New-York daily tribune., 1863-09-03
rrxvvoRK DAILY TRIBUNE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER B. 1863

past from the future II substantially changed OF no
cessity the policy Of tho Government In the carly
stage of the war; Congress proposed and tho majority
Of the nation expected, tho issue OF this contest
mere rehabilitation with Southern laws and Southern
institutions rcacknowledged In their pristine FORM
Agan and again warning was given and the return Of
the Insurgents to their loyal duty on these conditions
was urged upon them But their hearts were hardened
and they would not by their obstinate perversity
they closed tho door against themselves. They per,
severed In their conspiracy against public law un,n
Emancipation became an imperative measure oi se'''
defense Lctus not take credit to Ourselves Tor genef
ous philanthropy. The South. reckless and b,nh waS
the unyitting agent OF human liberty. And thus In the
Providence Of God the very effort by armed treason
- .,o an aim ~ Las been the Of eifcctinS
ts eradication. 1r1,
That which Nigh. have been can no longer be. "nen
noIic,on talk now OF reconstruction, with the pecn-
liar institution" OF the South left intact tho words are
nothing else but nischeyous mystifcation. 'ne
south cononer she may by superior force nold aS
vas ,be negroes who shall remain to her, though ny
o ,ows hey are free But for U.s. there Is no longer
pecuar stl.ution in any Of the insnrrectonary SeS
n bo lcft intao. We can build up anew that peculiar
institution not legally it is very true. for neither the
land has any more authority to coDsisn freeman 10
Slavery than they have to hang lin without crime or
trial; but VIC may build it up Ii wo have power enough
or couuiye a /, il wc are shameless enough just as
hichwayInnn may seize purse. or burglar cary OIL
bnskct Of silverware.
Whether. when we shall have suffered vnnqushed
Troason 10 dictate her own terms; whether. when We
sbau have stopped to purchase Peace. for Gods
ho ureta WOrfulBss
truce as brief as treachcrousby act Of asurpaton
that as.uos TO assign away the liberties Of three mil
ons of free people; whether when we shall have done
mi, crea. tbinr we shall have any right to set up for
more honest or more ,ruous than the felonrader who
,oales n midnight descent on the Congo ooa,t ard
s,ea thence three or four hundred wreches TO crowd
the hold Of his saveship-tAat viii be question to be
settled, nj orr leisure with our own consciences-
"The way Of tho ransgressor Is hard" 1; s better
70 lose fortune than fair fc and national dissiace Is
worse than national disaster a convict where he Is
known and remembered ~ such, may. because oil the
stain that attaches to him, toll faithfully through hai
lifetime ere men take him again BY tho hand. And
people, stamped by their own pubic records as iawiess
and forsworn. may travel long and weary road-a
reproaoh. the while. and byword among na;ions-ere
they can take their stand more, among tie civil
izod Powers Of the earth.
Assuming. what seems probable ths. NO shs remain
vctors In this wr. suffer me, in conclusion briefly -
rroup together tie main positions tha, hsyo been ad
yanoed.
Tho inhabitants Of the nsurrcctonAry States have, at
present no constitutional right to elect member to
Congress.
We tho inhabitants Q, the insurrcc.ionay States
may BY law restore 10 them ha; rght and with Us 1t
D 4. pb.s
stored
IT.. preliminary condition ought 10 be some suficon;
Guaranty that tho Emancipation Proclamation shall
urver b. rcprd,cd aad that the institution Of Slavery
st never again IN any part ef the nsnrreoonafy ter
sitory. BE- revived
ouT own national faith. already pledged before the
world 70 three millions of suicuns people. demands
,hi.. The lAv Of nations permits and enIoins it. We
lad right by tha, law. ~ destroy slave YepTopcFsy BE-
longing 20 public enemy. 1t vGs nniiona! dai! 10
ier, nrop-tr 10 dangerous in order 10 render TIA,
enemy incapable oi doing mischief viii the sane easo
In future"
We offended against no principle OF humanity In de-
s,roylng hs property. IN Other words. in oancelns
life long claims to service labor. Tie inhuiaaLIiy
.oud have been to refrain FROM cancelng them.
Nor do We actually harm the slave-oaimeat by cancel
ing hs cnims In poat OF i.c; 1t is greatly 10 lis ad'
vantage SOCIALLY and pcouniazil! 20 be siihoai them
Are We smpcr,nenly interfering in his busness-arro-
eHn,ly and improperly assuming to Judge what "a best
Tor aim-whon We determine ihist No. q. IL The
bushes. is cmphnioay own for Is intimately con
Germs our national safety In deciding i ~ We see IT,
,here neither mpTopro,y arrogance but proper
precaulon and pruden, foresight II hc lad rcfF aimed
from le,ying war against his Government. he would
have had NJ undoubtei hight 10 Judge ard to act in this
Affair As il H. To has lost 1t; and we have now the
right and the power. to decide the natter not he
Before the ,aeant chairs in Congress arc filed. let Us
make he decision. Failing In this high duty We sacr
hoe a, oEoc tho Pubic Honor and tho Public Safety
ain. Sir yonr obediont servant.
RoHLRr DALs OWEN
Ns~- York Aug. q. 1870.