Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-09-29
EMANCIPATION.

REIMAN soc Il n,
or Buffalo Township.
EMANCIPATION.
The Springfield. (Massachusetts) Re-
one Of the most Influential and
powerful Republican papers in the Uni
ted States. expresses our opinion so well
on the effect Of emancipation proclama.
tions, We give an article from that paper
a place in our columns and commend
the statements Of that Journal to all
candid and reasonable men.
Tho Rpeubl;can Gays:
"Our opinion has been from the first
that proclamation Of freedom to the
negroes would have no appreciable ef-
feet upon the war at all-tbat the re-
belIion il to be put down by white men,
and that if We should Issue . proclama-
tiop, we should make ourselves ridic.
ulous and contemplate unless we en-
forced it. To enforce it we have got to
have more men than would be needed
to put down the rebellion alone, because
the armies OF the South are massed and
the negroes are scattered over an extent
Of territory that would render emanci-
patton, without the consent of Southern
masters, Improbable for twenty years.
We have emancipation laws and our
Genel ais are bound to enforce them
Our extremists went for the laws when
they we're passed, but because they do
not seem to bring the negroes very
rapidly into our lines, they try to lay the
failure at the Presidents door, and call
upon him to proclaim the laws. For one,
We wish he would do it, just for the pur-
pose of showing them bow utterly fall
lacious their notions are."
The Republican has its wish; the
proclamation has gone forth and the
fallacy spoken Of will be sure to follow
else we are greatly mistaken. The
Republican states tho case very clearly,
and makes the correct conclusions; not
more so, however, than docs President
Lincoln himself, only q few days since
in reply to a memorial of some religious
fanatics who were urging him to issue
IN emancipation proclamation. "What
good" lie asked, would proclamation
''of emancipation from me do, especially
Sas we are now situatedl do not
swami to issue . document that the
"whole world will see must necessarily
"be imperative, like the Pope's bull
''against the comet. Would my vord
"free the slaves, when cannot even en-
"force the constitution in the rebel
estates? Is there single court, or
"magistrate, or individual, that would
'be influenced by it there? And what
"reason is there to think it would have
"any greater effect upon the slaves than
"ths late law Of Congress, which l ap-
''proved, and which offers protection and
"freedom to the slaves of rebel masters
"who come within our lines. Yet can
"not learn that that law has caused q
Single slave to come over to US. And
suppose they could be induced, by a
''proclamation of freedom from me, to
"throw themselves upon Ne, What shall
"aoe do 10Th them !? How can We feed
and care for such multitude! Gen.
"Butler wrote me, few days siucc that
"he was issuing more rations to slaves
"who have rushed to him than to al
"the white troops under his command.
"They eat, that is ALL"
Could anything be palmer! He de.
olares that an emancipation would be
"inoperative," and ''like the Pope's bull
against the comet" The comparison is
. very apt one. He has merely swal.
lowed his own words; eaten the aboli.
ton dirt that was placed before him and
now stands before the country a mere
plastic model in the hands of abolition
moulders to be made over and shaped
- they please.
It 10 the duty of al lovers Of the Union
and the Constitution to stand Just where
they have stood, regardless Of fauat;cs
It is the duty Of democrats everywhere
70 fight for the restoration Of that Union
fight for it with powder and ball, and
steel in the South-fght for it at the
ballot box ~ against the fanaticism in
the North. No matter what the Presi.
dent has done; no mattrr how vacilla.
tisg he may have shown himself, the
Asnocsscy Of the Northern States have
Aety 70 perform to the country that
ne@ aeTer ~ igoorsd
~ tie peeclsmsti on, unconstitutiou.