Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-11-23
4 BacksIIder Reclaimed. .

had always been at variance and never
before had spoken we'll Of The motive
that induced this strange and infatuated
conduct grew out Of its desire to preserve
the institution Of American slavery.
Long years ago some Of the wittiest,
bitierest and most pathetic appeals wore
made by the Journal TO rid Kentucky
Of slavery and its deplorable con
sequences, as an incubus upon It's
progress parasite upon its prosperity
But It's appeals we're unheeded, ils argu-
ments disreEarded. Failing in its effort
to pursuade Kentuekians to pursue the
path Of righ. and happiness, the Journal,
with fscile conscience, placed itself At
their head and with rapid haste led them
the downward road, which has culmi-
mated in rebellion and almost in ruin.
No paper has contributed more towards
riveting slavery upon Kentucky than the
Journal II, therefore, is largely rsspon-
sible for the difficulties and priyations
which now make residences in that
garden spot Of the Ohio Valley
so disagreeable, il not positively danger
GUS II the war, in its onward progress,
has nproo,ed the foundation Of the labor
system in our neighboring State, so that
"no family, when they rise up in the
morning, know whether they have a
servant to prepare breakfast for them or
not = and the plantations bid fair, the
ensuing summer, to become e prey to
weeds, for want of laborers to till Them,
We think rsproaches can nowhere be ap-
piled so justly as upon those who we're
so infatuated with the institution as to
disregard the warning and pleading
voice Of the President, when be be-
sought them to emaneipatO their slaves
and accept compensation in lieu there
Of The President, with his far-reaehing
sagaeity, seems to have eomprehended
the present condition Of things in Ken
tueky from the beginning. And not
withstanding she had, through the ad-
vice Of the Louisville Journal and poll
ticians of its school, secuted bis appeal
for help to suppress the rebellion, and
prolonged the war--God only knows
how long--by her mistaken Neutrality
policy, he yet was anxious to avert
the trouble that be saw was gathering
dark above his native State, Ant
made his celebrated appeal TO her tc
emancipate her slaves, pledging on biz
part that Congress would grant eompen
sssion for them. This act, the President
/ thought, would do more towards sup
pressing the rebellion than armies with
banners. Congress could well afford L
apply funds for compensated emaneipa
tion which would otherwise be squan
dered amid the horrors and extrava
gance of war.
Ii is true that "when Mr.. Lincoln pro
posed compensation Congress did no
vote the supplies necessary for compen
sation," but it was because the proposi
ton was hooled at, and rejected wit
manifestations of scorn, By those 70
whose benefit il was intended Th
District Of Columbia slaves were smar
oipated and their owners compensated
at least those who were loyal Fla
Kentucky, in the true spirit ofpatriotisu
stepped forward and said to the Pres
dent I'VE realize the difieu
ties with which you have to eoaten,
aud the delicate character of the ci
cumstances by which you are surround
ed; we see that it is utterly impossib
, to save the Union aud at the same tin
perpetuate slavery, which is seeking i
: destruction; we discover that your an
iety to do nothing that viii interfere
; the slightest with the property rights
the border slave States, is materially i
J terferinK with your desire to prosecu
4 a vigorous war upon those in rehelliC
= against the Government; therefore, gre
as will be the sacrifice, and inconver
snt as will be the consequences of {
act, We hereby accept your propositio
=, strike the shackles from cur slaves al
look to YOU and the Amirican people
such compensation, as in their hbei
- and patriotic hearts, they may be will
to give," e,"-Kentucky's sacrifices a
" suaerings would have been nothing
- comparison with what they have be,
lar and she would have exalted herself
's be the admiration of the nation a
- world
At the outset we deprecated
IN neutrality position, because in q
=. war we did not see how there cozld
m. neutrals. With Douglas, We could
@ @ow but two sides to the question-thst
ees patriotism and treason. We urged
! % the Presidents plau of compensa
,IS to emancipation be accepted, bat v
equally poor success. So far from
). cepting it, our paper was prescribed
'o'' proposing and arguing Its propriety