New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-31
FREEpoM WITHOUT A wAR



gH Tho Editor Of Hsrpo's Weekly In The course
% nm article under the head ~ lesson from The
Golden Ar saysi "The Rloomiest period Of our
history was that from The adoption OF the Missouri
Compromise 10 the Civil War. and that was tho era
of the famous tuumvrate But did either Of the
great Wings do much toward wise solution OF the
commanding auestions Was Mr. Clay's Omni-
bns BAR a device of high slatesmanship And
had not Mr. Webster, ten years before the shot at
sumter totally lost his hold of the real heart ana
soul Of the North r. These are pregnant questions
Tho great men of that day were unable 10 solve the
slavery problem. Meanwhile. It's solution was i'm
peratiyelv demanded. The Missouri Compro-
mise bridqei over the difficulty until that
portion Of the territory north and west
Of the Missouri line crystallizeG from Ter
rtories into States. slavery again became
aggressive and defiant -Four slave states had al
ready been carved out Of the acquired territory.
Freedom Coz Il not now surrender California, Kan
sas aud Nebraska 20 slavery The Northern people
evneod determination 10 protect the Territory de-
voted by the Missouri Compromise 10 freedom but
their Reprcaentatiyes again proved recreant An
Oh er compromise BIN framed under the auspices Of
Mossrs. Clay aud Webster, ignomnious and abhor-
rent. designed % appeaso slavery. passed both
Houses Of Congress and was signed by President
Fillmore. During these years Southern leaders had
been educating their people and preparing their
States for secession and rebellion. As the Presden-
tal election in 1860 approached. the chances were
Ia favor Of the election 81 stephen a. Douglas for
President should he become the nominee Of the
Democratic National Convention. but Jefferson
Davis. Sidell Benjamin, Mason, and other Southern
Senators, having arranged their programme
for dividing the Union first, with the
AID Of B,njamin 7. Butler. divided the
Democratic National Convention. Two Democratic
candidates were nominated for the express purpose
Of rendering The election Of Republican President
certain This furnished the preteXt for rebellion.
states seeded before Mr.. Lincoln was Inaugurltcd
Thus for full thirty ycau eXpodients were from
time to time resored to for the purpose Of stavins
OF rather than Of solving the problem. My purpose
i'm this retrospect s 90 recall what then regarded
and sfll regard. suggestion by means Of which
emancipation might have been worked out peace
fully and 30 make the suggestion referred TO part
OF the history o. our country.
In 1885 sitting on the afteI-deck Of New-lIaycn
steamboat found myself near an old gentleman
with whom entered into conversation. IL required
but a few minutes 90 show that had made the ac-
quaintance OF gentleman Of more than ordinary ac-
Quremonts and experience Our conversation was IN
tcrestng and protracted Whom the subject Of slavery
was introduced, the gentleman said that, regarding
il a. most important aud en- barrassng. rs we'll as
a most alarming question, he bad devoted much
time and thought to it, consideration adding that
he had plan which, II it could be fairly presented
by the President or through Congress. 10 the peo-
pie. would accomplish the gradual emancipation Of
slavery 1--WE hayc,p the gentleman proceeded,
distinguished the National debt with the surplus
proceeds of the public domain. That surplus, for
which we have no further use is rapidly increasing
so rapidly as 10 occasion uneasiness at Washing
ton. The public domain will prove an enduring aud
source Of National wealth. IL belongs
10 the whole people and seems TO have been proy-
dentially reserved TO eff e q great ana benehceut
purpose My plan is to ask the Legislatures of border
slave States 90 pass laws authorizing the purchase
If one days freedom ia each week Of all slaves,
their value 70 have been appraised by dislnter-
esled tribunal; that, two years after another days
freedom should be purcb ased in like manner, and
that each following two years the purchase should
be repeated until their full freedom should have
hceu effected. Congress, meanwhile should pass
law appropriating 40 much Of the surplus Of
the public domain rs the emancipation
thus effected called for" The gentleman believed
that Delaware, Maryland, and probably Kentucky,
would promptly aud checrfuy consent to sell their
slaves at a fair valuation, and shat Tennessee, II
gina and North Carolina would, ere Bng. follow.
and that ultimately the Government would be
able % offer compensation liberal enough TO
tempt even the cotton States. While this
process was gong on he proposed
that the Federal Government should
further assist emancipation by establishing
commercial relations with llayt and ST. Domingo
and IN planting colonies in Africa for the develop
ment of hor gold dust, ivory and other resources,
offering aid and facilities 10 such freedmen as might
choose to accept &C. Another and most important
advantage IN this scheme. was that in It's progress
partially ransomed slaves would gradually learn
the value aud of freedom, ~ that after twelve
years II training they would be better qualified to
enter upon their new life.
Ten years afterward / passed Winter in the
Danish West India Islands, where this system was
practically working out emancipation. The King
Of Denmark had by an ordinance made all slaves
free on Saturday. Tie ordinance created tribunal
~ which slaves could apply 60 hx the amount
10 be- PAID for second DAYS freedom, 50
that WHOM, by working on Saturday for wages, they
should accumulate the amount required they should
become FIRE ON Friday ~ well ~ ON Saturday. Tho
schsme worked admirably. The masters and slaves
wore equally delighted with IL. Planters informed
mo that their slaves became more intelligent, dill
igrnt and cheerful, and that they did moro work In
Eve DAYS than thoy had formerly done In six. But
The Queen, an earnest and impatient opponent of
slavery prevailed with tho King to set all slaves in
Tho Danish Islands uncondi tiohally free. Results
have shown that the gradual process would have
boon botter for all parties.
Tho gentleman who conceived the idea Of purchas-
ing the freedom of the slaves with the surplus pro-
cceds Of tho public domain was Timothy Pit1in, one
Of tho many distinguished sons OF Conneeti-
cut who rendered important service 10 the
country during tho first half OF the present century.
Hc was a native OF Pennington, bon in 1906. lie
was Eve years Speaker Of the General Assembly Of
Connecticut. aud served from 1906 TO 1920 in Con-
rrna. lie tHna tho nnIhnr OF % A Statistical XinH Of