The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-07-20
Honest, But Incautious.

The Mercury saws we are honest but In
c.utious, meaning thereby that we are
honest in avowing our belief in and devo-
ton to the great fundamental principle of
Human Rights, that all men are created
equal and have an equal natural right to
the enjoyment fife. liberty, and property,
but incautious for holding, that the at
tempt to apply and enforce this principle
all over the world without a moments de-
Law. without regard to time and circum-
stance and erpediency, all in one cam
paign Is inexpedient and wrong. though
under other circumstances, and at the
proper time it would be right. Let US see
how this is:
Mankind are influenced by prejudice a.
much and perhaps more than by principle,
and they are influenced in their actions as
much or more by the interests Of self, or
their party or their section rs by the high
or and nobler motives Of patriotism and
the public good. This prejudice. being so
important an element, will be duly corrsid-
cred and respected by the statesman, phil
nnthropist and christian, in all their plans
and movements: TO promote the civil,
political and religious we'll being OF society.
Just as much rs the physician is compelled
to recognize and be governed by the vicious
habits and n0xious humOrs Of the human
system, in making up his diagnosis of dis
ease. This principle is illustrated by the
greatest events in history. The colonists
did not profess the purpose of separation
from the mother country and independence,
in Difference to a prejudice against that
measure, and the Union party did not pro-
fess and purpose to emancipate the slaves.
at the commencement of the war, ont OF
deference to prejudice against it. There
IS no doubt but that the ennunciation Of n
design to accomplish what actually took
place in either OF these memorable instan-
ces, would have bsen fatal, and we might
to-day be a dependency of Great Britain,
and the Southern Confsderacy among the
nations OF the earth. Whatever hopes
many entertained in regard to either OF
these great communications, twas evident
ly no sacrifice OF principle not to resOiUe in
favor Of one or the other, but it would have
been in the highest degree suicidal and
foolish tohave done so. Man proposes, but
The status OF the negro in this country
Is yet undecided. Military edict has pro,
nounced him free, but he is far from being
secure in the possession of that freedom
1t is important to perfect his title to free
dom before extending to him the right to
vote. That may or may not result az the
people, who have the right to decide upon
the qualification of electors. may hereafter
determine, in the light of facts not vet de-
veloped. Resolving now won't do it. but
may defeat twill most surely do so, II
resolving divides the Union party, and
enough Radicals go to bed with Copper
heads, to let the traitors crawl back to pow
er, and the slave driver clutch his whip
and the dealer in human flesh adjust the
manacles again on human limbs. 1t will
matter then very little to the causa Of eman-
cipation and human rights. whether the
word white is in the text Of the Constitu-
ton Of Iowa or not.