoln
does not propose any fla p sr'inoving
slavery. He adopts the SIC vs. OF Wash
ington and his contemporaries, aud the
PRINCIPLES OH which the constitution was
founded, anu expresses his conviction,
that whatever plan be adopted, gradual
emancipation would be better than inn
mediate abolition Good men, from the
earliest days, have desired to see some
! plan for the removal of the slave system,
and the substitution of another. labor
system in its place; and their desires
would long ago have been accomplished
in several States now known as slave
States, but for the interference of the
radical abolition schemes, which effcctu-
ally blocked all the advance of free labor
+ plans in Maryland, Virginia, and other
States. But while Mr.. Lincoln proposes
no Plan Of action, he desires that the
Congress Of the United States should
adopt joint resolution, declaring certain
principles, as indication of the future
policy of the Government. The reSolu.
ton we here reprint as follows:
Resoired That the United States ought to co-opc-
, rate with any State which may adopt gradual
adjustment Of slavery, giving TO such Stase pecu
mary aid 10 he used by such State, in its discretion
to compensate for the Inconvenience, public and
private, produced by such change Of system.
The effect produced by this message on
; the minds Of various individuals is worthy
Of remark. The most radical newspa
pers, which have urged the instant abol
ton of slavery by the "war power, anc
, which have been at deadly enmity with
"the light of property in man, are appa
rently rejoioed at an opportunity to re
trace their steps, and stand on conserva
tive ground. at., sse.9agt B,
The Tribune and Ereaing Post heartily
even enthusiastically, approve the idea
and congratulate the President upon it
as if it were neO discovery of the presen
, times, instead of the old and often re
peated proposals of more moderate men
which has been discussed and considered
in past years by our most eminent states
j men, and always fiercely opposed by tn,
radical abolitionists. l..
We trust that the resolution propose,
: by the President will be adopted by Con
e gress. Whenever State shall propos,
(. to emancipate her slaves, we regard it a
y eminently proper that the nation shout,
lend its aid, judiciously to effect the OBJ
ject. t-.l.......-.
4 The Crown Of Great Britain, once tn,
|, governing power of all the country
. forced the institution on unwilling colo
nists, aud il became part of their socia
system. Let the whole people, who have
in one sense succeeded to the govern
ment Of the nation, aid any State tina,
may need it and that shall desire and ask
for aid in changing slave labor TO FIRE,
! labor. This is most right Hereafter
y when the principle is established, we cal
v discuss aud arrange the amount of aid
and the terms on which it will be grante
= to each State rs it shall need it. An
J" each State will decide for itself whethe
e it will ask or accept it. 'e
;. The message of Mr.. Lincoln proposin
the adoption by Congress of this import
b ant principle is timely, and its infucnc
n will be excellent. We shall not be SUI
II prised to see few political abolitionist
Il or abolitionist politicians, endeavor
: misrepressnt the President, and ertort froI
his simple, vigorous and plain words,
y meaning that he nerer intended to gre then
n Already some of them are declaring this
s. the message proves the President d,
n termined abolitionist.. 1t matters yer
e little what is thought of him in this r.
: gard, il the people of the North will bt
0. be content to unite on the principl,
It which he snunciates SO plainly, that STATE
s. are to remove slavery as legal status,
Of it is removed at all; that the, relation
p, master and slave is a property relation
ID and that the people Of the United Stat,
:" ought to aid the States in winch the il
" stitution has become part of the soc
l? system, in such efforts as they may mi,
y ate to change it and establish free labc
OF in its place, and that gradual Not sudd,
q emancipation Is better for aHoiall omit d
o. ~ vIiIIlI9 JF0.nFD Ena esguoo4.
u Nrws-Within, the past week Bur
" side has occupied Beaufort; q battle, h
k, been fought at Winchester, Va, betwe,