Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-01

late years and especially during the pro-
gress Of our great civil war, that Il IS some
what remarkable that there seems to be o
hesitaney in Congress TO vote forMr. Stevens
proposed amendment to theCOnstitution, by
which slavery is forever to be abolished.
Il would seem that this last browning
sos Of justice to the black race and to the
RspUblis would be instantly achieved
when the power is in our hands. Twelve
years have scarcely rolled by, sincs the
party was organize whose battle cry was
free soil, free speech, free labor and free
men. They had two powerful parties, the
Whig and the Democratic both Of whom
deprecated all agitation Of the question
Of slavery to contend against. In the ca
ger desire to gain control Of the Federal
government, these two powerful Organizs-
tions eontendei for the balance Of power.
Zach Of them cast over s million Of votet
at that time; the wings, 1886, ,144; the
democrats, 1,6OO,5I3. The disiinetively
anti-slsVery party received but l56, l48
votes. In 1856 this wave Of snti-slavery
sentiment had slready become a. running
sea- From few over 100, 900, the peo-
pies heart and peoples conscience, quick
ened into new life by the stormy sgita-
tiOns of those days, rolled up the grand
vote Of 1874, l64. The Pathfinder Of the
Rocky Mountains organized about his
nams, truly formidable party. Mr.. Bu-
chanan at that time received ], ,803, 029
votes; Mr.. Fillmore, s74,625. Here was
another grand, morsl victory in four years.
In 1860. Mr. Lincoln was elected by an
overwhelming vote. TIE anti-slavery
men Of the nation polled half million Of
votes more than in '56. These three elec-
tions of 80, '56, and go show how rapid,
how gigantic was the march Of Freedom.
Though for years the young knight had
seemed to lag behind in the race across
the continent with slavery, suddenly his
pace WAS quiokened and he flew like wind
to rescue the soil Of the West from its
clutches.
Frightened at the progress Of freedom,
the men who prefer self to humanity, and
who saw their class privileges falling
from their grasp, plunged the nation, with
6endish madness, into the bloOdiest rsvo-
luton Of an time.
Now, can any one doubt that the snti-
slavery men Of the Republic are vastly in
the ascendaney2 Have the fierce terrOrs
Of war, its cruel desolstion, and in its an
guish-striCken despair, added nothing to
that fiery ardor for freedom and that ha-
tired Of human bOndsge2 The history Of
the war is the best answer. That princi-
pie Of freedom, which had FOR years been
lesvening the conscience Of the masses
hss taken The leadership Ofithe war. From
9 mere incorporeal faith in the sublime
doctrines Of free soil, free speech and free
men, it has been transformed into a mill !
lion Of armed heroes, fighting for the rights |
Of man throughout the world. It's watch
word is no longer limited to few earnest |
hearts in the North; it has stOrmed the
citadel Of slavery itself. Witness the |
progress Of this idea during the rebellion.
At frat orders were issued driving fugi-
tives back to their bondage. In July,
1851, Congress took step in advance, and
passed an act forfeiting an owners right
to any slave employed in aid Of the rebel
lion. At the regular session in December,
1851, Congress passed an act making free
lll slaves that entered our lines, were de-
serted by their masters, OF came under the
authority of the United States. Months
passed away before they were protected,
md before they we're organized into sn
lrny Of freemen. 1t was, indeed 9 whole
'ear before the work Of enlisiing the ne t
SrOes was begun earnestly. Then follow C
d the systematic arming and disciplining a
4 able bodied men coming to our lines Q
hen came the Proclamation Of Emanci- 4
alton. Y
How, what the people demand is, that
lsvery shall die and be buried. We want z
o body snstehers to distract our future =
eaoe and prosperity. Ths closing act in a
ais work must be amendment to the con-
dtutiOn, by which it viii be forever i'm
ossible for any State to re-establish hu- Z
ian bondage. This is the only effective e
lethcd, for slavery can never be restored t
ut by again amending the constitution SO
to allow Of its existence. Slavery must :
therefore, cease by the voice Of the people. r
an that be done We believe it can f
We now have thirty-hve States, and sets v
ave been passed to crests two more, Ne :
sda and Colorado, which viii make thir- il
? seven. Is it impossible to have two 1
birds Of Congress recommend such an 2
nendment2 When it is recommended, e
i'll not three-fOurtbs Of these thirty-ssven Q,
tstes ratify the amendment To do it. II
Ill require the require the vote Of the ~
Esnty-one free States and seven others. y,
hese seven are Delaware, Maryland, Mis- Y
uri, Western Virginis Arkansas, Ten m
sssss and Louisiana. Who that has ..
udied the progress of the anti-slavery dr.
Id snti-rebellion feeling of these States, tn
n doubt their readiness to free them ST
Ives forever from the cause Of all their ~
oes2 Let Congress therefore begin the fin
'rk. There is no necessity for an hours MI
lay. Emsncipste the Republic Let in
. genius Of universal liberty preside sr
er her future, and humanity will again or
ter, with widest scolsmstions, upon the me
thvav Of deveIopment nover and glorv- sol