Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-03-05

a form which regard as little less than i'm
pious, they have made. ! devoutly trust,
most religiously believe, that the great Dis
poser of events, in whose hands tho destinies
of nations are held, will give to the loyal
people of the United States the wisdom, pat
riotism, unity, and courage 20 maintain the
Union of these States, to crush the implous
pretentions of slavery, and defend the civil
ization of the age in which we live
Slavery, Mr.. President, is dying, dying all
around u.s. IL is dying as a suicide dies. III
is diving in the house and at the hands OF Its
own protested friends. The sword which 1t
would have driven into the vitals OF this Re
public is parted and thrust back into its own.
And, sir, let it die; let it die. Without
anv sympathy of mine, slavery and all its
denominations may die and go into everlasting
perdition. But it is to the all-important
fact that slavery is dying that | would call
the attention of the Senate for moment.
Look around you. Look at West Virginia;
slavery is not only dying, but il is dead and
buried beyond resurrection, upon the soil oil
West Virginia. How is it in the State of
Missouri Slavery is dying there; ay, prac-
tically dead. The simple question among
that people is, when shall its funeral be
fixed? When shall its final burial take
place
How is it in the State of Maryland? Mr.,
Thomas, at one time Governor of that State,
speaking upon that subject at Rockville, said
not long since:
90 Slavery is effeetualiy dead In this State. No
lot OF one hundred slaves in the State will sell on
the block for 81 900. No slave in the State can be
made to rene OF TO his sowner' more of his labor
than he elects to render or remain under his 1uris
dietion month aft he elects flee from it. Such
are the results OF war for the benefit of slavery
made under the legal aud constitutional rights OF
white labor throughout the Union"
The other day we all listened with earnest
attention as well as great joy to the eloquent
speech of the Senator from Maryland, Mr..
JOHNSON, when from an outgushing heart he
spoke the living truth in Thoughts that
breathe, and words that burn" He declared
to us, slavery is dead in the State of Mary
land. His colleague says the same thing
slavery is dead thing in the State of Mary
land, a thing of the past, thing that was,
which is no more to exist in the future OF that
State. Sir, at such a progress the very an
gels in heaven rejoice, and all who love hber-
ty on earth sing hosannas to the God of heav-
EN-.
How is il in the State of Tennessee? The
Nashville Union, speaking for the people of
that State, not long ago said:
"what Governor Thomas says of slavery in Ma
ryland is equally true of slavery in Tennessee
No slave here can be compelled to work for his
owner against his will, nor can slave be made to
remain with his owner unless he chooses TO do so.
Whenever a slave is dissatisfied with his home he
walks off, as freely as black man would IN north
ern State or in Europe.
| In Tennessee the slave code is dead and the
master has longer absolut control over the body
and limbs of his former bOndsmen. We doubt
whether any Stakeholder in Tennessee has faith
enough IN the restoration of the system ofcompul-
sorry labor to give 500 in good money for the best
negro among u.s."
An what did Govarnor Andraw johnson
speaking upon this subject to the people of
the State of Tennessee on the Sth day of Jan
uary last, say? L cannot mention the name
| of Andrew johnson of Tennessee without pay
ing the highest tribute to him and to the
course he has pursued in the midst of this
struggle, of which language is capable. Sir,
statesmen have done well generals have won
victories in the field, but to Andrew johnson
of Tennessee, for the course pursued by him
in this Senate and in the State of Tennessee,
this nation, the American people, owe a debt
of gratitude which they never can repay
Sir, trust i'm God the time is not far distant
when we may hear his voice once more with
| in the Halls of this Senate Chamber. On the
Sth day of January last, in speech at Nash
Vile on the subject, he said:
Before the rebellion could discuss all insti-
tutious all subjects, all measures except slavery.
On that subject no one dared speak or write or
print, except the side of the slave aristocracy.
Now, thank God, the time has come when the press
is unmuz zled, when the press can discuss this and
all other subjects. The time has when this in
stitution rs dead, when the chains broken and
the captive set free. The institution is dead and
slaves arc not worth a quarter of dollar dozen.
Being dead, let us in becoming manner prepare
for the funeral obsequies. Now is the time to dis
pose of this great question"
Again, in the course of the same speech,
he said:
4" The edict has gone forth, and all that remains
to be done Is to change the relation of master and
slave. The day is not far distant when this nation
wis be the great center of civilization, OF the arts
and sciences, and of true religion. Time was when
the tide of emigration ran westward; the time will
soon be when il will run southwark. Let go
with mighty work. TO talk about breaking up
a Government like this for slavery IL is madness.
| Let il so on with its great mission"
Again, and still later, on the 2lst of Janu-
AIRY, at large NEE ting of Union citizens in
| the State of Tennessee, held in the hall of
| the House of Representatives of that State
| in Nashville, Mr.. johnson said:
. Is there man here that has observed this thing
who does not know that the institution of slavery
in Tennessee is dead ~
Among the resolutions adopted at this
meeting, resolutions taking measurs to hold a
convention In that State to frame a constitu-
ton based upon this fact, that slavery is dead
In Tennessee, find the following:
"Resolvsd, That as slavery was the cause of all
our troubles, aud it is unmitgated evil in it,
self, aud since il may be considered dead by the
acts of it's friends, that il may be
rected to enable small minority to bring the ruin
upon our children that il has upon US, here
pledge ourselves to all influence to elect
such men, and only such men, delegates to such
convention as shall be in favor of immediate aud
universal emancipation now and forever. And we
invite our fellow every where to unite with
us on this platform, and thus the opportune
moment to free ourselves and posterity from
the bondage in which we have been so long enslav-
ed by the influence of an arrogant, domineering
sristOcracy."
Here we find Mr.. johnson, acting Governor
of Tennessee, long Senator and Representa-
tive from Tennessee, who knows better than
any other the actual condition of things in
that State, in this speech declaring in most
positive terms that every person who OBJ
serves for himself knows that slavery is dead
in the State of Tennessee; and the people,
who are now organizing for the purpose of
accepting this as an accomplished fact, and
of placing it in the constitution of the State
of Tennessee, in their resolutions declare the
same fact, that slavery is dead, and that it
has died at the hands of its own pretended
| friends.
In Arkansas, under the lead of General
CAN'T, and others, constitution is already
formed, making Arkansas forever a free State.
Why should not the real friends of freedom,
in spite even of the terrible war in which we
are still engaged, hold one general jubilee,
one grand day of national thanksgiving at
the great progress which we have already
made
/ D-o.:Io... - L., -lo-o.,.