Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-03-02

be blotted out and whether Christian civil
ization itself shall continue to make progress
or roll backward two thousand years. These
are the new issues which, In their appeal in
a form which | regard as little less than I'm
pious they have made. L deyoutly trust, L
most religiously believe, that the great Dis
poser of events, in whose hands the destinies
of nations are held, viii give to the loyal
people of the United States the wisdom, pat
riotism, unity, and courage to maintain the
Union Of these States, to crush the impious
pretentions of slavery, and defend the civil
ization of the age in which we live
Slavery, Mr.. President, is dying, dying all
around US. 1t is dying suicide dies LII
is dying in the house and at the hands OF Its
own protested friends. The sword which 1T
would have driven into the yitaIs OF this he
public is parted and thrust back into Its own.
And. sir. let it die let it die. Without
any sympathy of mine, slavery and all its
denominations may die and go into everlasting
perdition But it is to the all-important
fact that slavery is dying that | would call
the attention of the Senate for moment.
Look around you. Look at West Virginia;
slavery is not only dying, but it is dead and
buried beyond resurrection, upon the soil of
West Virginia How is it in the State of
Missouri Slavery is dying there; ay, prac-
tically dead The simple question among
that people is, when shall its funeral be
fixed? When shall its final burial take
place
How is it in the State Of Maryland? hr,
Thomas at one time Governor of that State,
speaking upon that subject at Rockville, said
not long since:
Slavery is effectually dead in this State. No
lot OF hundred slaves in the State will sell
the block for 81 600. No slave n the State
made to render to his Eowner' more of his labor
than he elects TO render remain under his juris-
dicton month after he electsto fee from it Such
h. azr,It tha haun nf gf
made under the legal and constitutional rights OF
white labor throughout the Union"
The other day we all listened with earnest
attention well great JOY to the eloquent
speech of the Senator from Maryland, Mr..
JOHNSON, when from an outgushing heart he
spoke the living truth in g thoughts that
breathe, and words that burn" He declared
20 US, slavery is dead i'll the State of Mary
land. His colleague says the same thing:
slavery Is a dead thing in the State of Mary
land, thing of the past, a thing that was,
which is no more to exist Ill the future of that
State. Sir, at such progress the very an
gels in heaven rejoice, and all who love hber
ty on earth sing hosannas to the God Of heav-
en-.
How is it in the State of Tennessee? The
Nashville Union, speaking for the people of
that State, not long ago said:
"What Governor Thomas says of slavery in Ma
ryland is equally true OF slavery in Tennessee
No slave here be compelled to work Tor ms
owner against his WILL nor can slave be made to
remain with his owner unless he chooses to do
Whenever slave is dissatisfied with his home he
walks off, as freely az black man would in north
State or in Europe.
In Tennessee the slave code is dead and the
master has LONGER aosolut control over the body
and limbs of his former hondsmen. We doubt
whether any STAKEHOLDER il Tennessee has faith
enough IN the restoration of the system ofcompul-
sorry labor to give 500 in good money for the best
negro among u.s.
And what did Governor Andrew Johnson
speaking upon this subject to the people of
the State of Tennessee on the Sth daJ- of Jan
uary last, say? | cannot mention the name
of Andrew Johnson ofTennessee without paw
ing the highest tribute to him and to the
course he has pursued in the midst of this
struggle, of which language is capable. Sir,
statesmen have done well generals have won
victories i'll the field, but to Andrew johnson
of Tennessee, for the course pursued by him
in this Senate and in the State of Tennessee,
this nation, the American people, owe a debt
of gratitude which they never can repay
Sir, | trust in God the time is not far distant
when we may hear his voice once more with
in the Halls Of this Senate Chamber. On the
( Sth day OF January last, in a speech at Nash
/ vile on the subject, he said:
Before the rebellion could discuss all insti-
tutous all subjects, all measures except slavery.
/ on that subject no one dared speak write
print, except on the side Of the slave arstocracy
Now, thank God, the time has come when the press
/ is uumuzzled, when the press can discuss this and
aH Othsr subjects The time has come when this in
stitutiou Is dead, when the chains broken and
the captive free. The institution is dead, and
slaves are not worth a quarter of a dollar a dozen
I Being dead, let US in becoming prepare
for the funeral obsequies. Now is the time dis
/ pose OF this great question:
Again. in the course of the same speech,
( he said:
/ The edict has gone forth. and all that remains
to be done is to change the relation of master and
slave. The day is not far distant when this nation
will ice the great center of civilization, OF the
and sciences, and of true religion. Time when
the tide of emigration westward; the time will
+ soon be when it will run southwark. Let us 90
+ Let it 20 on with its great mission"
Again and still later, on the 2Ist of Janu-
/ AIRY, at large citing of Union citizens in
/ the State of Tennessee, held in the hall of
/ the House of Representatives of that State
! in Nashville, Mr.. johnson said:
/ lis there here that has observed this thing
who does not know that the institution of slavery
+ in Tennessee is dead ~
/ Anon. the resolutions adopted at this
meeting, resolutions taking measurs to hold
/ convention in that State TO frame a consttu-
I ton based upon this fact, that slavery is dead
in Tennessee, find the following:
'sResolred, That slavery the cause of all
troubles. and as il is unmitigated evil in it
self, ana since 1t may be considered dead by the
acts of its friends, that it may be
T 4
/ upon children that il has upon Us, we here
pledge ourselves to use all int Gence to elect
[ such men, and only such men, al delegates to such
convention rs shall be IN favor of immediate and
universal emaucip ation now and forever. And
invite fellow citizens everywhere unite with
Us ON this platform, and thus the opportune
moment to free ourselves and posUerity from
the bondage in which we have been long enslav-
et 10y the il neuce of arrogant, domineering
sristocracy.' -
Here We find Mr.. Johnson, acting Governor
of Tennessee, long Senator and Representa-
tive from Tennessee, who knows better than
any other the actual condition of things in
, that State, in this speech declaring in most
/ positive terms that every person who OBJ
serves foI himself knows that slavery is dead
| in the State of Tennessee; and the people,
/ who are now organizing for the purpose of
accepting this rs an accomplished fact, and
of placing it in the constitution of the State
/ of Tennessee, in their resolutions declare the
same fact, that slavery is dead, and that it
has died the hands of its own pretended
friends.
In Arkansas, gunder the lead of General
/ CAN'T, and others, a constitution is already
/ formed, making Arkansas forever a free State.
I Why should not the real friends of freedom,