Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-12-12

take the facts or the cnsc, when We rnce this
war to Slavery.
And now the people, North ond South, ore
sutfering the dire calsmities Of war on account
Of this as we'll as the before mention ei sins OF
the nation. This war, as the rod Of God is
held by the strong baod Of eternal justice, and
he will lscerate us as q nation, with stripe upon
stripe, until we repent Of tue sins FOR which we
are srraigped, aud gratefully accept the rich
blessing, which, through such tremendous af
Fiction he is pleased to convey. IL we would
preserve our Nationality aud transmit to pos
terity solid and enduring peace. we must rid
ourselves OF the pr curing causes Of our pres
ent troubles.
| am anxious for peace but want the Con-
stitution as II is, In The letter, spirit and true
meaning Of It, TO be the basis Of peace. Aud
I think see gracious God behiud the dark
cloud that hangs over US, setting in a'ruy the
forces Of thought aud OF principl', which will
result 10 preparing Nation for His slory
Tes, more,-I thiuk see that cloud guided
with magnificent bow Of promise. spanning
our entire country, aud assuring Us Of Curious
future.
w. Another great thing the Lord has done
for US, is found in the present prospect that lie
intends, by this dreadful war, to expunge the
Institution Of Slavery from our political sys-
sem.
During my ministry OF more than thirty
years, l have identified myself with no poti-
cal party, but have kept myself posted in re.
gard to the Slave power in this country, aud by
a careful, and / trust prayerful examination Of
lite nature and tendency, my desire has been
constantly increasing, that this power might
come to au end. The laws of political ecouo
my and the laws Of God alike demad it.
BY the slave power, mean mainly the So
cisl and political influence of the large slave
holders, especially those Of the Calhoun school.
now numbering perhaps not more than 100, 900
This power forms the landed aristocracy of
the South, il rules in the politics and social
ideas Of the Southern people, aud for a long
time, strange as it may seem, it has held al
most an absolute mastery ovr the Federal
Government. And now these meu startle the
moral sense of the world, with the bold declar-
alton. that Slavery is essentially beuefcieut
institution, divine 10 its sanctions, aud that the
special mission of the South is to preserve this
system and extend it as far as possible. Poll
ticiaus, and to very large extent,-Southern
christians, and christian ministers have adopted
this view. Is it moi time that such power,
so antagouistical to our Government and our
free institutions, had come to an end? 1t is
the most formidable antagonist to the progress
Of civilization, Of modern timcs. A system,
which contains within it no germs from which
improvement can spring graviates iDevita-
bly, towards barbarsm, while il is iml eled by
eIgencies inherent in its position crcumstan-
ces. to constant cxleniion Of its territorial
domain. From the year 1919, down to the
present time, the history. of the United States
has been one record Of the sggressions of the
Slave power, ieebly and almost always upsuc-
cessfully resisted by the North, aud culnira-
ting n the present war. ThaIk God for the
hope that our future will be different
Instructed by the course Of events, the Prcc-
ideut. who by the Constitution. is the Com
maDder-in- Chief OF the Army ard Navy has
issued his Proclamation of Emancipation, as
one branch of bis war policy
This measure has been the subject If muca
careful thought Oh the part Of the President
and it deserves our careful and prOyerful con.
sideratioD. 1t should be noted, that the Proc
lamaiion is aimed not at law.abiding citiz,us.
not at those who recognize the authority of the
Constitution. but at rebellious communities, in.
GLIDING those States aud portions of States,
that are in armed rebellion against the Gov.
eminent. The whole power Of those commu
mites is now welded for the destruction Of the
Government. The slaves form part OF this
power. In their present condition, in spite oI
themselves they are practically our enemies, as
truly as their masters-but wh'u freed, they
have invariably acted as our frienls. Certain.
ly then. il is wise policy that endeavors to
weaken the foe and streng hen ourselves, by
freeing them and enlisting their power on ou,
eide.
Some doubt the CoaslitutionaLiy OF the Pres
ilents Proclamation of Emancipation over
looking the provisions of the Constitution in
time ofwar. A greater mistake could not we'll
be made. As the Commander in- Chief of the
Army and Navy, iu time Of war, for the pur,
pose Of weakening aud destroying tue enemy
the Constitution guarantees 10 him the right 10
abolish slavery in the rebelIious States, aud to
do anything and everything that be possibly
can do. wilbio the limit atioas of civilized war
fare, so secure the desired end. Yea, more
The Constitution virtually bids him to do So.
his oath Of Office binds him to do So and il he
were to neglect. or refuse to do so, he would
forfeit all claim TO the conf lencc of the loyal
people, and at the Bar Of God he would stand
condemned for perjury.
kor one. believe ii was impossible. f,r tue
Pres'dsnt to conquer this rebellion and restore
peace 10 the land without removing slavery.
a'd am sare, that the God Of nations and the
Judge Of the oppressed has by the dreadful
discipline Of war driven us to this alternative,