Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-06-17

hbAlS'
The Kansas Apostle for Freedom
The following letter is from the hon.
Mr.. Conway, NJ. c., from Kansas. in the
last Congress
A WORD
TO the Editor OF the New York Tribune:
SIR-The recent avowal of Mr.. Herrit
Smith that he is in favor of a restoration
of the Union, even if such restoration
should involve renewed power TO Slavery
is a slight indication Of that counter revo.
LUTON in public sentiment on this subject,
which the war Is calculated 20 effect, and
which political leaders seem determined
through it to bringabout. The only period
in which there was a ghost Of a chance of
giving this war az Auti-Slavery result was
the first two years Of its existence. If it
had been taken hold of at the outset as
an instrument Of revolution = TO dissolve
the Union and Constitute the North the
nation thus l~iberating the Government
from all constitutional obligations to
shareholders, and had then been rushed
through with skill and energy, under wise
Ministers and competent Generals, IN a
manner to give full effect to the power of
the North, Slavery would have been swept
out of existence, and the seeded States
conauered to the authority OF the Union,
and held as subject provinces.
But this was not done. On the contrary,
the wal was employed as a means to pre-
vent revolution and to maintain the Union
The object was to force upon the slave
holders the rights guaranteed to them by
the Constitution they discarded. Fol
ne ,rly two years the most Jealous regard
was paid TO these rights" and military
operations, conducted in q manner to in
duce the Southern people to return Tolun-
tarily to their Federal allegiance. In cons
sequence of this policy, the golden oppor'
l~tunity slipped away-the South became
settled and determined Power-the North
lost the prestige of victory, and its n'oTaI
was broken.
Thus the war became a failure and ut
terly ceased to bear upon the question Of
the subjugation of the South in any man
ner whatsoever and now, whatever may
be said to the contrary, there are few re
fleeing minds which have not CONS &c
the conclusion that the independence o.
the South. is an established fact, whether
recognized or not.
The war for the future, therefore be-
comes simply an instrument IN the hands Q
POLITICAL managers TO effect results favorable I
their opn personal ends, and 1mfavorabdc 10 III
cause Of Freedom.
What matters ii that few regiments o
negroes, more or less, under white officer
are sent into the field? Whit matters l
that the Presidents edict of Emancipation
is printed in Little & Browns edition o
, the United States at LargeY Is Richmon,
, ours? or even Vicksburg? Does not tn
:, Confed eracy still stand firm and defiant
+, and does it not promise to stand so IN th
! future? And, above all, is not he resl
dental election approaching
II is now assumed that the Union is a
a object paramount over all other considers
tons. aud we are told that IL must neve
be relinouished. We are asked to adher
TO the war, not because it gives us success
ful achievements in the feld, but Tor tn
, reason simply that otherwise we give U
. the Union. We are told also that the in
+ stitution of Slavery, like all other institu
e lions, wide New York Times OF 10 DAY
I is of a minor importance, one way or tn
1 other, compared with the Union that
o must give way or not give way be dt
stroyed, or granted a new lease OF III
/ with increased power, just as the ex'ger
q cies-of the Union may require. And
y this doctrine that lifelong Abolitionis
O Gerrit Smith; and that jealous Republican
o Nj. RAYMOND, and that eminent Demo
orat, Mr.. Van Buren,, all alike assen
e Since the deportation Of Vallandigham,
is supposed that this is to DO the mongr
il Democratic platform for the next Pres
dental race.
q. Now, Mr.. Editor, l desire thus puulio
1 and from the beginning to announce n
emphatic wish 10 be counted out Of ar
!. such arrangement. ! went into this AM
Slavery business earnestly, and on the pr
"a sumtion that was acting with hone
men-men who hated Slavery, and vi
we're determined to cast it out, come VIII
n might. | find that as to many have bee
Y deceived. I find that these men cant pow'
and care for nothing else; and that for the sa
A. of poger they Uould kill all Tie Vhite people
a The South, or take them 10 their arms; that n
,0ouH free all the slaves or make their honda
w still more hopeless, or do any other inconSiSic
,f or ,oicksd thing. have no sympathy ,0hdtet
Nth such an tuhaLowed lust Of dominion.
% AS to the Union, | would no: give a ce
=, for it unless it stood as a guarantee !
!. freedom to every man, woman and chil
within the entire jurisdiction. copsid
le the idea that everything must be sacrihc'
TO the Union as utterly preposterou
a, What was the Union made for That
should sacrifice ourselves TO it J,
le one, would beg 20 be excused. AS thin
ar stand, | would sacrifice the Union to Ere
III dom any morning before breakfast.
Very truly yours, NJ. F. CONWAY.
70 Washington, 18th May, 1865,