The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-01-06

&c In the history of the World there
has occurred no such boon to Humanity,
as the Gift made by ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
Commander.n Chief Of the army and
navy OF the United States, on tie 1st OF
January last, Of freedom and manhood 10
three Millions OF Slaves. On that day
the yoke and the incubus Of chattelism
was stricken, BY his hand, from the
necks and the hearts Of three Millions of
Gods children, and they were sent forth,
clad in the robes, possessing the dignity,
the rights, the glorious aspirations, of
manhood. What a day for the philan-
throphist What a day of rejoicing for
the lovers Of humanity! What day Of
thanksgiving for him who believes that
among the inalienable rights of all men
is the right 10 Life, Liberty and the
Pursuit of Happiness How tremen-
dous must be its influence for Good -
How momenous its effect is loosening
the CHAINS Of mental bondage. Not only
three Millions Of bodies set free, but
three Millions Of minds unclaimed, and
Invited to Improvement. Can The mind
conceive of a more glorious carnival I?
Can brighter picture present itself to
charm the senses Of The lovers of Liberty
and the friends of humanity throughout
The World
But gratifying as this immortal edict
offreedom may be. viewed merely as a
boon TO an oppressed people, that is
scarcely the aspect in which it will be
regarded by the American mind. While
perhaps in after ages, ABRAHAM LINCOLN
will be honored that he was not faith
less 10 the requirements of justice, and
neglected not tic great opportunity Of
freedom, il must detract from the glory
Of the achievement that the American
nation was forced 10 the step not so much
from love Of justice, as through con
seriousness Of It's necessity for their own
preservation Nor will il be TO our
credit hat even in this great strait of
our country there were thousands Of
men, away from ho influence Of slave
~, having no lot or part in It, who were
yet so fai;hless to all the obligations Of
patriotism, freedom, justice and right, as
Ia be Willing that tho country should
perish rather that slavery should die.
History records wild a golden pen, the
names Of WnEERFoRcE, CLARKsoN. Bur
LER, and their coadju,ors in the work of
British Emancipation, and regards with
but l,t'le cha'iy the memory oithose who
opposed, revi.ei and traduced those men
and their Efforts. But what viii be the
judgment OF history upon those tools of
slavery al The north, who, even for the
preservation and Porpetuity Of our noble
iaollc OF goyernment-whoe even for The
sake Of their own liberties, and for the
cause e Republican insttuions-would
not strike a blow against that monster /?
To those who 1--we to see ibis great meas
ure OF emancipation established, Il Will
be sad reflection that they s.rove to
impede ii. To those who i've in history
as il opponents, it viii be a brand Of
eternal disgrace. The Democratic par.
y must 81 down to posieriy with the
opProbium Of opposition 70 emancipation
upon it.
We hail The measure with gratitude,
not only because we believe it to be one
of simple justice 10 The black man, but
because We feel i, to be necessary to the
welfare Of the White MN We hail i. with
confidence in The light in which il was
Presehted--a measure simply for the pre-
selva'ion Of tie country. We believe
with Gen. BUTLER, as expressed in his
farewell address 10 lie people Of New Or.
leans, that months Of experience have
forced the conviction that tie existence
OF slavery Is incompatible with the safety
Of ourselves or Of The Union" We hail
il with gratitude because we believe that
slavery must die HAT the Union may live.
We halt ii because, il the language of
President LrycoLN. we believe that "ia
giving freedom % the slave we insure
freedom 10 Tie free, honorable alike ID
what we give in what we preserve. We
Shall n0Lly save or mcanlv lose tha last