Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-10-20
Freedom Convention of the Slave
States.--TO the Friends OF Free
dom I'm the SlaVe-hOlding States.


near three years, taxing all the strength
and devotion of the loyal people Of this
republic to suppress the rebellion, has
developed no fact more striking than the
necessity of assimilating all re-occupied
territory before peace can be reposed
upon. The intrinsic hostility between
communities differing so widely in their
social structure re-appears constantly in
the rear of our conquests with more viru-
lence from the temporary depressions in
hicted. Assimilation, and with it per-
manent peace, can only take place upon
the doing away with that institution upon
which the rebellion is predicated, and
from which it derives all its sympathy
and encouragement in the loyal States
Nowhere are there now seen either men
or parties embarrassing the prosecution
of the war who do not connect Herewith
an open hostility to all measures that
tend to relieve the country of the slave
system. To suppress by force this re-
bellion, therefore, if such course were
much more practicable than it has been
found to be, and leave the cause un-
touched to breed other rebellions, and
enkindle hereafter constant animosities
ready as the present has done to appeal
for solution to the arbitrament of civil
war, would be national suicide. Its eff
fects upon the several States would be
even more disastrous, antagonizing them
against each other necessarily from the
presence of that institution, around which
would cling so many memories of past
conflict, and laying waste their fields, de-
populsting their villages, making all ten
ures Of, life and property utterly Insecure
in the subsequent strife for supremacy
that would result between different
classes of the community. Hence it is
that an insistance upon freedom policies,
both national and state, presents itself as
the supremest duty of the hour-a duty
not to be subordinated to any theory of
the past or any hesitancy of the present.
Indeed, the making of such an issue in
the re-conquered territory and in those
slave States which have adhered to the
Union is one of present selfpreservation
to them, as has been amply demonstra-
ted by the atrocities perpetrated under
the name of guerrilla warfare through
out Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri,
Maryland, and Kentucky, and demands
a promptitude of action coincident with
the distress entailed by the mere exist
eGce of slave system in our midst.
Changes which, In other days and for
other reasons, might well have assumed
gradual character, nov find III the
perils of the times no excuse for delay.
but every incitement to an immediate
corrective.
To insure, however, the requisite unily
and support to the friends of freedom in
the slave States, it is primarily essential
that the General Governments should in
its civil, no less than its military admin
istration, a line of action that will recog-
nize, so far as may be authorized, free
dom to be the true basis of loyalty, and
give to the communities involved suffi-
cient guarantees that there will be no
retrogression in the future; but on the
contrary, an effective carrying out of the
principles embodied in the civil code un-
der the confscation act, and in the mill
tary direction by the Proclamation of
January l, 1868. This is necessary be-
cause few will be disposed to engage in
the work of those changes needed for
any thorough assimilation or any posi-
tive uprooting of slavery, If they are to
be left unsupported to reap their reward
from the slave power, reinstated as DOM
inant in either States or nation. But it
is to be remarked in this connection, that
the General Government has assumed
the attitude of awaiting full and
further Specification of the popular
thought, and this can only be ELECTED by
the friends of freedom throughout the
slave States making such appeal to the
people of the nation as will riyet their
attention upon the great dangers impend.
ing, arouse them to manifestations oi
sympathy with the cause of human lib
erty and leave no room for any doubt as
to the course that should be pursued
by rulers solicitous to reflect their will
For these reasons; for the promotion
of more cordial understanding between
those who concur in the necessity o.
adopting freedom policies; for the more
effective initiation of local State organ
izations to accomplish the work of eman
cipation; and for such mutual inter
change of opinions and experiences a
may make the teachings of the pas
profit in the guidance of the present.
an invitation is hereby extended to thu
, friends of freedom residing in all tn
: slave States, to meet in mass convention
, at the city of Louisville, KY, on the Stl
day of January next coming.
I Those favorable to such assemblag
are requested to take measures in thei
respective districts for an attendanc
that will secure them representation.
Newspapers approving this call are re
: ouested to give it circulation.
e Respectfully submitted,
n | B. GRATZ BROWN, S. II. BOYD,
FRED. M0ENCH, BEN. LOAN,