The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-08-20
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During the past three years more has
been done for liberty and humanity, than
was ever before accomplished in . far long.
,sr period Of time. It Is true that the good
results attained have been very expensive
In blood and treasure; but the necessity
WAS forced upon %, and it will be the
pleasure Of the historian In making up the
account, to find . large balance of compen-
sation for the sacrifice.
How stood the case Ut the opening o1
1872? There were fifteen slave States
embracing S44, 064 square miles, and eight
cen free States with an area Of 0A,613
square miles. Thus there were three more
free States; with 10, 481 square miles leas
than was contained in fifteen slave States.
The slave States embraced the most pro-
ductive soil and climate on the face Of the
globe, out Of which Shareholders grew rich
in idleness, luxury and dissipation. The
Northern States, though containing large
share Of fertile soil and blessed with abpn-
dant mineral resources, did not afford such
afford was, as it should be everywhere, the
result OF the labor Of ffeemen. I'D
What has the administration accom-
plished in respect to the area of freedom :?
Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana,
Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, and
last though not least, the District of Column
bia, may be considered as substantially lib.
~
and joined to the grand domain OF liberty.
Missouri has adopted gradual emancipa-
ton policy, but the rapidly growing radi-
cal party will probably not permit the year
1866 to pass without total abolition. In
Kentucky, even Conservatives admit that
the institution il dead; but If 1t is not, q
party OF freedom has sprung up that will
soon finish It. The same may be said q
Tennessee, and a. for Louisiana, the loyal
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and the result II not doubtful. Maryland
10 freeing herself a. II also West Virgins !;
while Delaware with her handful Of slaves,
cannot long b counted with the s'man-
stealers;" and the District Of Columbia,
the seat o., the National Capital, II ffee
from the guilt that for more than half . CEN
fury involved the whole Republic in shame
and dtsgrace. How exhiliratiDg il this rec
ord Of progress to every friend Of his coun-
try and Of the human family! The area Of
these States and the District, calling West
Virginia $500, in 236, 1857 square miles,
equivalent to six States a. large a. Ohio, or
more than four States a. large as England,
Ireland and Scotland combined. Is it not
some decidedly heartfelt satisfactionf Is
not this worth remembering to the credit
Of the Administration? and will not the
historian give 1t an incalculable import
ance? In this vast territory, already
snatched from the jaws Of the rebellion
and the curse of slavery, more human sor-
row and suffering will be saved within a
few years, in consequence of the change.
than the war has or will cost. Freedom,
therefore, now virtually holds within State
organizations, 1,058. go square miles, while
despotism is reduced to 6lO,4l7 square
It is true that we have not the full control
of Louisiana, but the differeuee il doubly
balanced by our possessions in Arkansas
and Georgia.
Avoir at Tho cnrnynonca ~ ont ~ fha 80