Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-02-19

ly and boldly what devolved upon him. II il
for the people to fulfill the work. Incalculable
disaster, may come unless il is fulfilled auickly
to a certainty almost will come, il il long re-
mains unful6lled or half fulfilled Time press
es. Spring. with all its momentous issues i.
close at hand. The supreme concern Of the da,
ought to be The filling up of our depleted armies
Il cannot be done in season, without great effort
-far greater than has yet ben made. There
must be more complete and vigorous combina-
tion. The public spirit must be brought up to
a yet higher pitch must acquire more of the
determination which is now impelling our enemy
TO exertions almost superhunsan.
What time is this for the throwing Of a new
apple of discord into the arena How ia il pos-
sible for q man who really wishes the triumph
of the Government over tho gigantic treason that
eontronts 1t more fercey than ever, to try to
distract legal people with new issues that have
nothing to do with the great necessity of
Strengthening the Government? II cannot for
a moment be pretended that the proposed amend.
ment OF tho Constitution will advance ou- armies
one hnir's-breadth toward putting down this re-
belli0n: IL has no military bearing Whatever
against the enemy Its only military effect, if
it be insisted upon, will be felt by ourselves, in
dverting the attention. and relaxing the effort
necessary among the deople to keep our armies
up to their requisite strength.
We have nothing to say against tho intrinsic
! merits Of the measure. II is perhaps true tbat
the solution of the many perplexties which at
tend the dealings OF the nation with Slavery may
finally be found in constitutional amendment,
making an end of the institution anmmarily and
| forever. 1t may te that the Emancipation Proc
lamation of the President, which was valid only
as au act of war, may, when peace comes, re-
quire some such supplementary civil action
What we protest against is not the measure it,
self, but the time taken 10 urge it, Good rs ii
may be in itself, it 10 most anonymously and
deplorably out of time The application of the
proposition is, for the most part to territory still
in the hands of the rebels. Mr.. Sumner is
seeking to amend the Constitution against peo-
pie whom the Constitution, at present can no
more reach than If they belonged to another
planet. The thing is preposterous, In the liter
al signifcation OF the word. II places that first
which ought TO come last. Our first bushes is
to regain jurisdiction ever the rebel territory
When that is done, thon, and not until then, may
We htly discuss how we will exercise that jurs
dic ion, We may pile our constitutional amend
men,s Oertoining to the South, sky high they
viii onlv Seite the derison of our enemies, and
M ,bn worId large until, we acquire the power
IN arforoa ,hoa, We have no such power yet
Unless o,r earnos,no and singloness of purpose
are largely imnrorsd g'- ,bs.s is danger that we
never shall have it. This is "a. oosis ~ mn Th
Germ Mr. Sumner, if he be true "aot ~ torrihio
effort he made in getting upon paper .niaI1
string of Resolutions against rebel Slavery, "s",
il properly directed, have put whole regime. |
INTO the field against rebel shareholders aud we
ton't suppose any sane man witt doubt which
would have the greatest effect upon the fortunes
sither of Slavery or ofsthe rebellion.
We say that not only true loyalty, but consist
'nt Anti Slavery itself, forbids this unsensona-
Die introduction Of new political Anti Slavery
ssne. 1t is absolutely certain that the anxiety
Of Northern nbolitOnists 10 kill Slavery can new
Of be gratifed unless this war against the rebel
ION succeeds. If the "COnfederaoy' acquires
ts independence, Slavery there will be as secure
rom their hostility as Slavery in Cuba or In Bra.
Ill They, Of all men, are the most bound in CON
'istency 10 devote.themselves with the most abso-
ute concentration of purpose to the reinforce
nent of our armies and the most effective prose-
'ution of the war. Aud yet Mr.. Sumner, ever
'nce this war began, has had ten thoughts and
EN- thousand words against Slavery, while be has
lad one for the war. This is not true patriotism
Il is not true Anti-Slayeryism. The war should
re the all-eugrossing thought. Without it the
country cannot live. Without it, Slavery will
lot die. The Union cannot be resolved into new
ifs, nor constitntionAlised into new life it has
lot to be conquered into new life. So too, Sln-
fery cannot be resolved to death, nor constitu-
to dcathi fighting only can reach it,
nd through victory alone will il perish