The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-10
The Radicals and the ion
on the " COntraband'' Question.


on the COntraband'' Question.
1t is impossible to divorce the question
of Slavery from the conduct of the war.
Even under the operation of the most con-
sentative policies that have been suggested,
the Contraband" will occupy the fore-
ground, and, with cap in hand, ask, with
WEBSTER, Where shall l go? And the
question of the i" Contraband" has got to
be answered. All the old radicals, and
many new ones, insist that he shall be done
up in blue, gathered into regiments, and,
in the pay and service of the Federal Cow
eminent, be employed in the field to crush
out this traitorous rebellion. This policy
is advocated by the Iribunes and Irsdepeasd-
snts of the Press, and by the SUMMERS,
LANES, and LovEJoYs of the Federal Con.
gress. 1t was in depreciation of this policy,
that the President, in his late Message, ex-
pressed bis anxiety that the war should not
"degenerate into violent and remorse>
less revolutionary struggle" And it was
Indicative of his determined hostility to
such policy, when he admonished Con.
gress not to adopt " radical and extreme
measures u; and reminded them, that,
throughout the whole course of this rebel
lion, he had " thought it proper to keep the
integrity of the Union prominent, as the
primary object of the war on our part"
Now, in regard to these polcies-the
radical and extreme" one, of the universal
emancipation and arming of slaves, and the
conservative one, which has thus far been
adhered to by the President,-we do not
propose to enter into any elaborate discuss
sion or argument. But we will suggest a
single point for the consideration of
our people. And that point is, that the
adoption of the radical policy would lead to
the political and social equality of utterly
homogeneous races. If we reason from no
higher basis than single but universal
characteristic OF our race-that man is
fighting animal we there ind the ground
work of the fact that the soldiers of nation
are always the favorites of its people. Those
who risk their lives in defence of the lber-
ties of a country, have everywhere been re-
garded as entitled to the largest share in
the fruits of their success And it is diff.
cult to see how the country could accept
the military services OF Negro slaves, as a
class, in this war for the preservation of
the Union, without placing itself under OBJ
legations which it could not disregard, to
accord to them all the political rights
springing from the institutions that had
been saved through their fundamentally.
The step from political to social equality is
but short one and it is one which, if the
| political barrier between the races be
broken down, will be sure soon to be taken.
The radical policy, therefore, which begins
with universal emancipation and military
service, must lead to political equality, and
end in social amalgamation, in the debase-
ment of our people, and the destruction of
our Government.
1t will be objected that the precedents do
not justify the apprehensions here enter
tanned. The case of the enrolment of slaves
by General JACKSON, and the fact that,
though manumitted, political and social
privileges were never accorded to them, will
be cited. This case forms no precedent
whatever. 1t was. not race thus emanci-
pated, and employed in military service, but
an inconsiderable fraction. The mass of
their class still remained in bondage; and
every surrounding influence forbade the de
sire or thought of any essential change in
in their condition. But the proposition of
| the radicals now, is, to emancipate the
race; and to place them, as race, on
military footing with our citizen soldiery,
who comprise the pick and flower of the
intelligence and best manhood of the coun.
try. With the shackles of their bondage
thus stricken from their limbs trained in
military standing with our chivalric voluna
teers; the negro race would not only ave
the desire for, but they would possess the
power to enforce, recognition of their
rights to political and social equality with
the whites. And in the assertion of this
right, our whole political history proves
that they weuld have the aid and champion.
ship of proportion of the radicals of
the North, who are now clamorous for
their universal emancipation, and their adop.
ton into the grand army of the Union.
Were there no other considerations in.
volved in this radical policy if it were not
certain that its success would result in the
utter decentralization of our army, and in the
destruction of the Union sentiment now la.
tent throughout all the South these here
presented ought to unite our people, as one
man, in support Of the conservative policy