The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-06-27
LETTER FROM HON. M.F. CONWAY.
NEWSPAPER COMMENTS.

To the Editor Of the ". 2. Tribune:
SIR: The recent aYoWal of Mr.. GerFit
Smith that lie is in favor, of the restoration
of the Union, even if such restoration
should involve renewed power to Slavery, is
a slight indication Of that counter revolution
in public sentiment on this subject which
the war is calculated to effect, and which
political leaders seem determined through it
to bring about.
The only period in which there was a
ghost of a chance of giving this war an anti
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 tie nation-thus hberating the Coy
eminent from all constitutional obligations
to shareholders, and had then been rushed
through with skill and energy, under wise
Ministers and competent Generals, In man
ner to give full effect to the power Of the
North, Slavery would have been swept out
of existence, and the seeded States con
quered to the authority of the Union, aud
held as subject provinces.
But this was not done. On the contrary,
the war was maintained as means to pre-
vent revolution and maintain the Union. The
object was to force upon the Shareholders
the rights guaranteed to them by the Consti-
tuition they discarded For nearly two years,
the most Jealous regard was paid to these
rights and military operations conducted
in manner to induce the Southern people
to return voluntarily to their Federal allegi-
ance. In consequence of this policy, the
golden opportunity slipped away-the South
became settled and determined Power
the North lost the prestige of victory, and
r its morale was broken.
Thus the war became failure, and utter
f ly ceased to bear upon the question of the
subiugation of the South in any manner
4 hatsoever; and now, whatever may be sale
! to the contrary, there are few rejecting
minds which have not come to the conclu
j sion that the independence of the South i
S an established fact, whether recognized or not
: The war for the future, therefore, become
i simply an instrument in the hands of politica
J. managers to effect results favorable to thei
: own personal ends, and unfavorable to tn
Il cause of Freedom.
: What matters it that few regiments G
Il negroes, more or less, under white officers
v are sent into the field What matters
that the Presidents edict of Emancipatio
is printed in Little & Browns edition c
d the United States Statutes at Large
e Richmond ours oreven Vicksburg? Doe
y not the Confederacy still stand firm and de
o FAINT and does it Dot promise to stand S
o in the future Aud, above all, is not th
t. Presidential election approaching?
It 1t is now assumed that the-Union is a
l. object paramount over all other considers
s. tons, and we are told that it must never b
d relinquished We are asked to adhere t
} the war, not because it gives US successfu
y achievements in the field, but for the reaso
n simply that otherwise we give up the Ur
l. ion We are told also that the institutio
le of Slavery, like all other institutions, (vid
le the New York Times of today is {
~ minor importance, one way or the othe
5, compared to the Union that 1t mu
of give way or not give way; be destroy
of ed, or granted a new lease of life, with IL
r creased power, just as the exigencies of tt
- that lifelong AboItionist, Gerrit SmitI
a and that jealous Republican, Mr.. Raymond
i, and that eminent Democrat, Mr.. Van b
Mt rem, all alike assent. Since the deportatiO
of Valandigham, it is supposed that this
u to be the next mongrel Democratic platforr
en- for the next Presidential race.
5, Now, sMr Editor, l wish thus publicl
be and from the beginning to announce N
tn emphatic wish to be counted out of any sue
he arran cement I went into this Anti-S la
tn cry business earnestly, and on the presum
to zion that 1 was acting with honest men
men who hated Slavery, and who were d
al termined to cast it out, come what migt
IT. l find that as to many have been deceive
IS find that these men want power, and ca
IT. for nothing else; and that for the sake
be power they would kill all the white peoI
IN. of the South, or take them to their; arm
of that they would free all the slaves. or ma
- their bondage still more hopeless; or
he any other inconsistent or wicked thing.
he have no sympathy whatever with such u
ste hallowed lust Of dominion.
Oh As TO the Union, l would not give ce
er- for it unless it stood as guarantee for FIRE
dom to every man, woman and child, wit
or in Its entire jurisdiction. l consider t
be idea that everything must be sacrificed
Till the Union, utterly preposterous. What v
ell the Union made for That we Shot
ew sacrifice ourselves to it? l, for one, wor
les beg to be excused. AS things stand,
to would sacrifice the Union to Freedom a
na- morning before breakfast.
I'll Very truly yours, NJ. F. CoEwAE.
on Washington, 99th May, 1868.
fc
ar, SLAVERY AND THE UNION.
~ = - ~ E,ar