The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-08-22
Jf[tstellaneous.
Tho Policy OF Emancipation.
Words OF N True Dcmocrnt-Lctter from
Robert Dale Owen.


of War.
SIR: My political antcccdents are known
to you. Always Democrat, but never a
Pro-Slavory Democrat; opposed, in princi-
pie and feeling, from my youth up, to HUI
man Slavery, but believing until recently
that, in tho interests of Liberty itself, 1t was
the part of wisdom in the North to abstain
from interference with tho danger-fraught
domestic institution of the South, and to
trust to time for its eradication; opposed,
with hereditary aversion, to war, was
willing, before the sword was drawn. to
make any honorable concessions that might
avert its horrors.
But political convulsions bring with them
great lessons and new duties. War would
not, under the Divine economy, have been
permitted, as in all past ages it has been, it
it had not its mission. But to attain tho
good it brings We must recognize its necessi-
ties.
No civil war Of proportions so gigantic as
that now raging ever existed in the world
before. II differs from all others, both in
the results sure to onsuc from its protraction
beyond a brief period, and in the conditions
under which, out of evil. it may cycntuatc
in good. In calculating these, time is an
essential element.
Seven or eight hundred millions are spent.
At the best, rs much more is likely to co.
Two thousand millions or upward is not nm
improbable total That is half the national
debt of England; and the interest on it
(probably at double the rate she pays) will
make our annual burden nearly equal to
hers. IL the war lasts three years longer,
these figures may bo doubled. 1t must not
last three years longer unless We arc willing
to risk national bankruptcy.
How is it to be terminated?
BY concession? That is no longer in our
power. We can buy truce, n pause, by
concession to the South; nothing moro.
By force of arms, then? But IL by force,
il must be quickly done. Delay is defeat.
And it must be ofIectually done. After
one such war the nation may revive, its encr-
cies still elastic; solvent still and respected.
A second will run it financially, to say moth
ING of worse ruin. To save tho country,
then, the war must not terminate without
sufficient guaranty against It's resumption.
How can the war be quickly and eilectual-
ly terminated? What guaranty is sufficient,
that II will not be resumed?
Gradually, very gradually, rs this contest
proceeded, have been approaching tho con-
yiction that there Is but one such guaranty (:
the emancipation OF negro slaves throughout
this continent. Pcrhaps-but as TO this less
ccrtain-that measure Is the only sure means
of terminating, quickly and effectually, this
war. The recent reverse under Gen. McClel-
Ian, the scattered Rebel fires daily bursting
forth in States which our forces had already
oycrrun, the fact that wo arc fighting against
brave men of our own race. all increase tho
probability that we must deprive the South
of legal right to its four millions of labor
ers before we can succeed against their mas
ters in reasonable time and in an efcctual
manner.
am not an advocate of revolutionary
short cuts out of difficulty. am not in
favor of violating tho Constitution by way OF
escaping danger. There might bc immc.
diatc advantage, but the precedent is rcplote
with peril.
Could Slavery have been abolished, by
Northern action, while peace yet existed be-
tween the North and South, without viola
tion of the Consultation? in other words,
without revolutionary act? Clearly not
Can Slavery be eradicated now, in war, with
out such violation? If emancipation be
necessary to insure the permanent peace and
safety Of our Government, and IT we are
willing to pay to all loyal slave-owners a
reasonable price for their slaves, clearly yes
For no principle in law is better establish
ed than this. that when important public
interests demand it, private property may be
taken, at fair appraisement, for public use
The opening Of street in Improving city,
the running Of railroad, arc held, in this
and other civilized countries. TO be objects of
sufficient Importance to justify what tho
French laws appropriation forcec pour
cause d'miLite puJli9ue."
But of Importance how utterly trivial is
the opening of u street, or OF railroad,
compared to the preservation, in its inteSri-
ty, of the greatest republic upon earth!
Ought we to declare general emancipation
coupled with provision for tho payment, to
all loyal shareholders, Of tho fairly appraised
value of their slaves? This question resolves
itself into another: Have things gone so
far that the Union in its peaceful integrity,
and NcgrO-Saycry within its borders can no
longer co-exist? That is THE GREAT QUEs.
TloN OF TIE BAY. think it must be
answered, even now, in the Affirmative
Every month that passes is converting hund-
reds Of thousands OF moderate and conscrya-
tive and pcacc-loyinS men to tho same opin-
ion. They despair Of sectional friendship or
national peace, until the teeming causes of
mortal hatred and civil war is rooted out for
ever.
Have we the means OF paying loyal slave
owners fair price for their slaves? II We
act now, before protracted contest has ex.
haustcd our resources, yes. IL We wait the
termination OF three or four years war,
very certainly, no.
In that price deportation must bc estimat-
cd. The South asserts that negro slaves are
indispensable to her. That is only 50 lar
true that she docs absolutely need hired
negro workmen, and ought not to be deprived
of them. Her agriculture would for a timc,
be ruined without them. But no good man
desires settlement under which any section
of our country would DO even temporarily
ruined.
Nor can it be doubted that the South,
however strong hcrprcjudiccs and traditions
in favor of owning her laborers. has herself
been brought, by the perils Of the hour, to
think seriously OF change Of system Us tho
only means left her to obtain aid and comfort
from Europe. Nor can all her leaders bc
wholly blind to the fact that such change
of system would advance, in tho end, beyond
calculation, her material prosperity.
Suppose declaration, to the effect that
the Government, urged by the necessity Of
sclf.prcscrvation, takes, at fair valuation,
the slave property Of the South! Will such