The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-04-29
En- ancipatiOn.

Eg A writer in the Baltimore .4mer-
lean, said to be Hon. REvERDY JOHNSON,
responds cordially to the proposition OF
the President for joint action by the peo-
pie of the States and of Congress looking
to the emancipation of Slavery in the
border States. He says:
"There is not thoughtful man in our coun-
try who now thinks that slavery will endure.
Much has been said, and, perhaps, some will
continue to dispute, respecting the class of peo-
pie whose conduct in regard to the institution
has caused the present calamities. Some blame
the abolitionists some the nulliters others
both these parties. But the time for this dis
putation is past. Whether either or all these
parties. and others, have done wrong, and I'M
doubteIly they have, it is not now materially to
inquire. All practicable men are now sensible
that slavery so affects the people, whether it
ought to do so or not, as to make it terrible in
stituton to our race. They see that it imbrues
brothers hand in brothers blood, and in
vites foeign despots to plant monarchies on our
continent. With this result before us, the only
inquiry should be how to get rid of an institu-
ton which produces such miseries. Some urge
instant and universal abolition as the effective
and proper course, but the President adopts the
recommendation of our great southern states
men, made before slavery became political
hobby, viz I: gradual emancipation, with com
pensation and the separation of the races. Many
Of our people, and especially the sc cessionists
and those who-without having any property
interested in it-have found their account in
slavery rs a political hobby, will oppose Mr..
Lineoln's policy, and so do their best to bring
upon US the more violent alternative. But the
people of the State will sustain him. They
will now listen to the sages and patriots who
founded the Government and warned us to
eliminate slavery, and will close their ears to
that selfish tribe of partisans who would risk its
destruction merely to carry an election"
Upon this the american, one of the
most conservative and most influential
journals of Maryland, remarks
That the loyal men Of the nation will long
er toleiate slavery as political hobby" is
not possible. 1t has to go to the wall, "peac-
ably, if it will-forcibly, if it must ;" and those
who debate its merits in future, even here in
Maryland, will have to confne themselves to
its pecuniary aspects. The precipitators''
have pretty nearly precpitated it !; have drag
ged it at least to the brow of precipice, and it
is idle to disguise the truth So far the Con-
stitution can be appealed to for its safety, it is
for the present safe. But we hazard nothing
in warning the people Of Maryland to lose no
time for considering the question presented by
the President in his Message, and again pre-
scented from high source in the letter we have
given. Those most deeply interested as its de-
fenders-the believers in the doctrines put for
ward by South Carolina, by Stephens and
Yancey-may now, after the mischief is done
here, fold their arms. throw themselves back on
their dignity-on their g reserved rights and
ignore what is impending but the nation is
aroused by an unprovoked war, the civilized
world is aroused-according to the late declar-
atoms of Mr.. Yancey hmself-ard none here
need attempt to ignore facts so full Of mean
ing"