Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-27


mora seyerelyi testing the mettle of the
people, thsn the pressure Of the war. The
conflict of arms secures the sal5jHgatioB OF
the Rebellion. But all this Il ephemersl
unless followed by achievements e1eettvs
to prevent secession.
The war power lifts the slave from the
position of an artiele of merchandise but
it leaves corrupt public sentiment as
sentinel at the gate through which he must
travel up to the possession of his personal
rights as citizen. Here he.is met by the
feeling which elected the eolored man from
the Academy of Music, and which no
mandate from the slips of day" can crushi
an ingrsined- specially of the American
Republic This prejudice, insepsrsble from
slavery, has come down to Us under the
fellowship of nine generations, and Is en-
cased by habits, strengthened by the 'lltTs-
ing Of these $50 years. In 1902
slavery seized the helm of the general gov
ernment, and its interests few years ex-
cepted-hsve shaped the politics Of the
ruling party till 1861. During this period
Of more than half century, reyivsls Of
religion, pervading most Of the religious
denominations, have been frequent and
powerful beyond precedent. But the
influence Of these revivsls, added to the
Development of our Colleges, Theological
Seminaries, and all other schools, fall
ed to arrest this pro-slsvery infstustion.-
Hence at the opening Of the war q very
large portion Of the people seemed to be
shocked by the proposal Of coercion. Not
few, even of the officers of the army, re-
PEELED the thought of fighting against
slavery; and multitudes Of the soldiers
claimed that this "is the white mans war,
and needed no aid from the negroes"
We are grateful that the progress of the
war has somewhat suppressed the develop
ment of this prejudice in the army. But
when the sword is shesthed, and the bent
bow recois, as it surely viii, this negro
hate, while it cl9mors for 8 hearing, will
demand respect. 1t is plague on the heart,
a csrbuncle on the brain, the cold swest
on the affections, and requires for Its re-
movsl the sssiduous application Of an
ubiquitous moral poloer. "This kind goeth
not out, but by prayer and fasting"
We now see that this rebellion is the
only agency that could convince the eoun-
/ try that our nationality was slumbering
over 8 volcano. The assault on Fort Sum-
ter opened the protracted meeting prePsr-
story to the great snti-slsvery revival
which has followed. The progress Of the
rebel army mas convicted the country Of
the cause of our danger, and the remedy,
and happily concentrated public sentiment
on the mode of application.
Secession has wrought out the following
results, each and all OF which are necessary
parts of our present struggle for the saliva
ton of our republican institutions:
1. It has constructively abolished slsv-
ery, by putting into the hands of the Pres
| ident the war power to abolish it.
2. The rebellion has wiped out the old
lines, which, since the election of Jefferson
to the Presidency, have designated thetwo
absorbing political parties.
8. The rebellion has extinguished mot
Democracy butt the old Democratic partyr
as such.
4. Never, again, can any political party
call to its aid the slave power as conquer
ing agency.
How else could these points have been
gsined7 And if not gained, the country
could, in no proper sense, have been pre-
pared for the sagscious and efficient action
indispensable to the tskingof the Govern
ment from the army snd the con-
Quoting of it safely.
This rebellion has been powerful educs-
tor in behalf of freedom. It's lessons are to be-
followed, as now the great work Of the ns-
ton, by educational appliances, which
shall beget and maintain among the peo-
pie 8 correct conscience, and permanent,
| lust apprehension of the elements Of frea
government and the measures necessary for
its supporb-PrGy right, preach right, and
uots right. The point to be now gained
is, so to train the masses IS to secure ma-
iority vote for Christian Commonwealth.
The divinely appointed agency for this
work is the Christian Pulpit always to oc-
eupy the van.
The achievements of the war give US an
open field for effective operations, to turn
its lessons to the best account. And now,
to curl the lip upon the black man is to
persist in the sin which has so nearly ru-
ined US. To withhold our sympsthies from
the Freedmen, knocking at our doors for
aid, is TO endorse the injustice and crime,
and to share in the guilt and double-dis-
titled meanness, inseparsble from slave
holding. While the slave is shaking of
his chains, and shouting, promptly restore
to him his.oWn alehed manhood, confess the
theft, and honor yourself in taking him
!; by the hand as GODS child, snd your
! brother.
III. This decision Of the Probate Court,
, insugurstes, in the State Of Ohio, pro-
( cess sure to rectify and cleanse the admin
! istrstion of its Courts, and to burn into the
public mind the conviction, that, "before
the law" man is man, and as such, it il
! BETTING that everywhere he should claim
his personal rights.
Ali due honor to Judge Tilden in this
matterl Not that such a decision required
Q or indicated, special scumen in the jurist
His common sense seats him within the
sanctuary of his own manhood. Heremove'
the wet blanket which supreme sel6shnesi
throws over the mental and moral percep
; ton, and the first fash of sober thought re
Veals the merits of the case, and the only
= correct decision; and he has the mora
courage to announce il, wisely recognizing
, N the complainant, an injured brother
s fallen among thieves, who would rob hin
t of himself Justice lifts the victim int
n his own manhood, Reason pronounces thi
sct to be LAW, and the Probate Judge il
Cleveland makes this the public decree o
, his Court In 1865. His pertinent suggestion
to any who might censure him, is a gen
a in the crown Of this noble official act. 'l
o dealt with this case precisely as WoulC
Il had the editor of the Cleveland Herald
n been subjected to the same treatment.
y Yea, verify. Justice to men, bearing tn
0 image of God. The true ring, the onl.
correct utterance from Court of Law
n This decision mitigates the pang, inhict
ed not long since, OF the decree Of anothe
a Court under the same roof, and enable
( the loyal portion of the city to breath
q easier, in the belief thst the STIGMA o
3 1859 can never be repeated in Northern
D. Ohio, nor in the Stste even.
"a Connect with this the recent amend
i, ment of the United States Constitution
is the repeal of the National Fugitive Slsv
- Law. the GOhio Black Laws" the admis
= - nf q iat black man as q nractitinnar 9