Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-04-23
Moving Forward.

MOVING Forward.
The Presidents recommendation IN ia
vor of cooperation between the general
government and those Slave States that
might deem emancipation advisable, was
q bold charge upon the front ranks of the
P~ro-slavery power. 1t was aggressive in
it, nature, although merely suggestive in
fact. But a more practical step forward
has been taken by Congress, in the act
just passed. abolishing slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia. 1t is a consummation
as honorable to the democratic spirit OF
our institutions, as was the long endured
legallzation of human slavery, under the
shadow Of the National Capital, dishonor
able and d~isgraceful', to our p~retensions,
that of ali the nations of the earth, ours
alone was pre-eminently the land of free
dom and the nursery of liberty. Among
the innumerable evils that nave arisen
from the shareholders rebellion, the aboli-
ton of the special privileges of that class
n the District, is n of the good things
that has resulted. Slavery has been law
fIlly and constitutionally banished from
Columbia! For years past, it has existed
there only in comfy to the desires and
convenience of Southern a~ristocrats who
where afraid to breathe an atmosphere
purified from the contaminations of their
peculiar local institution. But at last for
bearanee on this point has ceased, if it
ever was, to be a virtue. There is no
longer the shadow of an obligation resting
on free representatives to respect the
wishes of SHAREHOLDERS. They, as a class,
have proven themselves enemies of a re-
publican government, therefore, genuine
republicanism should not be compromised
TO ~conciliate them, and especially when it
is apparent they valued the government
only in proportion as It could be control
led by pro-slavery influence, and made
contribute to the upbuilding of its power
in the nation.
The abolition of slavery is a radical step
in the direction of h~umbling and curtail-
ing that institution in its influence on our
national character. Although the history
of our country gives the most satisfactory
evidence that the free States have vastly
out stripped the Slave States in popula-
ton, and in wealth, manufactures, COM
mercial, mechanical and educational pros
perity, it has peer true that the persistent
arrogance, the unyielding selfshness and
Safeguarding spirit of the Slave States,
have claimed to guide the ship of State
in seas and channels that would invariably
bring sure returns to Southern interests,
leaving the north to gather what of for
tune it could as a mere incident of South
ern policy. But that day is past. North
ern brain and ideas will hereafter guide
the helm, and so direct the policy of GOV
eminent that the interest of the more in
dustrious, free and progressive sections
of the country will be consulted in pref |
erence to the slGggisk, efete and waning
institutions of the Southern States, which
are one-third of a century in the rear of
the free Northern States in every element
that constitutes national strength. dura-
bility and influence. These, we think,
will be some of the benefits to the Amer
lean people growing out of the new state
things that will be -inaugurated when
orfsr aedspeaee shall have arisen above
he chaos Of Southern ruins that will be
the impoverished inheritance of traitors
md rebels.
We presume there are men in the North
who are yet so infatuated by lifelong pre- :
iudicies that they have tears of sympathy a
to shed over this act despoiling the herit- I
age of slavery in the District. Indeed We {
occasionally hear a wall from some of that
unfortunate class who have been trained /
to keep close on the scent of their South e
ern leaders. The dominant sentiment. .
however, that pervades the free North I
viii not heed the swapping and snarling i
Of those furnishing packs of kennelled i
They cannot stop the great L
work of political regeneration that has e
commenced. The issue has been forced
the loyal people, they viii not shrink r
meeting it, and wherever they can e
strike a blow against the animating t
power of the rebellion, which is slavery. C
he blow will be given with a hearty good b
will, and a desire to crush 1t beyond the 7
of any possible resurrection. God g
speed the causeI Il