The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-12-10

btIhNhNt wv hl III Nhlu NOuhlhNbs hN
District has more than one free colored
person TO six whites and yet, in its ire
qucnt petitions to Congress, believe II has
never presented the presence of free col.
ored persons az one Of its grievances.
But why should emancipation South send
the freed people North People Of any
color seldom run unless there be something
to run from. Heretofore, colored people to
some extent have fed North from bondage,
and now perhaps from both bondage aud
destitution; but if gradual emancipation or
deportation be adopted, they will have
neither to flee from. Their old masters
will give them wages, at least until new
laborers can bo procured, and the freed
men in turn will gladly give thcir labor for
the wages, till new homes can be found for
them in congcnal climcs, aud with people
of their own blood and race.
This proposition can be trusted to the
mutual interests involved, and In any
event, cannot the North decide for itself
whether to receive them Again, as prac-
ticc proves moro than theory III any case,
has there boen any irruption OF colored
people northward because of the abolish
mcnt Of slavery in this District last spring
What ] have said Of the proportion OF
free colorod persons TO tho whites in the
District, is from the census of 1860, having
no reference to persons called contrabands,
nor to those made free by the act of Con
grcss abolishing slavery here. The plan
consisting of these articles is recommended,
not but that restoration OF tho national
authority would be accepted without its
adoption, nor that the war, nor proceedings
under the Proclamation Of September 22
1862, will be stayed because of the recon.
mendation Of this plan. Its timely ad0p
ton, doubt not, would bring restoration
and thereby stay both. And notwithstand
| ing this plan, the recommendation that Con
gress provide by law for compensatins any
State which may adopt emancipation before
this plan shall have been acted upon, il
hereby earnestly renewed, Such would
only he an advance part Of the plan, ant
the same arugments apply to both.
This plan is recommended an a means no
in exclusion OF, but additional to, all otheri
for restoring and preserving the nationa
authority throughout tho Union. The sub
| ject is presented excnsivcly in its ecOnom
ical aspect. The plan would, am conf
dent, secure peace more speedily than cal
be done by force alone, while il would cos
less, considering amounts and manner o
payment, and times of payment, and thu
amounts would be easier paid than will b'
the additional cost Of the war, If we rel,
solely upon force.
1t il most likoly--very likely-that i
would cost no blood at ALL The plan il
proposed ~ permanent constitutional law
Ii cannot become such without the concur
renee of, first, two-thirds Of Congress, AM
aftcrward three -fourths Of the States. Th
requisite three-fourths of the States vii
necessarily include seven Of the slav
States. Their concurrence, if obtained
will give assurance Of their several
adopting emancipation at no distant day
upon the now constitutional terms. Thi
assurance would end the struggle now ant
save the Union forever.
do not forget the gravity which shoult
characterize Il paper addressed TO the Con
gress of the nstiun by the Chief Magistrat
of the nation nor do forget that some u
you are my seniors, nor that many Of you
have more experience than in the conduc
of public oftairs yet trust that, in view g
the great responsibility resting upon III,
yuu will perceive no want OF respect
yourselves in any undue earncstness | ma
seem to display.
Is it doubted then, that the plan propos,
b il adopted. would shorten tho war, an
thus lessen it's expenditures of money an
bloodg Is it doubted that it would restor
tho national authority and national prospe
ity, and perpetuate both indefinitely?
Ia it doubted that we here, Congress an
,, Executives. can secure its adoption wi
not the good people respond TO unite
, and earnest appeal from usH Can we, Gu
they, by any other means, 30 certainly,
) 81 speedily assure these vital objects? W
can succeed only by concert. 1t is III
Can any of III imagine better but "Ca
we all do bettcr?" Object wherosoevcr
possible, still the question recurs, Can "
do batter"
Tho dogmas Of tho quiet past are ina'
cQuatc to the stormy present, The occ
sion is piled high with difficulties, and "
must riso with the occasion. As our car
is new, so we must think anew, and n
anew We must disenthrall ourselves, At
, then we shall save our country.
Fellow citizens, we cannot escape hlstor,
We of this Congress will he rcmcmbeUt
, in spite of ourselves. No personal Signi
cameo or insigniiicance can spare one or II
4 other of us. The fiery trial through whi'
= = we pass will light us down i'll honor
! dshonor to the latest generation.
! We say that we are for the Union. Il
j world will not forget that while wo say III
We do know how to save the Union. III
d world knows we do know how to save
. We. even we here, hold the power, and be
!. the responsibility.
y In giving freedom to the slave, we
70 sure freedom TO the free, honorable alike
l. what we give and what we preserve.
We shall nobly save or meanly lose Il
f last. best hopo OF the earth.