The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-09-25

! tltES- lie i!d3 lug Nooih VI
Slavery on the American Continent. After
dallying with this great sin, because he
dreaded to do violence to the Interests and
wishes of any portion OF the people, he
has accepted the lesson OF experience, and
ends the war by putting an end to Its
cause If this rebellion has taught us any
thing, it is that by slavery We have been
defeated in our national progress-by
slavery the richest and fairest portions OF
our Republic have been kept as desert
and wildefness-by slavery great part
of the people have been estranged from
one another-by slavery our institutions
have been prevented from developing the
blessings our fathers intended they should
bestow. Slavery has been the perpetual
disgrace to the American name. Slavery
has bloomed into sedirion, and rlpened
into war. Why should it live? 1t has
menaced our dearest rights, and, has rob
| bed us of our dearest kindred. This fear
full monster, intertwinlng itself around the
vitals of the Republic, retarding its growth,
| destroying its usefuless, making its very
existence wretched, at last sought to take
the life which had nourished it, and to
rerd the bosom on which it had grown
| LII Scll-UcleuCe We nave hicotiSO III 4tH
! embraces-wrestled in blood, war, carnage,
desoation, and slaug ughter-and all IN vain.
| The struggle is now for life or death. If
slavery lives the Republic dies. The Re-
/ public must live, and so slavery must die.
! This is the meaning of the Presidents
| proclamation, and his words record sla-
very's inevitable doom.
President Linc0n has followed the log
| ical course OK events in issuing this proc
lamation. He has been neither too soon
nor too late He has u multitude OF
interests to consult. all of which involved
the social, commercial happiness of our
people. He found the Institution of
slavery sustaining good agricultural
interest in many States Of the Union
Cotton. ,ice, tobacco, and other staples,
seemed to live upon its labor, and vast
European and American enterprises de-
pended on its preservation. The hamlets
of Lancashire-and counting rooms Of
New Iork-the mills of Lowell to the
looms of France TO the uttermost ends of
the earth-in India and Australia the
safety of the cotton crop aud the prorec-
tion of labor were matters OF comfort and
necessity, raiment and bread. 1t was not
an easy thing to proclaim decree so
universal in its application, and SO radical
and even disastrous in its operation. And
to the honor Of President Lincoln let Us
record it-that he did not make this proc
lamaton until the masters of the cotton
crop and cotton labor compelled him to do
so by their treason and violence. Slavery
might have passed away in its own good
time, under the gentle influence Of benefi-
cent free institutions, and the world would
not have felt the change. But this did
not satisfy the ambition of its lords, nor
minister to their cupidity- They grasped
at universal empire and sought 20 overthrow
free republic, that republic with sla-
very for its corner stone might be erected
on its foundation. How much they have
done to accomplish this wild and terrible
design, the dreadful experiences of the
past two years the blood that has been
shed-the devastation that has everywhere
extended-and the sad history these days
are creating, will testify. That history is
at an end. The President turns new
leaf, and, at the head of the page writes
-Eman1pation.
He has written emanci patton, and there |
1t will last forever, tribute to has own |
wise states .nanship aud the fortitude Of
the American people. The patience and
self denial We have manifested from the |
beginning, in fighting this war with smaller
weapons, while the great engine OF death |
sill remained in the arsenal, must forever
be wonder. But as we have been patient
and sef-denying before, let US be active,
vigilant and unrelonting now. Ii any one |
ever dreamed that out of this chaos of War
and destruction peace might suddenly !
come as compromise, or by submission, |
let him dismiss it from his brain like an |
idle dream that it was. This proclamation
of the President ends the rebellion 1t |
will not do SO to-day, nor even tomorrow,
but it will end it IN a very short time, and |
in very summary manner. We are now
putting the axe to the root; heretofore we
have contented ourselves with trimming
the boughs, and breaking the branches,
forgetting that new life was constantly |
oozing from the soil 1t does not come as
a wild exhibition of despair, nor asa mere
effort to rouse a dropping public sentiment
or rally beaten and disheal tened columns.
II is the manifestation of Northern power;
ii is the result of overwhelming victories.
We have shown the rebels that the sword
is potent with US; we have shown them
that, without going beyond the mere vol
untary offerings Of life aud treasure, we
have laid their conscript Confedcracy at
our feet, and now We propose TO crush
where we have conquered, aud to take
away the life of the great criminal who
has been indicted and convicted at the bar
of Christian civilization.