Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-01-16

evils, that if she could not alone SKATER
this accurse. Union, she could at least throw
her arms around the pillars of the Consttu-
ton and involve all the States in a common
RUM
Further-We have attached little impor
lance comparatively to the issuance Of the
proclamation in question, or to the one Of
September, because unsupported by mill
tary advance, slavery cannot be reached -
and the paper illumination is to that extent,
therefore, little better than dead letter.
And if slavery as an institution, was deemed
| by its special supporters to be in danger, ev
en- from a slightly imperfect execution Of the
fugitive slave law, the nation might.well con-
slider the advance of armies whose presence
brought disorganization and destruction to it
in the very nature of the case, as pretty much
rendering superhuous any paper demonstra-
ton like the present formal one from the Fed
, eral executive directed to its final extinction
in its most formidable strongholds.
| And yet, we would not by any me ans,
seek to underrate the Importance of decree
of this kind emanating from the Executive
of great nationality like this. If we recur
to the mere terms of the proclamation itself,
it conveys, in the simple allusion to the terri
tory obnoxious to thepenalty, sense of the
military inroads already made upon the Con-
federacy whose " corner stone, was declared
to be based on slavery, appalling, one might
suppose, to the special propagandists of the
institution now in arms against the Govern
ment CHANGING upon the map at the area
but little time ago, claimed by the rebel
chiefs as legitmatcly theirs, in the interests
of slavery and the rebellion, and what a woe
fully contracted space is already commended
to it; and who can doubt but that, with or
binary diligence, and good management, the
proclamation of the President will come to
be in truth that formidable thing many claim
it to be? Events will speedily determine all
this. - -
A few words in relation to the condition
| of the border States in relation to this proc.
! lamaton. If the fact has never been com
pretended until now, that the Unto men of
these States have saved them from the wors.
consequences of the rebellion, it needs no
further demonstra ion at present. With the
fact plain to-day, that the power of the Gov
eminent dominates completely our own State
of Maryland especially, what would be the
condition of slavery here, or the prospect Of
compensation of it, supposing the Secession
lists among US could have placed the State in
the same unfortunate condition occupied by
Virginia? Here, at all events, SLAYER would
have been summarily disposed of; rubbed
out while, as the matter stands at present,
we but occupy our old position under the
Constitution, saving and excepting that in
jury which has been caused by the readiness
Of the cotton States to sacrifice us to their
wickedness and folly. When the Governor
Of South Carolina, suggested that the border
States should be driven to the alternative Of
emancipation; or Of joining in the effort
to destroy the Government, they told the
whole story of their base selfshncss, their
indifference to our fate and if the border
States. as in the case of Missouri. cease to
stand forward longer as the champions Of
slavery, intimating readiness to let it got
as one step toward destroying the power Of
an accursed oligarchy, which has brough,
upon the country INFINITE woes, the mouths
of the consprators are sealed the border
States are vindicated before the world.
Finally as regards our own case here in
Maryland especially. No one need suppose
that slavery will ever, in view of what is 60
ing on south of us, be Of much account as an
institution again. Even as matters stood in
the past, it occupied q more precarious foot
ing than in other States, probably. and no
one can doubt but that the best interests of
all concerncd-as matters are going now
call for prompt elaboration and action on the
part of slave owners, if they wo Id save a
modicum Of what is undoubtedly large in
terost greatly endangered by the events OF
the hour With Virginia occupied by the
Federal armies, as must happen ere long, and
with the newspapers of that State with the
rebel interest avowing that in the line of a
military adavnee slavery is extinguished,
what hope will Maryland have of retaining
in safety an interest so uncertain What
chance will she have Of making slavery in
the slightest degree prCftaule with free terri
tory environing the slave interest on every
side? In view of what impends over them
is it not the duty-at least the interest-ol
the shareholders of the State to at once take
steps to get compensation for heeting in
terest, one that all must recognize as doom
cd |? Should not those who have been lee
astray by mistaken sympathies cease longer
to look upon the rebel Confederacy as any
thing capable Of protecting them heulo
not they regard it as mere delusion and {
:. snare -... .a.
There may be those yet who will still fat
ter themselves that slavery is to survive al
these formidable ass ults and complications
and if there should be such, we would one,
more remind hem that slavery was extin
guished in Mexico by what were termed un
constitutional decrees-decrees born of per
iod of revolution like this. And although
vigorous protests were made, and even com
pensation provided for revolution and civi
! war, persisted in, gave the finishing blow t
slavery without compensation; loss which
ought not to be thrown away upon those
competent to read the signs of the times il
our case. ..-...
W. P. ALLEN. P. d. HOSFoRD