Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-03-11

be fore them, nndsf- circumstances tdaL enable
them TO act, and act decsiyely and anally On
the subject Russia, to whom We would
hardly be willing TO cQncede an equal civil
zttion 10 our own, has emancipated her serfs
from bondage less degrading and barbafous
than that of the African IN the Southern
States. and the whole world, and we among
the resE have Gpplsu.ied5 her for her magma
nimity and Justice. What does Russia, less
enlightened than we claim 10 be demand of US
to day? Europe and the world would condemn
US, and denounce "a barbarians, or tending
70 barbarism, should we fail TO seize upon
the present opportunity, and wipe out forever
from our land that relict of barbarism and
the dark ages, African slavery 3iS& G0lr
Slavery, if not the immediate, is admitted
by all to be the remote and principal cause
of the present rebellion, and all the evils
which have been entailed upon the nation by
the existing war. Ought we now to hesitate
when the opportunity offers TO remove forev
er from our midst this cause of strife We
did not seek the issue. We never declared
war against the South. They insulted our
natiI nal ensign. They commenced the war
by firing upon Sumter. They have sought
the conflict and embarked their institutions
and their destiny upon the issues of the bat
tle-field They have brought upon themselves
and bloodshed which have been and still are
the results of rebellion. Our sons, our broth
ers, and fathers have already fallen a sacri-
fee to their fendish hate and their efforts TO
overthrow the nation, and shall we now hest
tate to remove the cause which has led TO all
this ruin ? Or can they complain because
their folly and their crimes have brought up
on them such results!
IL is admitted that slavery is already dead
that one of the legitimate results of the war
has been to destroy and wipe out the institu-
ton OF slavery. If such is the case-if slave
~ is already dead, in Gods name let US bury
this dead carcass out, Of our sight, and re-
move its stencil from the nostrils of the peo-
pie, by a ratification of this amendment to
the Constitution.
1t is objected that the adoption of this
amendment will have tendency to prolong
the war, by interfering with future negotia-
tions for peace. To this | have only this
answer: If it will add to the resources of the
Soutt--if it will add men to her armies, and
supply funds TO her depleted treasury, then
il may prolong the war, but not otherwise
But one ultimatum has ever been presented
by the people of the South as a consideration
of peace, and that is the recognition of the
independence of the South. They have CON
tinuaily and persistently declared that they
would have peace upon no other terms
w nat reason can then be found Tor presumiDg
that this amendment can in any way inter
fere with the future adjustment of the diff
Guilty? Absolute defeat and suhjugauon, or
independence, being the only terms they will
under any circumstances accept.
1t is further objected that it will be unjust
to the South TO rob them OF their property in
slaves, by the adoption of this amendment.
Sir, they have courted the death OF this, their
cherished institution, by inaugurating rebel
lion.- The North has not forced the issue
upon them, but they have invited it-called
it down upon themselves by inaugurating a
fratricidal war, which they knew it decided
against them would carry with it their inst-
tuition OF slavery. With them, then, and not
with Us, rests the responsibility of this meas
ure.
But, sir we are informed that they are
ready and have offered TO emancipate their
slaves for the purpose of procuring recogni-
ton and foreign aid. Shall we hesitate to
do tor them, what they are ready TO do them
selves, for the purpose OF completing the dis
memberment OF TINS Union? / fail to feel
the sympathy asked in their behall-more
especially, when | reflect upon the history Of
their barbarOaS treatment OF their slaves, the
record ol winch has been made familiar to
US for the last fifty years-tbe scourgings the
burnings, the hanglngs, and tearing IN pieces
by dOgs--stlll more alter reading and hearing
reciued by living witnesses the barbarOus
treatineh hit they have given TO our Union sold
iers, Who hayeabeen 50 unfortunate as TO be-
come prisoners III their hands. Ask me, sir,
TO feel i sympathy for those men who have
our friends, sons, anu, brothers,
for 10 greater ofense than stepping one inch
xthn ha no.
naked, and turned them loose in AN open field
without shelter, 20 die oi starvation and ex-
posuge. Who have exhausted all human in
genuity in devising ways 10 torment and de-
strOy these men when thrown into their hands
by the iates OF wal, and entitled by the laws OF
nature and OF nations, TO their kindest care
and sympathy. Am asked to return sympa-
thy and kindness, Tor such barbarous cruelty
towards my. kindred and friends Sooner
would lose my own right. hand, than to
stretch it out to rescue for such men, bar
barous right to property in man, to. torment
and destroy unotfendmg victims.
= Sir, have ever felt an abiding faith and
confidence in the future of this nation. Ii
all the darkness and adversely which have
overshadowed US during the last four years,
have felt no misgivings in regard TO the Ill
innate future of this naton. | have felt a
COHnucuSS Ldt TIC SAINT splIAb Vi lu>piIdtlOn
that moved the fathers of this Republic
during the seven years of the American Rev
olution, which led them on after they had es-
tablished their independence, TO the forma-
ton of the Constitution, and the establish
meat of free, constitutional government,
upon the principal of equal rights and univer-
sal freedom, which has led US ON through
eighty years OF prosperity to greatness and
power, is still leading the people, aud guiding
them onward in their career to ultimate
greatness and power, never before expert
enced in the history of any nation.
The fiat of the Almighty is written upon
the face OF this countrY-in its geography,
its broad river extending from the gulf to
The mountains and seas of the north,-in its
numerous tributaries, interlacing the whole
broad land in a network that can never be
broken,-in the character and enterprise OF
the people-which prOclaims it one country,
one nation, one people, forever indiVisible
and the puny AIMS of men raised in rebellion
against TINS eternal decree, are as powerless
to reverse it as to check the course of the
tempest or the storm. The onward march of
civilization brought us as a nation to point
where that relict of barbarism-slavery-
could no longer exist. Either civilization
must stop, or slavery must cease The con-
tiict was for long time confined within the
sphere OF diplomacy and the pen. In such
contest civilization must triumph. Seeing
this, slavery resorted TO rebellion and war
the weapon Of barbarism. in all ages-to en-
force its dominion. But il is contending
against the deerees of the Almighty, and it
must fall. In adopting the measure now be-