Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-02-05
Freedom and its Results.
Quincy. ILL.,, Dec. 81.

Freedom and its Results.
QUINcY. IT., Dec. 81.
To the Editor of the Call:
Another year with its joys and
sorrows, its blessings and disappoint-
ments, has passed away, and the new
year brings with it the tenth ami
versary of the Emancipation Pr &c
lamation." Freedom coming as it
did, the result of a military necessi.
hty. cannot he regarded by any mar
with a thimble full of brains, as any,
thing less than the power and will of
God scarcely need say that Mr..
Lincoln gave the rebels so days to
return to their allegiance to the Uni
ted States. Had this proposition
been accepted, in all probability sla
very would have been in the land to-
day. But it seems this did not meet
the appreciation of our Heavenly
Father, so He just like He did
Pharoah of old) hardened the rebels
hearts. and they would not LEI them
go'i-the slaves. The result was tie
slaves remained at home, raising
crops to. feed the Southern army. In
the early part of the war the slaves
we're refused admittance into the
Northern army, hence, while draft af-
ter draft was going on in the North,
robhing the farms not unfrequently
of the husbandman, the slaves were
toiling to provide food for the rebels
They could, with this assistance,
have fought the North ten years or
perhaps longer, but when we took
away that which furnished subsis.
lance for their army we had accom
plished more than half the victory.
1t did not take the sagacious yam
kee long TO make this discovery,
however, and when he did he was
quick to respond to the appeals for
mercy and protection, offered up by
four millions Of loyal slaves. 1t can
not be denied, however, that the Alb
clifton party had gained considera,
BILE Roadway, though at that lime in
a minority, the sentiment of a large
majority of the Northern people was
averse to freeing the slaves and
thousands of Northern soldiers,
when colored men did commence
coming into the Union lines. made
loud and vehement protestations
indeed many threatened a revolt.
We, as colored men, are proud of
the achievements of the Republican
party, that we have been agents in
the hands Of God in bringing about a
glorious freedom, and IFS legitimate
sequence, citizenship. with the priv
and responsibilities of enfran-
chisement. This is one of the natu-
raj and grand results of emancipa.
ton. We contend it was not the in
tention of those in authority, at the
outset, to give US our freedom. 1t
was a forced measure, a measure
suited to conceive the best interests
of the government. However much
some Republicans may have desired
freedom, a large majority we're forced
into Tue measure.
We are free anyhow, and the re-
of freedom have been different
from what many of our enemies pre-
AS a general thing the col
bred people have been frugal and in
1ustrious and law-abiding. and as
education, have made won
1erful strides; and had they been
of moral and intelligen,
parents they would have made much
more headway in inventive genius.
1t will crop out as the race be-
comes nor cultivated and refined.
Another result has been a lasting
peace founded on the principles OF
freedom and justice to all men. No
peace could have been Sc
cured without the determination of
I
Though the sombre' clouds hung
us tor a long time, and it seemed
II God had almost ceased to hear =
prayers, in His own good time /
lie came to u relief, and sent f
Abraham Lincoln to be the liberator I
# the colored race, whose name will
'e honored and revered by colored {
men for all coming time. s
To day his name, green and fresh '
q the hearts Of the colored people, G
viii be spoken OF respectfully, and b
many a prayer will go up that God il
vii bless and preserve the immortal
OF n 30 loved, so honored, so n
Ionest and just rs Abraham Lincoln, (
nd so sure as the world stands, the ?
will come when "Ethiopis shall :
tretch forth her WINGS" and take q :.
igher station than she now holds. +
s. V. CASEY. :,