The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-11-06
tFrom the New York Tribune, oct %.
THE ORIGIN OF THE PREsI-
DENTS PROCLAMATION.
Eloquent Letter from Robert Dale
owen.

permission obtained at Washington--a
letter from Robert Dale Owen Of Indi-
ana, to the President Of the United
States. This eloquent and forcible ap
peal for Proclamation OF Emancipation
ns war measure, sure to meet with the
appreciation ofall loyal men, aud to car.
ry confusion into the camp Of the ene-
my, was received by the President few
days before the Proclamation was issu.
ed. Precisely what influence it may
have exercised on the author Of that
Proclamation VIC do not know, but we
do know, from private sources as well
ms from frequent allusions that have
been made to it by the correspondents
of the public journals in Washington,
that it was regarded by others ofa high
official position as a suscinct and admi-
rable statement Of the whole question.
Regarding it as a valuable illustration of
the history of the times, and all the
more so that it comes from one who
has long been distinguished member
ofthe Democratic party, VIC gladly avail
ourselves Of the permission to publish
it. Though a month only has elapsed
since it was written, events are already
justifying the foresight that dictated it.
THE TWENTY THIRD OF SEPTEMBER.
To the President Of the United States:
SIR: In days when the public safety
is immin entity threatened, and tn fate of
nation may hang upon asingle act, we
owe frank speech, above al other men,
to him who is highest in authority.
| shall speak to you as man to an.
Harsh opinions have been formed Of
you; even honest men doubling the
probity Of your intentions. do not
share thir doubts. believe you to be
upright, single-hearted in your desire to
rescue the country in the hour Of her
utmost need, without afterthought Ct
the personal consequences to yourself.
If, among the multitude of contend
ing counsel, you have hesitatcd and
doubted; if, when a great measure sug.
Gested itself, you have shrunk from the
vast responsibility, afraid to go forward
lest you should go wrong, what wonder?
How few, since the foundation Of the
world, have found themselves in a posi-
tion environed with public perils so nu
merous, oppressed with responsi ilties
so high and solemn, as yourselfl
No man ever escaped from such-so
reads the less N of history-without a
hold heart and high faith. Wisdom,
prudence, forethought, these are essen.
tial. But not second to these is that
noble courage which adventures the
right, and leaycs the consequences ia
God.
Men ever follow willingly DARN :
leader; most willingly of all, in great
emergencies. Boldness and decision
com mand, often in evil, tn, respect an |
concurrence of mankind. How much
more in good
There is measure nee ling courage
to adopt and enforce it, which believe
to be of virtue sufficient to redeem the
nation in this its darkest hour; one on
ly; | know of no other to which we may
nationally trust for relief from impend
ing dangers without and within.
The dangers which threaten us are
twofold: First, from the Confederate
forces, composed of men whose earnest
convictions and reckless bravery it is
idle to deny. Secondly, from ourselves,
compelled to make use of military
power so gigantic that no nation ever
permitted the existence of such without
more or less risk to the people who EN-
ployed it, If VIC think lightly of this
latter danger, we slight the teachings OF
all past time.
AS to the first: Have you not had
your moments of doubt whether we are
to succeed at all ?-whether the Union
once so glorious, will ever be reunited ?
whether peace, which we used to en-,
Joy with as little gratitude as we do the
sunlight or the air we breathe, will ever
again settle down over our distracted
country?
If | have doubts Of all this, it is only
because do not konw what your action
will be. We have at our disposal the
means OF certain success; but cannot
tell whether, while there is yet time, you
will decide to employ them.
Our enemies, like the Grecian hero
have one vulnerable point. You have
not touched it yet. What should have
been their Gle ment Of weak ness has beel
suffered to remain an element o
strength. ....
They have nearly million Of able
bodied men of fit age for war or labor
Holding these men in bondage, and em
ployiDg them to till the soil, they ar
enabled to send to tho battlefield al