Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-07-07
Slavery DESTROYED.

Slavery Destroyed.
That the institution Of slavery has already
received a severe blow in this country, in
consequence of the rebellion, is unquestion-
able. So severe, that many consider that 1t
is entirely destroyed but there is power
still left in it, and wise councils must prevail
in the land to completely crush it out. 1t
has lately shown itself in Congress, on the
vote to repeal the fugitive slave ANYWHERE
the democrats voted in solid phalanx against
repeal-and in the effort to amend the Con-
stitution so as to prohibit slavery in the coun-
| try-where the measure failed for the want
of two thirds vote. 1t will have strong
party for long time, making every effort to
| save it. That it will fall before the country
can have permanent peace, we entertain no
doubt; but it vii require true and wise men
at the helm-men Of nerve, to accomplish
| the great work. The Missouri Democrat, in
an article on this subject, discusses it thus:
| eve have had in this country oflate sever
al conversations of politicians, who have I'M
dertaken the regulation of the affairs of the
nation. All these parties have met with
most formidable difficulty in the slavery
| question. 1t has proved too large matter
to ignore, while taking position with refer
ence to it has required no small amount of
moral courage. To declare against slavery
has demanded high order of political hero
| ism, and to declare for it under existing cir
cumstances, is looked upon by shrewd politi
clans as equally perilous. In this emergency
the embarrassment of which can be readily
apprecated-a happy expedient has sugges-
| ted itself to some of the politicians-being
nothing less than strategic movement for
| thanking the knotty question, which has been
executed BY declaring that slavery is already
" destroyed" Of course, if slavery is dead,
there is no use of either taking position
there is practically no longer any such thing
as either anti-slayery or pro-slaveryism. So
to escape the necessity of showing their hands
| of avowing themselves either for or against
the institution-the political trimmers allud-
ed to have written it down in their platforms,
| and published it to the world as "deStroyed."
| This they did in a convention recently held
in this city, where both protested anti slavery
and pro-slavery men met, their object being
| to secure the support of both anti-slavery
and pro slavery voters. The same thing was
done in another meeting of recent date in
| Cleveland where the odds and ends of sew
eral parties, which have occupied very differ
ent positions upon the slavery question, came
| together, and where to take a position one
| way or the other was consequently extremely
| embarr assing, if not impossible. So to avoid
| a commit al, they wrote down that slavery
was destroyed" which, meaning nothing, was
equivalent to taking no position. The phrase
| in itself is false, and its use, under the cir
| cumstances and in the present crisis of the
nations peril, is cowardly, but then it is
trick of politicians, and ii, politics as in war,
| the saying is, that alls fair.
| But little did those political strategists,
who thus placarded the demise of slavery,
while three millions Of men and women were
yet wearing its chains, probably think how
| their words, in way which none could mis-
! understand. The contradiction, however, has
come. In the Congress of the United States
two important questions involving the exis-
tence of slavery have arisen, and been decid-
| ed upon. One was a proposition for the re-
peal of the Fugitive Slave Law, and with
single exception, every Democrat-the De-
mocracy having been the pro-slavery party of
| the country-voted against it. thus deciding to
| stand by slavery, for which, were it already
destroyed, there would of course have been
| no necessity. The other was a proposition
| for the amending of the Constitution, so as
really to destroy slavery, and wbich ogas defeat
| ed By slape,y's friends. When we thus see the
institution welding such power in the coun-
| ellis of the nation, what folly to talk about it
| being " destroyed !"
| No, no, slavery is not destroyed in this
country. 1t is now defying, as it has defed
for the last three years, the entire military
power of the government. And even if the
| army of the Union succeed, as we believe
it will, it does not follow that slavery is ode
stroyed." So far from such being the case,
that party which is now known as the Demo
cracy, including not few of those who are
now talking the most fippantly about slavery
being dead, will at once insist upon the ac-
acknowledgement of the right to hold slaves as
one of the conditions of settlement. This
battle with slavery does not end with the re.
| bellion. 1t is an institution which is not
" destroyed" by the breath of a political
| convention, nor even by the fiery blast of
battle. It is wonderfully tenacious of life.
1t will require wise, prudent, brave legisla-
| ton to make an ending Of it. Now in what
condition will those parties be, who have
subscribed to the doctrine that slavery is al
ready destroyed" to engage in this contest?
They will be like men who have thrown away
their swords. True, they may plead they
meant nothing by their assertion, but then
why make it? 1t is dangerous to take a
false position in such vital matter. 1t may
deceive some-it may disarm OF hers. The
truth would, under all circumstances, be in
| fnitely better"
TO convert an artless woman into a
heartless one, there only wants che"