Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-03-03


are the new issues which, in their appeal in
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 the destinieS
of nations are held, will give to the loyal
people of the United States the WISDOM pat
riotism, unity, and courage to maintain the
Union of these States, to crush the impious
pretentions of slavery, and defend the civil
izaton of the age in which we live
Slavery, Mr.. President, is dying, dying all
around US. 1t is dying as suicide dies. 1t
is dying in the house and at the hands of its
own professed friends. The sword which it
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 90 into everlasting
perditiOn. But it is to the all-mportant
fact that slavery is dying that l would call
the attention of the Senate for moment.
Look around you. Look at West Virginia;
slavery is not only dying, but it is dead and
buried beyond resurrection, upon the soil of
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:
g Slavery is efTectually dead in this State. No
lot Of one hundred slaves i'll the State will sell
the block for 81 600. No slave in the State
made to render to his sowner' more of his labor
than he elects to render, remain under his uris
I,afo haa la q oh
are the results OF war for the benefit of slavery
made under the legal and 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 u.s. 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, thing of the past, thing that was,
which is no more to exist in the future Of that
State. Sir, at such progress the very an
gels in heaven rejoice, and all who love liber-
ty on earth sing hosannas to the God of heav
en-.
How is it 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 Tenn essee.-
No slave here can be compelled to work for his
owner against hs will, a slave be made to
remain with his owner unless he chooses to do so.
Whenever slave is dissatisfied with his home he
walks of, as freely black man would in a north
err state or in Europe.
81 In Tennessee the slave code is dead and the
master has no longer absout control over the body
and limbs of his former bondsmen. We doubt
whether any STAKEHOLDER in Tennessee has faith
on he of he Sta Off mil
sorry labor to give 500 in good money for the best
negro among u.s.
And what did Governor Andrew johnson,
speaking upon this subject to the people of
the State of Tennessee on the Sth day of Jan
uary last, say? | cannot mention the name
Of Andrew johnson ofTennessee 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 i'll 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 debt
of gratitude which they never can repay
Sir trust in God the time is not far dis ant
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
VIE on the SuDecI, ne SAID:
g Before the rebellion we could discuss all insti-
tuious, all subjects, all measures except slavery.
On that subject no dared speak or write or
print, except the side of the Slave aristocracv
Now, thank God, the time has come when the press
is unmuZ2led, when the press can discuss this and
all other Su6lectS. The time has come when this in
stitution Is dead when the chains are broken and
the captive set free. The institution is dead, and
slaves are not worth a quarter of q dollar dozen.
Being dead, let Us i'll 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:
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
will 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 it will run southwark. Let us 90
with our mighty work. TO talk about breaking up
a Government like this for slavery 1t is madness
Let it go on with its great mission
Again, and still later, on the DIST 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:
els 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 III that State to frame constitu-
ton based upon this fact, that slavery is dead
in Tennessee, find the following:
''ReSOred, That slavery was the cause of Ali
our troubles, and as 1T is an unmitgated evil in it
SELF and since it may be considered dead by the
acts OF its own friends, that it may never be resur
rected to enable small minority to bring the min
upon our children that it has upon us we here
pledge ourselves to use all our influence to elect
such men, and only such men, as deles ates to such
convention as shall be in favor of Immediate and
universal emancipation now and forever And we
invite our tellowcitzens everywhere to unite with
US on TINS platform, and thus use the opportune
M oment to free ourselves and our posterity from
the bondage in which We have been so long enslav
ed by the influence Of an arrogant, domineering
ariStocracy."
Here we find Mr.. Johnson, acting Governor
of Tennessee, long a 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
Gantt, and others, constitution is already
formed, making Arkansas forever free State.
why should not the real friends of freedom
III 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?
Again, Mr. President, how does slavery
stand in the State of Louisiana? | undertake
to say that all parties in that State this dav
accept the same fact, that slavery is an in
Stitutinn of the INST that Slarnrr l. Ii