The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1863-12-05
The One Thing & eedful.

The One Thing { eedful.
Upon one subject the loyal hearts Of
all patriots in tie land beat in unison.
That subject is the necessity OF destroy
ing Slavery. and having the recon
structed Union established upon the
firm foundation of universal human
Liberty. Let the true men OF the
country differ as they may on other
questions. on this one they ''flow to-
together" ''Slavery is dead" "The
rebel States must come back without
Slavery" Such are the feelings Of
the hesut and the cutspoken sentiments
Of the loyal men Of America to-day.
It has taken time and disasters to
work this wonderful change in the feel
ings and opinions Of the people. Three
years ago the majority Of the people Of
the North. even. we're either pro- slavey
or 40 tied up BY constitutional hampers.
that there WAS no thought Of interfering
with Slavery in the States. To keep it
from extending into the territories al
ready free was the great effort Of the
an,i-slavery men Of that day; for even
in the territory embr aced in Texas. out
of which it was conceded several Stales
would ultimately be carved. i. was no,
proposed TO 'egislate on the subject OF
Slavery: it was hoped that emigra ion
would do something for that field; but
the legislative arm was only to be lifted
against the introduction Of the system,
of human bondage into the territory
claimed to be legally free.
Such was the condition Of affairs
when Mr.. Lincoln took his seat in the
chair Of state: and this feeling continued
after the war had bctn.progressing for
a considerable time. The feeling OF
the masses at the North was: "Cne
rebellion must be put down. but it will
not do 10 interfere with slavery in the
S'atea." The administration set out
upon thi. policy-te kill secession and
treason and save Slavery.
But disasters to our arms came
We found the South well prepared, by
of oil the munitions of war. for des-
perate struggle: and though the North
was strong. stronger than the South. yet
tie South scas too strong for Us to con-
qxer her and project and defend iSlavsy
at Me same time. Wise men saw this
fact at very early day in the struggle;
but it was long time before the body
Of the people walked up to its realiza-
tion.
Bat the awakening came. The folly
of fighting the Rebellion while re sus
tanned the source of its life and nourish-
ssent became SO manifest that only the
willfully blind refused to sec it. When
Fremont struck the irat decisive blow
at the foundation of treason, thousands
Of hearts responded with glad shout
Of joy. But the people were hardly
ripe for the good work yei; at leas. j,
was 50 thought. though We have never
fsl. sure Of the fact; and 20 the process
Of education went on. The scales fell
from thosands Of eyes every month;
and now behold the happy result !
From one end of the land to the
other comes up the welcome shout Of
Jubilee: mo MORE SLAvKRY -
And 90 it shall be. The curse must
be taken away. Too long has 1t been
our shame. the by-word Of reproach
mou,hed against us by all nations. and
even by despots themselves Soon i,
shall be so no more. This is the ver-
dict Of the people-their solemn judg-
men. entered upon the records Of State
beyond the reach Of protest or appeal.
and NO be to him who stands in the
way (! Down be will 60; just as Val
landigham has gone down; amid the
execra.ions Of oil true men.
Hail auspicious day !! when the ma
ton shall be free in fact rs in name.
When no where shall the bright flag
of freedoms hope wave a fold over a
single slave. but every where the light
Of its stars shall shine upon freemen
God speed the hour! And let him
Who opposes in tie work be crushed be-
meath the onward moving car Of uxr-
vEnsAl LIsEssY. America nsua and
shau 6s Fbse. This is the great VIC
lory Of the nineteenth century.
Getting Rich.
At the time Lane WAS elected Sena-