Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-12-10
TIL E M ESSAGE.

II Is clear to our mind that the country will
accept adherence TO, or rejection of the views
Of the Presidents Message, as the test OF 10y.
atty. The war was made for the benefit Of
slavery. The conspirators who forced 1t upon
the country based and continue to base all
their pleas for the justification Of their rebel
lion, on what they allege to be the necessities
for its protection (ere it was assailed) and the
advancement of its strength as power in the
STATE. In ITS behalf they have brought about
The utter ruin of those confiding in them, and
sill the calamities growing cut of the war ex-
perienced by the loyal. 1t slavery has fur
Dlshed them III every conceivable WAY with
nearly all their sinews OF war. The labor Of
the slaves has not only supplied their armies
for the most part, with food, clothing, mu-
nitions and men, gin their Quartermaster's
commissaries and engineering departments,
but has enabled them to use as ccnscripts
every able bodied white man within tina grasp
of their power.
So long as tneoe conspirators and their chief
sIders aud abettors can con linue the contest in
any manner whatever, they viii do So No
intelligent observer continues to believe that
they will consent to any peace and settlement
short Gt absolute success ca their own terms of
their Efforts to disInember he country, fraught
as that would be, with horrors and dis as.ers to
all the people Of the loyal States, quite equal to
those they have already broug ht on the people
of the States in rebellion.
Now, il II be conceded that the rebellion
Hs1tst be put down and what man making the
slightest pretence TO loyalty holds any other
ground lis it not plain that the speediest and
surest mode of so doing, is o deprive the rebel
leaders of the assistance o. this mainstay of
their work
The emancipation policy has already trans
in aid OF the rebellion, into loyal soldiers in the
field, and as many more into Union quarter
masters, commissaries' and engineers men,
and 1t Is as plain as can be. that in another
twelve months or so il Will transfer nearly all
the able bodied male negroes from the side #
the rebellion 10 that of the Union: and thus
will make the task OF finishing up the work OF
the rebellion's suppression q comparatively
easy one for the balance of the war To ADAM
don the emancipation policy now, would there
fJre be to throw away great lever Of power T.
compel the rebellious States 10 reackIo wledge
the supremacy of the Government Besides, It
has not been attended with Il single one of the
social and domestic horrors and incendiarv
tragedies which hundreds Of thousands of true
and loyal men feared from it, ere the experi
ment was fairly tried Therefore while as =
measure OF II ilitary policy it, has been emi-
Hsatly successful, as measure Of political
aud social policy or economy il has, Per Sc
inflicted no injury whatever upon the State; no
personal outrages having been perpetrated
under its auspices. and 10 loyal man having
lost dollar by the loss of slaves which he
would not surely Ave lost by the natural con-
tingeneles OF this war made in behalf OF the
slave power, if 1t (the war; is to be prosecuted
until the rebellion shall be subdued; the war
having reduced the market value Of slave prop
erty in the border St.tes absolutely to nothing,
before the emancipation policy W as necessarily
rssorted to.
The only possible hope fer restoration of
that value rested on the success of the rebel
lion; which, in turn, in volveu the inter destruc-
ton Of the fortunes and liberties of all III thu
border States who have sided " it'll the cause
of the Union.
Entertaining these views, as II. sincerely do,
we cannot hesitate TO test every mans loyalty
by his adherence 10 or rejection OF the common
sense, practical and patriotic positions upou
this question taken in President Lincoln's mes
sage and the accompanying proclamation,
which latter ccords to all in the South who
would repossess the privileges and blessings Of
United States citizenship, and who may by any
possible chance deserve theIn,d extent OF grace
and mercy betting the character of our Gov
eminent and the identity Of its interest with the
peace, prosperity and happiness OF our whole
people. r...-
Nor should we omit TO call attention to the
emphasis with which, in the Message Presi-
dent Lincoln gives TO those who have doubted
in any degree the strength OF his devotion to
the original principles OF our Government
guarantee OF the adherence of his administra-
ton to the right OF the States yet held In sub
lection by the rebel authorities to resume their
places in the Union at. will, with all their
States rights unimpaired, W hich the exigencies
of this war for the advancement OF the slave
power may not have destroyed