Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1863-10-02
THE QUESTION OF RECONSTRUC.
TIDN.

TON.
The following extract is from an
able article in the Missouri Democrcl
Of August 20
I'm the settlement of this question,
the first and chief consideration
the one most difficult for amicable
solutions, what course shall be
pursued with regard to slavery. And
at this point it is all important that
we should have correct understand
inc of the stafus which that institu-
tion will hold when the union is ac-
lively reinstatcd The Radicals
wish to make the destruction Of sla-
very in the rebel States a condition
OF their return to the Union say
the Conservatives. This is not so,
for the best of all reasons, viz: that
slavery does not now exist in the
rebel States. On the lst of Janua-
! ry, 1863, slavery in every one of the
States, and parts Of States, then in
rebellion against the Federal Gov
ernment, died. The proclamation of
President Lincoln, the commander
in-chief of the army and navy of the
[ nited States. was its death warrant
1t perished at the hands of the war
power. Legally it can have no eX-
istence in these States. as members
of the Federal Union, until rc-eStab-
lished. The question then is not
whether in the revolving States, up
ON their resumption Of power as
members of the Union. with the con
sent Of the loyal members. slavery
shall be destroyed 1t is whether it
shall be cstablished-the same as up
on soil which had been previously
free. The question is not whether
four millions Of slaves shall be made
frcemen. but whether four millions
OF freemen shall hc made slaves
The States in question. in legal con
temptation. are now free from slave
ry-Shall they remain so, or shall
they by o1- action (for as we have
shown. the loyal States must settle
the question:, he surrendered to sla-
very: Shall the eproclamation-wh which
Is Che nations pledge, through its
proper representative, to four mill
ions of men and women-four mill
ions of men and women who have
been loyal to the Union in the midst
Of treason--bc carried out in good
faith or repudiatcd? Such are the
real, solemn questions which will be
presented to the American people,
and which they must decide so soon
ia the rebellion is over In all hui
man probability they will he called
upon to decide in the next Presidcn-
tial election.
Upon the issue we have presented
we desire to be understood as hold
ing no equivocal position We are
for freedom. Weare for many rea-
sons. Our hostility to slavery
hostility which after the events of
the last thirty months, needs no ex-
PLANTATION, is one reason. Our regard
for the faith of the Nation, which
stands pledged TO the freedmen of
the rebel States by the most solemn
of compacts, and under which at
Port Hudson. ut Fort Wagner. at
Millillen's bend. and elsewhere, the
men of color have furnished the con +
sideration in their blood poured out
as the price of liberty, is another
reason. Another reason, and one of
no LIGHT weight in our estimation, is
our desire To see peace restored with
the Union This will never be, If
slavery Is recognized rs ~ existing
institution in the returning States. ~
At once. in that case. will arise a
thousand embarrassing questions.
which will render the establishment
of order an impossibility. Hundreds
of thousands of negroes, who will in
that ease be recognized as slaves. all
having legal masters. will be found
living and acting rs free men and
women. Some of them will wear
the uniform of Federal soldiers, and
bear the scars of battles they had
fought for the Union which would
them TO bondage. An IL
slave hunt would follow.
leading to scenes of violence and
confusion, surprising anything PAN
ever saw. Peace in the
nion. we are persuaded, Is attaina
bic only upon basis of uncondition-
al craa1orn -