The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-01-27
EMANCIPATION.

Probably no greater revolution IN the
public sentiment Of any community has
ever lcen known, than that which has taken
place in tho border slave States since tho
commencement of tho rebellion, Previous
Co that time, no other States were 80 bitterly
pro slavery aud iutolcrant of FREQ speech
~ these. 70 express doubt therein NJ
the divinity aud juatice Of slavery, was to
invite at least abuse aud personal violence,
aud in many instances It has cost. tho IN
happy victim his life. But how changed J
ln communities where, three years since,
ttc speaking Of Is word for Freedom was
equivalent to sentence Of baAishment
asainst les artlior, we now find public
s1ntimcnt strongly favoriug the ideas and
doctrines which il then perseculed, and
cxecrating the institution which Il then held
tp bo ~ dear ~ honor and ~ sacred as
lite As striking illustration of this
change, it is reported that a gentleman from
Arkansas, recently stated i'll Cincinnati,
that for uttcring certain sentiments in that
State, previous to the rebellion. he had been
banishcd North as an Abolitionst; but he
ai9cd that if he now ahould vonturc TO ex-
press tho Same sentiments, in the same
community, lao would DO banishcd South
AZ Il rebel!
In Missouri, whcro, tow years STAGE, 10
entertain ant-sIavory sentiments was al
most equivalent 10 inviting assassination,
/ pubic opinion is now so strongly aud per
sstenty opposed 10 tho further tolerance
| Of the institution of slavery, that nothing
/ less than iHtncdiate emancipation will sat.
isfy il.
In Maryland, where, from time mmc.
mortal, )" Slavery has been laudcd and Free
dom cxccratcd, the Legislature has, by a
largo majority, passed an act providing for
holding Constitutional Convention, the
great object of which il TO make such
changes in the Constitution as will abolish
slavery in that State.
Western Virginia, tho first to fully cx.
pericnce the fiery throes of rebellion, was
first u rcgenrrate itself and destroy the
institution which, 10y giving riso to the
war, carly dotted its hllsidcs with the
graves OF loyal men, aud gave to it's beau
tlul streams the appearance of "rivcrs
Of blood"
In Kentucky, also, there is growing up
n strong sentiment in favor or carly oman
cipation, but AZ yet it is less powerful thar
in the other border States.
But this growth of auti-slavcry senti
mcut il not confined to tho border slave
Statcs-it appears strongly in Tennessee
Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana, max
ing Emancipatonists of men once it,
strongest advocates and il has swept lik,
wild lire throughout the Northern States
making "rabid Ab0litionists " of men who
previously, during all thcir political expo.
riencc, had lot pass no opportunity for
! defending the institution of slavery and
protecting tho rights Of it's upholdcrS in
tho South.
| And thus will this sentiment continue to
increase thus will this current Of public
| opinion widen and deepen, until with rro.
Bstihio volume il rushos over all the ter
rtory beneath tho Stars and Stripes, sweep,
ing from it every vestigo of the institution
TO pcrpctuate which tho rebellion was
| inauGuratod.
With the certainty of this result before
us, let no one feel despondent-let no one
despair Its accomplishment, will add
lustro to our national emblem, strength and
honor to the cause OF republican institu'
tons cvcrywherc, and will mark the crush
ing on this continent of gigantic Wrong