The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-12-23
zThis fs'ths rsvolution of the wheel of de,
velonnes,t fnk which long Injured and

nThis is the revolution of the wheel sof de-.
| selopmeilt, inf which. q long INFUSED and
which they are transmitted from marketable
conimcdities and things of purchase and SALE.
ntosthinking, responsible agents, This is not
the advantage their ingenuity suggests Of the
/ turn of events--it is not the accident of war;,
but the purpose, fixed. and unaiterable, Of the
power that is guiding the destiny of the
world: S
The most remarkable feature about this
whole movement is the mannerip which God
is making us free nation. Mr.. Jefferson
said, The hour of emancipation is coming
/ in the march of time" It VIII come, and
whether brought on'by the generous energies
of our own minds, or by the bloody process
of ST. Domingo, is leaf of our history not
yet turned over"
Mr.. Jefferson was wrong in supposing that
the scenes of Domingo would be re-enacted,
outright in supposing it would end in blood.
r. Mr.. Lincoln went to Washington with an.
expressed determination TO carry out all the
compromises of the constitution. He re-
peated in his inaugural what he had said else
where, to give the South no cause Of com
plaint--eycn thesodious Fugitive Act was in
cluded among the items of duty in the
administration Of the Government. This did
not satisfy the imperious demands of slave,
holders. Their plans had been matured too
long to9ust by inaction n They were too
anxious to bring on the ISSUE Such favor
able pretsxt as the election of Mr.sLincoln
could not pass unimproved. Tl.ey precipit-
ated the terrible, bloody contest. The bonn
bardment of one of the government forts in
4 Charleston harbor. ande the surrender of Maj
Anderson and his gallant command, was the
first act in the drama of contest that stands
without a parallel. in the chronicles Of time.
Still, the government thought it the result OF
Southern impulsiveness It hat the excitement
would abate-that the results of their RASH
ness would be apparent to themselves, and
| they would soon return to their homes. -
2 .Aforee Of seventy.five thousand men was
thought sufficient to quell the eopposition, but
at the end of three months the war only be-
gan in earnest. The attention Of the people
was turned to the system of slavery as lying
at the bottom of the whole conspiracy. The
President, wisely comprehending the nature
of The evil made an effort to settle the ques-
tion eulthepandiple of comp ensated enanci-
1 patton his was rejected and derlded. As
slavery seemed the bone and sinew of the
rebellion, it was proper to cripple it in its
/ vital parts. ,e.c4szr
Il The President saw what ought to be done,
but could not do it in advance of public
Ilopinion. He waited until the nation COM
prehendsd the, necessity. Public opinion RI
ipened by the stern necessity of events-the
Proclamation issued. But still, they
were given months in. whiehpto consi der the
matter and still avail themselves of the lenity
of the government. Failing to comply, the
Proclamation of Freedom was issued, and
took effect in the designated States and dis
tricts. But this was not enough. The de-
sign of Providence began to map itself out
more clearly. God don't call one man to
/ fight another's battles. They who desire to
be free, must themselves, show something
worthy of freedom. Itswasr well enough to
let the SLAVE act as teamster, to put the
spade in his hands, 10 do the general drudgery
of the camp-alt this was well enough. But
there was higher destiny than this The
black man had reputation to make, and the
field of battle was Gods chosen place. The
1 design was, just as it turned out, that the des-
pissed bondmen should meet his. former op-
i pressor in bloody strife-that in this great
struggle for liberty, he should be one of the
actors s thatiby his hsroisn, military prowess,
A his courage in hand-to-ha hand encounter and
noble daring, be should redeem his race from
] the false and unfounded suspicious hitherto
resting on it, and claim a high place in the
records of valor. ssaS ~ = e. 49,
4 The deep pulsations of joy could not be
full in the mind of uncreated henevelence
4 until, insthe deep agonies of his soul, he had
Il redeemed these millions of a despised race,
and lifted them where their unexampled
courage should elicit the praise Of the world,
& and extort confession Of manhood.
i What the destiny of this race will be is a
4 leaf not yet turned over. Too many respon-
4sibiities now engage our attention be'euri-
!. Gus about such an issue. God is thrustins
'l leyents of such magnitude upon us as to give
;eano time to call up our old p-ejudices, and ask
! what, shall be done with the negro ? The
4 Proyidence that liberates him so mysteriously
, win devise means for his future development;
and though now to some extent dependent on
q public charity for the means Of support, when
\ :, he shall have redeemed his name from .oblo-
sstquy apd.derision. and established his title tc
ii live as other men, and walk erect in the char
J acter of a man as other men, then shall the
5 night Of uncertainty pass away9then shal
} thatsun, dawn whose glitter shall light him
r toa peaceful home--.oa quiet freside undis
: turbed by the football of the oppressor-tc
J the shrines Of science snd llearning-to the
s sanctuary of relision-to the halls of civil
II lied legislation in. the road to enlighten
!, Iment and progress where men, and nations
7 and races, seek their highest perfection.
S Asa people we. have reason to .be grateful
t FLOR the attitude of public opinion as indi
!. Gated 5y the recent elections These elee
D tions have been the greatest, battles of til
Q war great, because of their bloodless char
v acter; great, because their moral effect wi
6 bepowefful and salutary e Never did pee
t,Ie nerfs1ft kbayosal,yss fx.<+Sr slon 81 AZ,