Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-03-13
Freedom and Slavery.

South Carolina had declared that State no
longer subject to the Constitution and the
laws Of the country, and attempted to sever
her relations with her sister States, we saw
the prophetic words of Seward and Lincoln
about to be fulfilled. When the guilty trait
ors of Charleston fired upon Sumters walls,
the issue Of freedom and slavery was fully
joined. When the cotton States joined with
South Carolina in her mad rebellion, and pro-
ceeded to form government, then their Vice
President declared their purpose to be to erect
an empire, whose corner stone should be hu-
man slavery. They boldly threw down the
gauntlet, and gave notice to the world, that
having failed to secure for slavery adequate
protection in the old Union, they were deter
mined to fight for the establishment Of slave
empire, out of the Union. We of the North,
towards and cravens as we were, dared not
take up their glove, we dared not meet them
like heroes and champions of universal Gber-
ty and accept their issue. Weheld back, lin.
gered by the way. We lacked the manhood
to grasp error, and engage it in deadly con-
test with truth. We fought battles but to
lose them. We forgot that the battle was
not always to the swift and strong. Mean
time, Europe, with her down trodden and op-
pressed millions looked across the waters and
beheld the CHASTITY spectacle Of nation in.
volved in civil war-the one party waving the
pirates flag in defiance, as its followers pro-
ceeded to erect their empire upon the tolls
and tears, the hopes and fears, the blood and
sweat Of an oppressed people. The other par
ty waving the ever glorious red, white and
blue, chanting the songs of national unity,
but too timid to recognize the great truth
underlying the entire system. A change at
last come DER the spirit of our dreams
dreams that had strangely infatuated our
minds with the belief that we could fight
against slavery without destroying or disturb
ing it.
Our duty was plain. The rebels having
declared themselves the champions of that
institution, it was our duty to stand forth as
the champions Of freedom. Theories at last
gave way to probabilities. Yet Europe was
not with US. The hearts of her millions had
not yet been stirred. They wanted evil
dence that we were contending for universal
liberty Recommending where all charity COM
mences, at home-to prove our faith. twas
discovered that our armies could not make
their measured tramps over rebellious cotton
fields and through rice swamps without I'M
settling the kindly relation of master and
slave. Other facts were developed-all finally
eliminating in the decree Of emancipation to
slaves of rebels. Its echoes travelled the waste
Of waters, and at once aroused the sympa-
thies Of the people of Europe with our cause
We had dared to meet the rebel issue; we
had declared in favor of freedom and against
slavery. We thereby touched the heart
strings of oppressed humanity throughout
the world. Where Emperors but few days
since desired mediation in our affairs, the PEG.
pie rise up and say, "hands off! our hearts,
our prayers, are all with freedom" BY
emancipation we have alienated the hearts Of
the southern people, who were in rebellion
against us with arms in their hands we have
chilled the patriotic impulses Of those among
us who were opposed to invading southern
soil from the outset. And in return, we have
obtained the earnest sy,npathies and prayers
of all Europe, and mediation is thing Of
the past. A few days since, a Congress,
+" the most eventful in the history of the
world" Tin the language Of that true Demo
cratic statesman, Robert j. Walker,) dis
persed. Jus: before adjournment, the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations-c composed
Of Charles Sumner, the radical; Gov. Hicks,
of Maryland, the moderate; and Garrett Davis,
the pro-slavery conservative, Of Kentucky,
with others-unanimously reported to that
body series of resolutions, alleging that this
rebellion was inaugurated, not by abolition
lists, but by the slave oligarchy of the South
protesting against foreign mediation, and
calling upon Europe to witness that the
struggle now going on was struggle between
freedom and slavery. The most conservative
friends of the Union recognize this great fact.
When such conservatives as Garrett Davis
grapple with this great truth, is it not time
for thinking men who follow to ask, "Shall I
ignore the light upon the coast, and sail on
amid its fogs and breakers until the ship be-
comes foundered wreck ?'' ....
As the rebels will not return to their ALE
glance and enjoy the protection which the
Constitution gives to their property-as they
have waged war for slavery, let the free and
enlightened millions of the North stand by
freedom. Let US faunt to the breeze our
banners, and march on, inspired with that
sublime declaration that all men, whether
from the Rhine, the Hague, the Tiber, the
Amazon, the Thames, or the Seine-of what
ever clime-are free and equal" God willed
them so; SO let man make them. The Great
II Am who commands the armies of Heaven
and Earth, never took sides with oppression.
With God for US, who can be against us?
Let the watchword ring out and far near
that America is committed to universal free
dom. Let slavery die and let the dead bury
their dead. Let America, when she shall
emerge from the smoke of the battle field,
present to the world no stain upon her es-
cutcheon. Let us, as we have the opportuni-
ty, make this land what it was designed to
be, the land of the free. Ye who have for
saken the matched cottage Of your continent
al homes, who have been sorely pressed by
the hand Of tyranny and have periled life up