The Portland daily press., 1864-08-13
Iron the Toronto Gtobe.l
The ro-Slayery 0utory.

having declared the abandonment of slavery
a necessary condition of the restoration of the
Union. Now" say the Opposition presses,
I'VE have the proof that this is an abolition
"war. We have been told it was war Tor
the preservation of the Union and for the
re-establishment of the authority OF the
Government in the seeded States. But
"here we have Mr.. Lincoln's avowal that it
sis a war for abolition. Not another dollar
nor another man for such war" 1t is diff
cult for Canadians TO comprehend how large
section of the people of the free North can
still be so demoralzed as to sympathize with
such cry, but it is undeniable that the views
of large minority OF the Northern people
are correctly represented by the Democratic
press in its disgraceful outcry against the pol
icy of making the war a means of removing
the curse Of slavery from the continent. The
rebellion is due solely to slavery. That is
proved by the concessions, or rather the
boasts, OF the rebel leaders. Moreover, only
slave States have seeded, while in those por
tons OF the slave States where slavery is weak
the rebellion has never taken deep hold
Missouri, Delaware aud Maryland have never
pretended to secede, though from the sections
Of them where there are many slaves, the
rebel armies have been largely recruited
Western Virginia, which has but few slaves.
has all along been loyal. On the other hand,
the rebellion has been most heartily sustained
in the Gulf States, where the per centage OF
slaves is the largest-South Carolina, the first
State to secede, and the bitterest in its hos
tilty to the Union, being pr eminent for its
deep interest in slavery. The whole history
of the republic exhibits the institution Of sla-
ments between the two sections. The "irre-
pressible conflict" between free labor and
slave labor has rendered harmonious govern
ment impossible. No matter how weak the
Federal tie might belt was too strong to
suit all the requirements OF the slave power.
No matter how ready Northern politicians
might be to barter their conscences for Office
no matter how despieable might be their
subservieney to the slaye-holding interest
they could never give enough. No matter
how much the Northern people might be har-
dened by the cultivation of prejudice against
the colored man-no matter how much then
consciences might be appeased by the doc
trine that the iniquities of the South were no
concern of theirs-they could never become
sufficiently Indifferent TO the dictates of hu-
manity to assent quietly to all that the deal
ers in human flesh would demand. Incessant
warfare was the inevitable result When at
last the struggle eyentuated in an appeal to
arms-when the slave-power undertook a gi-
gantic war in the interest OF its slavery-it be-
came the clear duty of the Federal Govern
ment and the Northern people TO divorce
themselves at once and forever from all fur
Their completely with the accursed barbarism
which wrought the mischief II, in theory,
the Federal statesmen could not hold that by
their rebellion the secessioniss had forfeited
all implied constitutional protection for their
property in slaves, they had at least the war
power to warrant them in declaring boldly for
emancipation. We know how long they hesi-
tated-we know how much opportunity was
given to the rebellious States to return to the
Union with slavery still recognized and pro-
tected institution. We know, too, what may
have been the reasons for that. A hope TO
( coneiliate the hesitating border States, and a
fear of the despicable proslavery sentiments
so prevalent in many sections of the North,
may have caused the government at Washing
ton to hesitate at step which might ALLEVIATE
so many of the doubtful Unionists, who were
| for the Union only on condition that its res
! toration did not emancipate the bondsmen OF
the South. But at length the time came when
| the Washington Cabinet, after due notice, did
decree the emancipation of the slaves in the
States in rebellion, and at the same time
| pledged the whole military and moral power
of the Government to the carrying out OF
that decree. This act was done most solemn
" and deliberately. Congress, the representa-
tive of the people, declared for the same poll
\ cy, and in many ways endorsed the action OF
the Government, the Northern people contin-
ued at the State elections to elect the candi-
dates Of the Government by large majorities
The honor of the people and the government
was as firmly bound and pledged as it could
be to strict adherence TO the letter and spir-
it OF the proclamation Of emancipation.
But, in the face Of all this--in defiance Of
all considerations of justice, of sound public
policy, and OF public faith and honor--a great
party at the North regards as its strongest
electioheering card the declaration of Mr.
Lincoln that he means to stand honorably by
the solemn act of his Government. We can
hardly conceive of anything more utterly dis.
graceful. The civilized world regards the pi.
rate who steals the colored man from his
home and sells him into bondage, as an inhu.
man monster. Death is the punishment ev-
erywhere prescribed for his crime. But men
calling themselves Christians, men pretending
to Intelligence and respectability, men pro-
Tossing to lead the public opinion of a free
and civilized country-are found proposing
that the United States Government should
! for political advantage, sell whole people
| whom it has declared tree back into bondage
! All the dishonorable deeds ever charged upon
the Washington Government, by its worst en-
emies sink into insignifieance by the side OF
| the baseness which such barter would in
/ volve. 1t could be no justification OF the
/ tTtaCutIt WHICH ItltdCL ucCTtc OF
emancipation, TO say that those who made
| that decree have not succeeded in giving it
! practical effect, except 10 a very limited ex-
tent. They are. bound to make good their
| pledge II they can. Ii they cannot, they are
| bound by all that is decent, and by all that is
| honorable, not to make profit by the repudia-
| ton of sacred obligation. The emancipa-
| ton decree has been used to recruit the ar
mics OF the North. By it thousands of the
/ race whose freedom It guaranteed, have been
| induced to sacrifice their lives in the service
| of the Federal Government. Many more OF
| them have fallen victim to the murderer's
hand after being captured by the rebel troops.
! The promise that induced sacrifices like
these-the promise that has purchased the
blood of thousands Of men-could not be bro.
ken without covering the government that
did it with the deepest disgrace. We do not
believe that there is the slightest danger that
Mr.. Lincoln and his advisers can possibly be
induced to incur that disgrace. We do not
Il F.l..