Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-10-11
SATURDAY, OCTOBER II. 1862.
The Emancipation Policy.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER II. 1862.
The Emancipation Policy.
l. has been said that political commissions
no. only produce great men. but Gerry with
Them great lessons, and devolve upon the peo:
pie new duties and responsibilities. Psevs6us
to the present terrible rebellion; no man sup.
posed that CIRCUMSTANCES could arise which
would issessf! the President in issuing proc
>3,anation Of universal freedom to the slaves Of
nine Southern States. with an army Of mil.
lion Of men under his control to carry the de-
cree into effect.
The world had never Witnessed such 81.
gantic rebellion, and the great issues were
never before involvedin revolutionary strug.
Gle. consequently the history Of the past fur
nisles no precedent to direct the action Of our
rulers. They were suddenly thrown upon a
tcmpestuous sea, with tho bark drifting upon
the breakers; a crew divided in opinion and
purpose; with nought for guidance but their
own good judgment and that Providence
which shapes and controls the des.inies Of ma.
lions.
Those who have carefully watched the
course Of the President upon this very diff
6cult slavery question. will not fail to perceive
that he has followed in the wake Of popular
sentiment. without rvincing disposition to lead
OF control the public opinion, and in doing his
no has practically maintained the theory of
our Government, by combining his action to
carrying into effect tho will Of the people.
d. Since the commencement Of the contest, the
public mind has been steadily approaching
the conviction that there was but one way to
permanently end the rebellion. and that was to
abolish slavery throughout the nation. This
could never have been done had not the
Southern fre.eaters precipitated the Cotton
States into fool.hardy rebellion. without Vi.
olation of the Constitution; but now that
emancipation has become necessary to save
the Government from destruction, the act is
not only Constitutional but cxpedient and
proper. 1t may be urged that while it is ls.
Ultimate to free the slaves Of rebel masters. it
IS not 80 to free those of men not identified
with the rebellion; that tho proclamation does
not discriminate these parties, except to allow
compensation to loyal masters. and that they
are, therefore. deprived Of their slaves without
their consent. This may be true, and still it
is no violation Of law. for the Government can
seize upon the property Of an individual when
the interests Of the public require it. No
principle of law is better established than that
private property may be taken for the public
use, At a fair appraisement. If this were de-
MED. Government would have no power to
construct roads, build forts, or establish navy
yards. How insignificant is the exercise Of
these powers compared with the preservation
Of the Creates, Government in the world
It is well understood that the confederates
sndsavored to pledge England and France the
entire abolition Of slavery within the next
fifty years on conditisa that those Govern
mcuts would intervene in their favor. If our
Government had contented itself with the en-
forcement Of the confscation act. under exist.
ing circumstances. it would have only tended
to engcnder a feeling Of sympathy for the
South among the European powers. The
timely proclamation Of the President has
avertcd this danger, and now no fears of inter
vention need be app.shended; but en- the
contrary. it has secured for Us the universal
sympathy Of all advocates Of human freedom
throughout the world. Every one who pre-.
fers the Union to slavery. will approve. with
ont qualification or condition, the course of
The President.
There Is. after all. no reason for regret that
the proclamation was not sooner issued. tits
now demonstrated that the President has
acted wisely in resisting the pressure that was
hronght II bear upon him by the public senti-
mcnt Of the Eastern States, in favor Of the
policy no has now adopted. His remarkable
agacity taught him that to make the measure
effectual It should be preceded by long and
patient cancellation. and while he well apprs-
ciated the danger Of disappointing public
opinion, he seems to have selected the most
propitious time for tts object.
Il is unreasonable to expect that all will
acquiesce in the policy Of emancipation now
proposed. Some men did not approve Of a
resort to arms to suppress tho rebellion, and
tits to DO expected that such men will DE-
nounee the measure. A few whom We have
heretoforo serardcA ms friends Of the Admin