, 1864-03-05
THE PROGRESS OF OPINION.
If 1rc Ind time tn think of II there ia nntt

xkak4 EkkVAl&k1194 VF VE1N1ONs
five Ind time to think Of it, there is moth
ing so extraordinary rs the present state of
the emancipation question in the United
States, It Is becoming plain to the dullest
OF comprehension among us, that slavery j.
dead. Even Brooks in Congress gives mourn
full assent to the tact. Gov. Hall Of Missouri
signs the law calling convention In that
State, to bring about immediate cnaancipa-
tion, instead Of waiting the term Of years
already the law there. The n. Y. Herdld
plants itself On the emancipation policy; and
is probably MS sincere "a It is capable Of being
In regard to anything. And the National
House Of Representatives commands goodly
majority for every question which puts a
general or partial question Of freedom to
slaves fairly On the record
When We remember how stifly this matter
has been fought, by copperheads and conser-
vatlvcs Of every stripe, up to the last few
weeks even; and how to recent date, all
The advantages gained In the direction Of
emancipation, have been In the shape Of eec-
ondary or incidental questions, and not on
the direct question itself, it seems more like
q dream than reality. Truc, 1t was an
nounced in the beginning Of the war, that 1t
must destroy slavery. But this declaration
expressed more often feeling than any dis
tinct perception, or even expectation Many
uttered 1t who meant after all to do all they
could to hinder 1t; andbf such as hoped for
Its truth, the fears Of many that
1t would somehow fail to prove
true, outnumbered their expectations.
So long had We been accustomed to
be bullied and outraged on every question Of
Hn1r, hot hr%t %e Nd t,na
came to consent together that Slavery was
perpetual, 60 far Is any sure probability Of
its extinction was concerned. And In go far
as a confidence existed, with those who
hoped to see the end Of 1t, it was faith rath-
CT than sight. -
But the fact, like old John Browns soul
has been constantly "marching ou,'' from
the very beginning The very fact that the
rebels had made war, determined a large
number, on the instant. Cen Butler from
casting thf1ty-six-or hty-six, or possibly
more consecutive ballots for Jefferson Davis,
to be the now Prcsiacnt of the United States,
declared, that if the South made war, the
North would fight her, and he Us one Of the
North; and that q soar toouN <lestroy Glascry:
and in years time be had On the harnese
And from the day that he took the sword he
has acted upon the theory Of his prophecy.
But while multitude in the same politi-
cal position went with Bntler, multitude
hung back, Slavery Was too sacred thing to
be mcddlcd with. They had worshfpped the
old smoky demon 80 long, that it vas vener-
able in their eyes. Had not SlnyeIy always
existed In our country; and did not our Fa-
thess, and the blessed Washington himself,
uphold It? 1--we pulled that down would
not tho whole fabric trmblcs
Besides, what was it that had been z,noato-
he If not SlayeryS Where were cotton, and
sugar. md the Southern tradc without ny
And were not these Southern slaye.
holders glorious fellowsp Who would come
North for travel and money spending, If their
craft were broken up. And then, were ne1
the slngea black; nnd was not Ham vile fcl
low, and did not Canaan get cursed
And 80, between these fears ani
supcrstitions, md the smell of Egyptian
rsrlic,, o motely, Crew, of old Hunkers mi
Silver Greys, and fossilized men Of many per
euasions, have sIngly and in packs fought on
determining that come what would, the oil
Dragon should not be pulled down. At ever.
shot that struck It, they rafsed howl a
Its legs and arms got broken, and the spin
tcrs lew Ike rain, their frenzy Mas unbound
ed. Its indignities drew their curses; an
lis 1niGo1tuncs thtir tears.
But neither threats, curses, nor tears coul'
stop the destruction. From tue dny tue wa
beeau. slaycsy began to die Every shell tha
exploded set loose q bcvy OF c1,attclixcd Afr
cans, Each minnie bullet set,a pslr Of blacl