The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1872-03-29
STEP NV sTEP.

When Mr.. Lincoln was first elected
President Of this country, or, perhaps
Just before that unfortunate period, we
-be'iere, IL our memory serves US, he said
he had no power 10 Interfere with the in
nitution Of slavery, and certainly no in
cliuation to do 50, even IL be had. And
yet but few years elapsed after this
rational expression Of opinion, before we
nud the author Of such an uttcrance issu-
ing an emancipation proclamation, free
ing all the four millions Of slaves in our
cmntry by single stroke Of his pen,
undr the specious plea Of military
necessity" Why this change Of policy,
and why this bold and unjust measured
II is to late now to discuss this matter;
nor is il essential to a full expression Of
our present thoughts that we stop to do
50. The freedom Of the slave on our soil
j an accomplished fact. We abide, in
sorrow, yet quietly, the result. We
wouH not re-enslsve him If VIC could.
Lf<hc matter rest. We only mention
the fact BY way of calling it up as the
first step in the aggrte..ans Of the party
at whose door lies--not only this sin, but
many more in the long catalogue of crimes
and wrongs which have characterized the
Republican party since its accession to
power Elated, II not actually maddened
BY their success in overriding by superior
numbers and appliances, the oppressed
pcoplp Of the slave States, the Republi-
can p6rty begun a system of oppression
and wrong doing worthy Of any semi
barbarious power of earth. Not content
with thorough subjugation Of the peo-
pic of the South, who had so nobly and
so calamity fought them upon more than
two hundred battle fields, they expended
millions of the entire nations treasure in
connecting - carrying out schemes
which only tended to utterly crush the
hearts and blast the hopes of a people as
noble and cbivalrous as ever the earth
produced.
2 The terms of surrender by which that
people, through their military men,
agreed to lay down their arms and return
home in peace, were shamefully disre-
garded, and her leading men hunted down
like wild wolves in the hills for the pur-
pose of confinement in bastiles fitted up
for their imprisonment. The Southern
States were treated as subjugated Pro
vinces, oyer which military satraps were
placed with an iron rod, to hold their
people under a system of slavery more
CALLING than the serfs of Russia ever felt.
Their Lending men were exiled or ostra-
cised, denied any Of the privileges and
immunities of citizenship, except as the
victoriaus per- saw 6t e, bestoy on
;71xsA xzsskEha yaqld sell fheIr
"birth rights for q lfiserable mess ofpoi
tage,' and today, this same party re
fuses to grant universal amnesty +
them, Notwithstanding the war has beel
over for six long years.
It.were an endless task to enumerat'
all the gross wrongs of the party in power
Suffice it to say, that they who first de
clared they chad no right to interior
with slavery in the South now seek, b.
forced legislation, to make social, as wei
as political, equality permanent law o
the land, and to punish, by cruel enact
ments, those who deny to their forme
slaves, perfect equality in all things.
Thus, step h step has this party ag
crested, until ey have become maddene'
with power. And yet they now seek b
perpetuate themselves in power. Shout
the people of our country again elect tn
man now at the head Of affairs, the mex
step.syil be to create of our government
am a Bolu monarchy, with Genera
Can't at be head, with succession to hi
lordly sd who is now travelling on tn
Europe9 continent in all the pomp an'
splendor of absolute royalty. We have
however, an abiding faith in the good
ness of God and the integrity and tru
patriotism of the American majority
and our hope and prayer is that anothe
year will witness the overthrow of thi
sscst,sant .Iyuaofy