Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-05-15
RUMANCE OF THE REBELLIoS.
Ben BurtOn's Fruitless Attempt to
Perform a Mission for President


Lincoln.
Milford Chronicle
In 1862, President Lincoln having
become convinced that the secession
movement was gathering strength aud
would entail upon the country inevitable
and disastrous consequences II It took a
positive form, thought that he might
adopt policy which possibly would
break the force Of the movement and
avert the dire consequences which he
toresaF would result from it. His policy
was to provide for the gradual manumis
sion Of the slaves by the consent OF each
state Individually, aud the payment OF
the value by the general government. To
this end he proposed that each slave
state should appoint commissioners who
should determine the value of such
slaves rs might be offered to tn am for
msnumission, and that the general gov.
srnmept should thereupOn pay such
valuation to the owner OF the slaves. He
thought that this policy not being COM
pulsory, or interfering with the doctrine
Of state rights, would eventually be &C.
cepted by the slave owners and so by
| ioing Justice to them, aud fur fishing
hem with capital to adapt themselves to
| the new order OF things, would be chser.
ully accepted by them, the gradually
doing away with slavery secured,
| and the terrible effects of civil
var sverted. He thought that
as Delaware held smaller proportion OF
slaves to the population than other state,
and that IS in this State the institution
| Of slavery existed in more pstriarchal
form than in any OF the states, II would
| bs we'll to commence with her, arguing
that if this State adopted his policy,
Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, Viz
| siniR, North Carolina and Missouri would
soon fall into line, and that in the near
future South Carolina, Arkansas and the
gulf states would do the same.
He endeavored to initiate this policy
by sending for our judge, George p.
Fisher, unfolding it to him, and consult-
g with him about it. Judge Fisher
thought it feasible, and Mr.. Lincoln
asked him to name some prominent
gentleman of Delaware who owned slaves,
whom he thought would enter into the
plan and use Ais influence with the Leg
| ialature, then in session, to take the
initiatoTy steps therein. Judge Fisher
named Bepjami Burton, now OF George.
| EunA Va II VI "illpbOiOt Hh6Etupuu mrs
Lincoln requested Junge Fisher to
send for him. This being done,
Mr.. Burton went to Washington and
had two or three interviews with
Mr. Lincoln, who laid the matter before
hlm, requesting him to return to Della
ware aud use his bsst endeavors to bring
abOut satisfactory action on the part Of
the Legislature assuring him that the
money would be forthcoming from
Congress to pay for slaves under the
management proposed. Mr.. Burton did
so, and induced the Legislature to act
upon it, and finally the measure was
defeated by one vote, and secession had
its full sway.
| We should like to know the name OF
the member to whom, by his casting vote
against this fair and just measure, bs.
longs the odium Of defeating it, brought
upon our State moral and political
oppobrium, and opened the flood gates Of
war, entsiling the slaughter of hundreds
Of thousands Of men, horrible miseries,
sufferings and devastation, and the i'm.
mense indebtedness which will tax the
labor and enterprise OF our people for
many long year to pay of.