The Union and journal., 1863-10-23
Which shall Triumph, Freedom or Slavery


fathers found existing at that time, the one
right and the other wrong, and they iorineu
the Union Of these States establishing the
one and making such compromises ior the
other as they thought would, in tho end
secure q unity of industries by the eStine-
ton of tho wrong. But the record OF events
since then has been that old history OF con-
flicts ever memorable in the world. The
cloud then no bigger than mans hand, un-
like its ancient simile, has grown to such
dimensions that for long time threatening
to oycrwhclm our FREQ institutions, it has at
last burst forth in dircful war.
The utmost apologist OF this hideous bar
barism will not, because he cannot, say that
bu. for slavery the present conflict OF arms
would not now be upon US. 1t is the inevita-
BILE result of antagonistical institutions. one
slave and the other free; and as it is plain
as holy writ that the two canuot exist under
ono government, since no man is sanguine
enough to anticipate that wiser or purer
statesmen will ever be called upon to recon-
cilo these antipodes, than have made the en-
dcayor in past time. there arc three issues
before us, to give up the Union OF the States
under our form Of government, give up our
free institutions, or give up slavery. Can
these three features again be peaceably unit
ed? What guarantee have we, what guar
antec is forthcoming, that the future with
tho two elements enumerated will be more
likely to harmonizs. than the past has bccn'
Mono whatever, because over eighty years
experience with the greatest men OF modern
times as directors, under circumstances that
can never again be moro favorable, have
proved the contrary. Now the question that
comes homo to every ono of US is, are We salts
fed with tho experiment?
II tho above premises arc right. this is tho
inevitable conclusion-lf slavery rs an insti-
tuition is co-cqual with freedom, then the
rebellion in theory and practice is right
Volumes of loquacious spcculations will
work out only that simple truth. Tho sys-
tenn Of slavery could not compete with the
free labor system, and it was continually en-
croachcd upon by tho genius OF progress,
which it was in tho hands Of no man to stay.
Apologists Of the slave system delight in
charging upon party action these cncroach-
mcnts and here wc conceive to DO the greatest
mistake Of their lives; what they charge up
on the great northern party Of freedom, is
tho strictly Legitimate results Of the spirit of
our FREQ institutions. Change them, and
you may reduce tho immense majorities
counting up in all the free States. But
what is there in tho air of liberty that need
offend ono, what feature Of our free demo-
cratic institutions will you strike out, and
for which you will substitute the system of
slavery? Shall we say that "dcmocratic'
politicians are alono qualified to interpret
tho Bible, aud therefore tho public ministra-
tions OF the Gospel must conform to latter day
democracy-shall We lessen tho number OF
our public Institutions Of learning, decrease
tho number OF our public schools, discharge
tho teachers there cmployod. and revise our
literaturo and Danish therolrom that freedom
loving spirit which learning everywhere
teaches and inculcates? All, oil of these
arc antagonistical to the system ot slavery,
and when politicians talk of again uniting
it with freedom, they must bear in mind
that tho moral, religious and social system
of the North must DO radically revised be-
ioro that end can be accomplished. And such
an end!
Passing FROM the question shall slavery
live, wo ask anothcr-Shall slavery die?
There Is n Providence that shapes our ends,
Rough hew thom as wo will,"
and what three years aso was sealed mys-
tory has been brought about by the slave
propasandists themselves. All the schemes
of statesmen for the gradual extinction Of
this cancer upon the body polite, have ut
tcrly failed, but all at once the mystery was
solved.
Tho first gun Of the rebellion cleared away
tho mist that had hitherto concealed Gods
purpose, and spoke the fate of the gigantic
wrong. Freedom and slavery stood face to
face. Forced to preserve itself at all hazards,
tho Government accepts tho issue, and the
people, with such vast majorities that the
minority almost ceases to bc an opposition,
support the authorities in crushing tho re-
bellion, well knowing that in its overthrow |
slavery falls with il. Tho rebels declare that
system to be tho foundation Of their conled- |
oracy, and tho support Of their power: it
feeds their armies in the field who arc slay- |
inc our sons and brothers, and lit must die,
else ii will slay moro men,"
When you look back over tho three dreary
wears of the war, and contemplate the many
heroic lives sacrificed on many bloody bat
Ito field, fallen in this great struggle Tor the
defence Of the Government OF our ancestors
against tho slave power whose tender mcrcies
are cruel, and reflect that but for slavery
those brave silent hearts would now be
active Us your own, you cannot mourn that
an Oycr,ruling Providence has brought it
about that tho slave system must fall that
the Republic many live. Which shall tri.
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