The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-08
PROGRESS OF FREEDOM

The fact that a deputation of colored men
were admitted to recent meeting of the
friends of State reconstruction in New Orleans
is more striking but not more significant than
those which are reaching us from every part
OF the States reconquered from the Rebellion.
Every day divides the South more and more
completely between the Unionists who arc for
universal Freedom, and the Rebels who are
for eternal Slavery. The party of pro-Slavery
Unionists grows Zine by degrees and beauti-
fully less" wherever the National flag floats
In triumph. Generals like Grant and Steele,
McClernand and Sickles, who entered the
service, DESTROYS and confident of 'recon-
struction" which shall restore Slavery to its
old-time predomnance in the Union, are now
convinced that the only practical choice is
between Union all Free and partition of
our country with the slaveholding Rebels
and they declare, as soldiers and patriots, for
the Union and Free Labor. The rank and
file of our armies having been mainly Re-
pubicans when they enlisted, needed no con-
version to that faith but those who did need
it are fast opening their eyes. There are not
to-day five per cent of the soldiers who have
served the Union six months or over who de-
sire or expect to see Slavery survive the DOWN
fall Of the Rebellion.
That the quiet people of the revolted States,
Syho have suffered everything but death from
the Rebellion, and seen all the promises of
its authors falsiied by the approach of war
and its desolations to their own fresides,
when they were positively assured that all
the fighting, if fighting there should be, would
be confined to the North, should now seek to
be rid of the demon who has ensnared them
to their ruin, is but natural. There are
thousands in the South who still cling des-
perately to the hope that the Rebellion will
somehow succeed but there are not an ON
nibus-l1ad cut Of Kentucky who desire to see
Slavery and the Union reestabished And
even in Kentucky, all that is needed is con-
centration of effort by means of Organization.
The loyal people, even there, are mainly hos
tile to Slavery as the primary cause of our
perils and wccs. And they will not much
longer consent to be debarred from a free
avowal OF their convictions by few would
be leaders and two or three bullying journals.
They know what it is that made Breckenridge.
John Morgan, and so many of their wilder
young men, traitors to their country, and they
do not intend that it shall poison another gen
GRAFTON. In little while they will have an
organ soon after, we trust, an organization;
and next year will see the neutral Kentucky
of lS6l-whose chief newspaper vehemently
raled at President Lincoln for calling out
10000 militia to defend the apital-wholly,
Internationally for the Union and its sup
porters, and against the Rebellion and its
melting cause
Maryland is a full year ahead of Kentucky.
Slavery is given up as dead dog by all loyal
people. When Reverdy johnson, Thomas II.
Hicks, and Thomas Swami declare for imme-
date Emancipation, you may be sure there
are net many left standing by Slavery who
even fancy themselves Unionists. The pro-
Slavery organization of last year is given up;
its leaders are out for Emancipation. There
are not a hundred opponents of Emancipation
left in the State who are not outright Ssces-
sionists.
Thus it is everywhere, from little Delaware
to the Rio Grande. There were always anti
Slavery men in the South but their tongues
were tied-their energies paralyzed by terror
and despair. 1t has pleased Him who hard
ened Pharaoh's heart so that he would not
let the children of Israel go, to permit Slave
ry to dash itself hendlong against the rock of
American Nationality; and its skull is bro
ken by the shock. So, "When this cruel war
is over" our country will be truly, abidingly,
" the Land of the Free. "-Ne,c York Tribune.
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