Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-12-01

and not with an,argument whether such a
policy was wise or polite toward loyal
State like Kentucky; We want prompt
decision of the question. 1t is of all
absorbing interest in Off State. We have
numerous private letters and communica-
lions intended for publication. all asking
il something can not be done early to stop
these cata>trophes. They all say they can
not wait the slow processes suggested by
our correspondent 3D." or by ourselves.
They argue that the patient will die before
the doctors have their remedies ready.
Emancipation. it is urged. may be effected
by the Legislature, at their meeting. in
January. by making compensation; for. as
our Constitution forbids the Legislature
to emancipate without compensation. the
necessary implication is that they may do
it with compensation. We have no idea,
however. that the Legislature will do this,
even at the present nominal value Of the
slave. When President Lincoln proposed
compensation. Congress did not vote the
and there is hardly a possibility that il
will he offered again. The progress of the
war will take our slave away without
compensation. except the bounty for able
bodied soldiers.
The QUO s,ion now is, not how shall we
save slavery, Int how shall We raise on,
bread. anil bake it after we have raised it:
Where shall we get the labor? We have
now neither slavery nor freedom; we have
none OF the benefits of either system o.
labor. but are Suffering the disadvantage.
of both. in the midst of the decentralization
and anarchy that prevail around us. Shall
we let events take their course. and with
ont effort, drift with the stream and land
wherever our unguided bark may bring
up? Is this the part of wisdom, 81
craftsmanship, or, better than either. Of
common sense? No one can assert it
We say again. let us meet this question
practically; lay aside preiudces and look
to our self-interests. 1t we will not
emancipate at once by Legislative act,
accompanied with compensation. which.
a. we have shown before. is perfect
Constitutional. then there is nothing left,
so far as we can see at present. to prevent
our iaborers slowly. yet wholly, Having
the State bu, solemn expression Of IN"
Legislature OF kentucky. at its meeting
this winter, that the REBELLION has incident
ally already sd demoralzed slavery in the
State that lis restoration ia beyond hope
and that we mist acquiesce in It's termina-
ton. This would be Int the expression
OF matter of fact; it makes no d Inference
whom we blame or whom we do not
blame. or whether we are pro slavery oI
antislaveav. This is concrete practical
question: .'to be or rot to be''-to eat oil
not to eat--'rhat is the question" Shall
we let things drift along at their own will,
or shall we interpose our active efforts to
guide results?
1t may be objected that we will turn all
the negroes loose npon Us; hut the simple
reply to this is that they are already turn.
ell loose. and they will be turned loose
still il something is not done, and that
promptly. We will have the old and the
blind, the lame and the halt. the mother
and her brood 10 iced AMI to cloihe, with
ont anybody To work to maintain them
That Is what we can prevent, and the
only way that suggests itself to us is by
legislative Recommendation and general
consent. formally. as far as we can. to ter
inmate what is already virtually at an END
AMI hopelessly beyond restoration.