Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-07-12
The emancipation Of lie slaves In The Dis


sics was, a. every body knows. an ultra Abo.
itlon scheme. ID an Abolition Convention
,eld in lhis cty in December, lS4l, In which
Mr. (noW Secretary CHASE was prominent
actor, resolutions were adopted which, while
denying that Congress had any right consttu-
iionally TO interfere with slavery in the States,
affirmed that they had the constitutional right
to interfere With It In the District and In other
places under Federal jurisdiction. From that
time forward the question was agitated BY an
number Of ultra Abolitioniats, uu-
til In the spring of 1862, when their scheme
was consummated. q s,eIra
But for the first thirty-6ve or forty years OF
our national existence, no such question was
ever agisated in Congress. Many Of our
purest and wisest statemen, when the question
did come up in the halls Of legislation, declar-
cd the measure unconstitutional, and all agreed,
almost without an exception. that ii was mex
pedIen.. Henry CLAY, in 1893 offered resolutions
which we're adopted by the United States SEN
ate, declaring the abolition OF slavery In the
District both unconstitutional and inexpedient,
and calling upon all sincere friends OF the Union
to cease sgissting that disturbing question:
But the Abolition agitators persevered. Still
the measure was only presented in Congress to
be rejected, until we were in the midst of Q
civil war, when the AgiiatTs found Congress
and a President ready % do their bidding.
Ofitself considered, the measure might be
said to be Of trifing Importance. But 1t was
carried into effect In most inopportune mo-
mens The cOuntry was engaged in q tremen-
dous civil war, growing ont Of on apprehension
on the part OF The Southern people, whether
well or i'll founded it matters not, that the party
10 power intended 10 violate the constitutional
rights of the slave States by folc,bly depIiv-
ing them OF their slave property. Under this
sppr ehenson they had fought with fary against
the armies of,he Union. Instead ol alayng thai
apprehension, instead Of showing to the people
of the South that t4eir leaders In rebellion had
led them in a grievops error, Congress passed
and the President sanctioned, law, whose di.
rect and immediate effect was t, streDg hen
that apprehension, and add iresh fuel to the
hali-exeirirR embeis Of the rebellion.
Not only 90, but wien |. was matter Of vi
tai necessity that the people Of the Border and
| Northern States should all be united as one
man in support of the Administration, this poli!i
osl FIRE brend which had caused div slou OF
nearly or quite thirly years, was thrown In
among them by the Administration party, as II
on purpose to create discord and diSunion when
harmony and union we're absolutely essential 10
success. a
Why did 70. the party 10 power do, as they
call upon Democrats to do, postpone this ultra
partisan measure till the war was over, and then
take II up and pass It into Law If they should
have the power. But, no, Notwithstanding the
earnest and pathetic protests Of the venerable
CnlrrENDEN, OF Kentucky, and the patriotic
KENNEDY, Of Maryland, against their folly and
madness, the reckless Abolition majority, will
ling to sacrifice country to party, persevered in
communicating that and other ultra partisan
measures.
II JOHN BRoUaH is really sincere 10 calling
upon Democrats and conservatives to lay al
party questions aside till after the war, and set
tie them then, why does he not postpone till
shat time, and settle then, that great disunior
plan of the most ultra Abolition character /. ID
possible to conceive-the fusl and total extinc-
tion Of slavery7 Why does he proclaim in all
his speeches that the war must not end till that
partisan purpose 10 accomplished Does he
want to make the war on our part war for
carrying ont the ends Of his party merely as q
political party, as political Aboltionists, and at
the s,me time, gull Democrats and conserva-
tives into the belief that he and his political as
sociates-aleek ofice-holders and fat contract.
on-are pure and unselhsh patriots, without a
taint Of psrtyism about their sacredpersons7