Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-06-02
sLAYERY--Ts 1T DEAD :

One Of the greatest errors committed by
the great and good founders Of our nation
and trainers of our constitution, was the ta-
king it for granted, that slavery languishing
and apparently dying, would soon be dead.
So thinking they passed it by and left it to
revive and grow TO life and strength, and
eventually to bring upon US all the horrors
of one of the most terrific rebellions ever re-
corded in the pages Of history Are we in
no danger of a similar error? Our noble
President, in the exercise of the most won
derful magnanimity, was stricken down by
the bloody hand of an assassin, driven to bis
foul deed by the 6endish spirit of slavery.
Let us beware of over-leniency The de-
praved spirit Of slavery cannot be affected
by considerations of gratitude, it is wholly
depravcd and incapable of being moved by
any of the finer feelings usually pertaining
to humanity. We see this spirit already
showing itself in the legislation of Tennessee
where the lower house has passed bill ma
king separate laws for the freedmen, with a
clause providing for returning them to other
States. which looks very much ike fugi-
tive slave law. We must remember that
the Amendmentisn is notyet ratified. Already
the enemies of freedom are plotting mis-
chief. Let us not dismiss the work half
done let it be kept before the people un-
til it is completely finished Let not the
question be dismissed until the amendment
has been fully ratified and slavery forever
and irrevocahly abolished. Rest not until
its foul stain is purged forever from our stat
ute books. Shall States be permitted to re-
turn to our national councils, with the con-
taminating influence of slavery still clinging
to their skirts, and possibly containing the
germ of some future rebellion Let us not
forget that there are those who still cling to
this fruitful source of all our troubles-this
vampire that, for years, has sucked the life
blood of the nation-this moral Upas-tree
which, for more than half century, has
bHghted with ignorance and poverty the fair
fields of the sunny south-this Pandora $
box, that has brought war into our land with
allits woes-that has caused so many fields
to be drenched with fraternal blood
has brought mourning to almost every
household in theland. There are those who
in the face of the widows and orphans it has
made-in full view of nation groaning un-
der the debt it has imposed upon us-nay
more, of murdered and starved fathers,
brothers, husbands and sons, whose bones
lie bleaching on southern plains, viii and do
plead for its preservation in some form,
There may be no danger ola reinstatement
of slavery inits old form, but there is already
an effort being made to preserve it in the
modified form of caste or serfdom. Let us
be watchful and see that not the least yes
tige of the accursed institution be permitted
to remain. We have had a bitter expert
ence. Let us see to it, not only that
the snap of the slave-driver's whip and the
clanking of chains and shackles, be no more
heard in the land, but, that not the slight
est shadow of the vile system be permitted
to remain. Then, indeed, shall a new era
arise in the history of these United States
an era of true freedom.