The Portland daily press., 1864-05-27
Compensation for Slaves.

The New Orleans True Delta contains the
daily proceedings of the Louisiana State Con-
stitutional Convention in session at the last
dates from that quarter. On the 18th instant
a minority report Of the Committee on Eman-
cipation, which argued in favor of compeDsa-
ton to the owner, and the freeing OF slaves at
some future time, after long and able dis
cussion, was voted down by vote of SO yeas
TO Is nays.
1t is refreshing to read the editorial CON-
ments Of the Delta on the proceedings Of the
Convention, especially in reference to the
matter of Compensation. Strangely In con-
trast with many journals at the North, it OPP
poses the idea of compensation for reasons
which will be found in the following extracts.
Referring to the minority report presented by
Mr.. Abel, the Delta says
A deep-seated, immovable conviction that
slavery is the root of our present national
woe, that while 1t exists there is no hope of
peace, that its utter destruction is the one
thing needful, fills the mind of every one
whose patriotism is not blinded by prejudice.
or warped by self-interest; and this conviction
naturally produces a resolute determination
TO hold no parley with such an enemy.
Mr.. Abel, influenced by conscientious mo-
tives, and by mistaken reverence for the
rights of what he sincerely believes to be
property, spared no argument to induce the
Convention to favor the claims of loyal own
ers to indemnity for the loss of their slaves.
He might as well have sought with his breath
to avert the blast of tornado. He was not
able to produce the slightest effect The
slave owners OF this State, who have main
tanned their faith 10 the government, are al
most all opposed to this project OF compensa-
ton. They regard it, for the most part, as a
ruse to prolong the existence of the institu-
ton; and they know that were it to be adopt
ed, rebels would be the principal ones to profit
by It. They recognize the fact that the seces-
sionists, by rebelling against the United
States government, by assuming hostile at
titude toward it, by raising and equipping ar
mics 10 resist its lawful authority, have laid
themselves open to all the evils incident TO a
state OF war; placing themselves in the COM
plex relation OF rebellious subjects and public
enemies; and that as the latter, their property
Is justly forfeited. As far as they = the loyal
men are concerned-they offer up their losses
In slave labor as a cheerful sacrifice; and they
are determined that those who have led the
State and the whole country in the present
fearful struggle shall not escape with impuni-
IT,.
There Is, however, higher ground on
which the opponents of compensation might
well stand; the ground that these clamorous
creditors never owned that for which they
claim compensation; never could have owned
1t; because 1t is not In its nature ownable
and no law could make IL so. Talk of wrest-
ing from widows and orphans their property.
What property? Other widows, other or
phans! II this Is indeed wrestling property,
II Is but TO restore 1t TO the lawful owner.
Can any duration of possession give man q
moral right to that which truly belongs to an
other? Length of possession is indeed con-
tidered by all law as comforting a right; but
this undoubtedly arises from the difficulty of
ascertaining the original proprietor But in
the case Of man there is no such difficulty.
The true owner can be nobody but himself
To set free slave, therefore, is but to restore
10 him portion Of his rights.
This is simply the old anti-siayery ground
fully occupied in Maine, the EXTREMIST north
ern free State many years since and now trans
ferred TO Louisiana, the EXTREMIST slave State;
and we do not see but the latter hold it as
fearlessly and occupy 1t as wisely as did their
very distant predecessors a quarter century
ago.
The world moves. Progress is the univer-
sal law. Principles are eternal; and as
D'Aubigne says, they areI never modest; ia
othe words, to be truly enuneiated, they
must be stated in their naked force The ac-
ton Of the Louisiana Convention is alike sig
nifcant and encouraging.