The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-12-15

/
pity, that we were so blind to surren Ter
our commerce which was suffering
greatly by few armed vessels built mp
on and furnished from foreign shores.
We were threatened with such additions
from the same quarter as would sweep
our trade from the sea and raise our
blockade. We have failed to elicit from
European governments anything hope.
full from this subject.
The Emancipation Proclamation
which was issued in September, was
running its assigned period to the be.
ginning of the new year. A month Ia.
ter, the final Proclamation came, includ-
ing the announcement that colored men
OF suitable condition would be received
in the war service. The policy Of eman.
cipation and enrolling black soldiers.
give to the future new aspect, about
which hope, fear and doubt contend in
uncertain conflict According to our
political system as a matter of civil Ad.
ministration, the general government had
no lawful power to effect emancipation
in any State, and for long time it has
been hoped that the rebellion could be
suppressed without resortiug to il as =
military measure; it was all the while
denied that a possible necessity for il
might come, and that is j. should. the
crisis of the contest would then be pre-
sentsd. 1t came ard as il was intended
it was followed by dark and doubtful
days; eleven months have been passed.
we are permitted to take another review,
the rebel borders are pressed still furth
er back, and by the complete opening OF
the Mississippi river, the country domin.
ioned over by the rebellion is divided
into distant parts. Practical commun,.
cation between them, and Tennessee and
Arkansas. has been substantially cut
cleared OF insurgent control. And the
citizens. and owners Of slaves and advo-
Gates OF slavery at The beginning OF re-
bellion now declare openly for enamel
patton in their respective States. OF
those States not included in the emanci-
patton proclamation, Maryland and Mis-
souri,, neither of which years ago would
tolerate any resistance upon the exten-
sion OF slavery into the new territory.
anly dispute now as TO the last mode Of
it within their own limits,
OF those who were slaves at the begin.
ming OF the rebellion, full one hundred
are now in the United States
military service. one half Of which actu.
ally bear arms in the ranks. thus giving
the double advantage Of taking so much
labor from the insurgents cause. and
supplying The places which otherwise
must be filled with so many white men.
So attested il is difficult to say ,kat they
are not as good soldiers as any: no ser.
vile insurreclion or tendency to violence.
or cruelty. The measures Of emancipa-
ton, and arming the blacks; these mea-
sures have been much discussed in for.
eign countries, and contemporary with
such discussion, the soul of public sen.
timent there is much improved at home.
The same measures were fully discuss
ed, supported, criticised ind denounced.
and the annual elections following are
highly encouraging TO those whose sps-
cial duty il is TO steer the country thro'
this great trial Thus we have passed
the crisis which threatened 10 divide the
friends Of the Union. Looking now to
the present and 10 the future and with
reference to q resumption of the National
authority within the States where that
has been suspended, l have though, e.
to issue a proclamation, a copy OF which
have herewith transmitted. Onexam-
ins,ion Of this proclamation. it will ap-
pear that it is amply justified by the
onstitution. Ii is true the form OF an
oath is given. but no more is coercsd to
take it. A MN is only PROMISED par
don in case he voluntarily takes the oath.
The Constitution authorizes the Execu-
tive TO grant such terms as is fully es.
tablished by judicial and other authori-
ties il also proffered that II any of the
Safes named Government j, shall Be
in the mode prescribed and Sc, up such
shall be recognized and
guaranteed by US : and that under il tho
State shall under the Constitution hs
protected against invasion and domestic
violence. The Constitutional obligation
of The United States TO guarantee in
every State OF the Union republican
form Of government. and to protec, tho
State in the cases stated. is explicit, and
full. But why tender the bene6is Of
this provision only to State govern
ment set up in this particular way. This
section OF the Constitution coniemplstss
ease wherein the element within a
State. favorable to a Republican Govern
ment in the Union. and may be too fee.
BILE for an opposite and hostile element
external and even within ,hs State. and
such are precisely the cases with which
We are now dealing An attempt 10 gusr.
sntes aud protect replised State Gov.
ernment. constructed in whole or prepsr
Story part from the very element against
hostility and violence, to be protected.
is simply absurd. There mus, be a new
tes, by which TO separate opposing els
ments 80 as to limit only the sound, and
that test is a suffieien, liberal one, which
accepts as sound. whoever will make \
sworn teoantation of his former unsound
ness. but II il be proper to require. a. .
test OF admission TO the political body.
an oath Of allegiance TO the constitution
and the Union. why not also to the lews