The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1865-09-23

when war ceases they resume their positions
with all their privileges untouched. There
can be no mutilated ~ restoration. That
would be the work of Congress, alone, and
would be " Reconstruction"
While hear it said everywhere that slave
ry is dead, cannot learn who killed it.
No thoughtful man has pretended that Lin
coins proclamation, SO noble in sentiment,
liberated single slave. 1t expressly ex-
cluded from its operation all those within
oar lines. No slave within any part Of the
rebel States in our possession or in Tennes-
see, but only those beyond our limits and
beyond our power were declared free. So
Gen. Smith conquered Canada by procla
NATION The President did not pretend to
abrogate the Slave Laws of any of the States.
" Restoration" therefore will leave the
" Union as it was, "a henious idea. | am
aware that very able and patriotic gentle.
man, and learned historian, Mr.. Bancroft,
has attempted to place their freedom on diff:
ferent grounds. He says what is undoubt-
eddy true, that the proclamation of freedom
did not free a slave. But he liberated them
on feudal principles. Under the feudal sys-
TEN, when king conquered his enemy, he
parceled out his lands and conquered sub
jccts among his chief retaincrs the lands
and serfs were held on condition of fealty
and rendering military service when re-
CURED. If the subordinate chief rcbclled,
hn lrn l.a tI, l,.
them, and the lands and serfs became for
teted to the Lord Paramount. But it did
not free the serfs. They with the manors
were bestowed on other favorites. But the
analogy fails in another important respect.
The American stakeholder does not hold by
virtue OF any grant from any Lord Para
mount-least of all by grant from the Gen
eral Government. Slavery exists by no law
OF the Union, but simply by local laws, by
the laws Of the States. Rebellion against
the Nationd Authority is breach of no
condition of their tenure. 1t we've more
analogous to say that rebellion against a
State uneer whose laws they held, might
work forfeiture. But rebellion against
neither government would per- Sc have any
such effect. On whom would the Lord Para
mount again bcstow TIE slaves? The theory
is plausible, but has no solid foundation.
The President says to the rebel States,
"before you can participate in the govern
ment you must abolish Slavery and reform
your election laws THAT is the command
of a Conqueror. That is Reconstruction.
not Observation-Disclosures too by as
Stunning the power of Congress This theory
will lead to melancholy results. Nor can
the constitutional amendment abolishine
Slavery ever be ratified by eefourths of
the States, ifthey are States to be counted
Bogus Conventions Of those States may vote
for it. But no Convention honestly and
fairly elected will ever do it. The frauds
will not permanently avail. Tie cause of
Liberty must rest on a frmer basis. Coun-
terfeit governments like the Virginia, Lou-
slana, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas
pretences, will be disregarded by the sober
sense of the people, by future law, and by
the courts. Restoration is replanting the
seeds of rebellion, which within the next
quarter Of IA century will terminate and pro-
ducc the same bloody strife which has Just
ended.
But, it is said, by those who have more
sympathy with rebel wives and children than
for the widows and orphans of loyal men,
that this stripping the rebels of their estates
and driving them to exile or to honest labor
would be harsh and severe upon innocent
women and children. 1t may be so but
that is the result Of the necessary laws of
war. But it is revolutionary, say they
This plan would, no doubt, work radical
reorganization in southern institutions,
habits and manners. 1t is intended to revo
lutionize their principles and feelings. This
may startle feeble minda and shake weak
nerves. SO do all great improvements IN
the political and moral world. 1t requires
a heavy impetus to drive forward sluggish
people. When it was first proposed to free
the slaves, and arm the blacks, did not half
the nation tremble! The prim conserva-
tlves, the snobs, and the male waiting maids
in Congress, were in Mysteries.
The whole fabric of southern society must
be changed, and never can it be done if this
opportunity is lost Without this, this Gov
eminent can never be, as it never has been,
a true republic. Heretofore, it had more
the features of aristocracy than democracy.
The Southern States have been despotisms,
not governments of the people. 1t is impos.
sible that any practical equality of rights can
exist where few thousand men monopolize
the whole landed property. The larger the
number of small proprietors the more safe
and stable the government. AS the landed
interest must govern, the more it is subdivi-
ded and held by independent owners, the
better. What would be the condition of the
State of New York if it were not for her in.
dependent yeomanry? She would be over
whelmed and demoralized by sthe Jews,
Milesians and vagabonds of icentous cities
How can republican institutions, free
schools, free churches, free social inter
course exist in mingled community of
nabobs and serfs of the owners of twenty
acre manors with lordly palaces,
and the occupants of narrow huts inhabited
by slow white trash?' If the south is ever