, 1862-12-11

mighty, to restore to freedom a race Of men.
II you are tempted by an imperishable name, it
is within your reach. We may look through
ancient and modern history, yet scarce find q
sovereign to whom God offered the privilege Of
bestowing on humanity boon so vast.
Such an offer comes to no human being twice
1t Is made to you to day. How long 1t will re-
main open-whether in three months or in one
month from now, 1t will be at your option to ac-
cept it-GOd, who reads the hearts Of men, alone
knows.
And this brings me to speak OF another class
Of dangers-those which may arise here in the
North-among ourselves.
Do you read the daily newspaper press, that
wonderful and instructive modern index Of the
passing opinions Of the times? II 50, have you
not recently seen there signs that startled you
advice, audaciOuslY given In certain quarters that
it is time the army should take the power into
| its own hands and demand the dismissal from
your Cabinet Of the best men in It Have you
no facts in your own experience going to prove
that such audacity has not shown its head with
out power and numbers that render It fOrmidR-
bleI do not fear It not now IL tits strangled
at its birth. But he tempts Providence who
suffers that spirit Of anarchy to grow and gather
strength before striking blow for its destruc
ton.
You cannot be ignorant Of the design Of these
men. He that runs may read It. They see
that we are drifting towards emancipation. They
see that the demand from the masses Of our peo-
pie for this great measure is becoming, day by
day, more importunate. They know that ma
jOrity Of your Cabinet favor It They feel as
sured, as to yourself, that IL the option remain
with you, IL is but question Of time and Of
form when and how proclamation Of emanci-
patton will be issued. They perceive but one
power that has any chance successfully to arrest
this stream and coerce your action. Openly
they appeal to it Openly they declare that Cab
met Ministers must be imposed upon you by
military dictAtion. No other course is left them
to effect their great object namely, to PeTpetuate
among us that slavery which the nation, with
determination which increases from day to day,
is resolved to uprOot
One blow may be dealt by you against these
men that will crush forever their, REASONABLE
cabals. 1t is the same that lays the foundation
Of peace and assures, beyond possible peradven-
ture, the downfall Of the rebellion. They know
their danger. They read emancipation in all
the signs Of the times Il is to them the hand
writing on tie wall, foreshadoWing their political
fate. What wonder that they resort to desper-
ate means 70 arrest It's adventf
Shall they be allowed time, BY lhsidious argu-
msnt, 10 entiee the unwary into the ranks Of Sc
ditionf BY prompt action alone can you pre-
quiesce in thousand things, once righteously
and boldly done, to which, 4 proposed to them
in advance, they, might find endless objection
Do you hesitatef viii you delay the bowf
See to it, that when, at last your resolution Is
taken, the power may not have already passed
away from your hands.
The Esd Of September approaches-the date
when the sixty days notice you have given to
the rebels will expite-expite without other re-
ply to your warning than the invasion Of Mary
land and menace to Pennsylvania. Is il to
rest there Patiently we have waited the time.
Is nothing TO Iollowi Are our enemies to boast
that we speak brave words-and there an end
Of itl ,a.Ie. ,.,rs. .,,
what day, II yot but will II may that 2Sd
Of September become. A day to the rebels Of
despair, to every loyal heart Of exultant rejoic-
ing. A day Of which the anniversary will be
celebrated with jubilee while the American Union
endures A day to be remembered not in our
land alone, but wheretrt humanity mourns over
the wrongs Of the slave, or rejOices in bis liberia
ton.
You are the FIRST President to whom the op-
portunity was ever offered consttutionally to IN
augurate such aday. II you fail US now, you
may be the last Lin, then; the weight from the
heart Of this people. Let them breathe free once
more. Extirpate the blghting curse, living
threat throughout long years past, that has smit.
ten at last with desolatiOO land TO which God
had granted everything but wisdom and justice.
Give back to the nation its hope and faith in q
future Of peace and undisturbed prosperity.
FulflAyou can far more than fnlfl-the bright
est anticipations Of those who, in the name Of
human freedom, and in the face Of threats that
have ripened into terrible realities since, fought
that battle which placed you where you now
stand.
RoBERr DALE OWEN.
New York, September II, 1868.