The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-24
lIow slavery Came to be Abolished.


FROM the report of the reply made by one
Major Lee to Senator Wilson, on the occasion
Of the latter's late speech in Orange Court
House, Virginia, we learn that one of the
arguments which the Southern conservatives
intend to use with the negroes against the Re-
nublicans is that the work of emancipation on
tbe part of the North was not voluntary but
compulsory-a military necessity. We simply
call attention to this position now assumed by
Southern conservatives, to contrast it with the
assertion which the same GLASS of men have so
long and so persistsntly made that the Repub-
Ucans inaugurated the war for the express
purpose of overthrowing slavery. This has
been charge of the Copperhead Democracy
all over the country. Now, however, when a
different sentiment is to be catered to, the as
sertion is made that the Republicans did not
at first intend to emancipate the slaves, but
only did it as a last resort.
1t is very true that the war was not gone
into for the purpose of overthrowing slavery.
It's object was the vindieation of the national
authority by the overthrow of the Rebellion
which the shareholders had inaugurated.
This was its chief and only object. But as
soon as the South fred the first shot against
Fort Sumter, there was not Republican but
understood that the doom of Slavery was
sealed. The moment a state of war pre-
vailed, that moment, under the war power,
slavery could be legally and constitutionally
abolished. John Quincy Adams announced
this doctrine thirty years ago, and maintained
it unchallenged. The war to put down the
Rebellion made it possible, therefore, for the
Government to legally overthrow slavery
something which it was thought, at least, i'm
possible to do in time of peace. And this the
Republican party Immediately insisted should
be done.
The fierce opposition of the Copperhead
Democracy, who much preferred the success
of the Rebellion to the overthrow of slavery,
together with the natural hesitancy of Abra-
ham Lincoln, served to put off the event; but
it could not be permanently delayed. Presi
dent Lincoln was doubtless far behind publ,
sentiment in this matter. We have neve
doubted that the Emancipation Proclamation
would have been sanctioned by the country
and would have strengthened the Union cause
as early as 1861. Others, however, though
differently; and Mr.. Lincoln preferred to wal
until he felt sure that he had the country a
his back. He also seemed, at first, to hop
that the border States might be induced t
enter upon the experiment of gradual emar
cpation-a hope that soon proved to be ia
lacious.
Slavery was abolished, therefore, not as
matter of compulsion, nor purely of militar
necessity. The war furnished the occasiC
and the legal justification for its overthrow
but the cause lay deep down in the hearts
the people, and the moral justification was
the inherent wrong of the thing itself. v
have no fears that the colored citizens of IL
South will be misled in this matter. 1t is tC
late in the day to shake their confidence
the memory of Abraham Lincoln, their gre
friend and liberator. The attempt to do
will but react against those who make it.