Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31

any HdtlOndi boundary,
our national strife spring not from oui
permanent part; net from the land we IN.
hab!t; not from our national homestead.
There IS no possible s]ever!ng Of this but
would multiply and not mitigate evils among
uS. In all its adaptations and aptitudes it
demands union and abnors separation. In
fact, 1t would ere long force reunion, how.
ever much Of blood and treasure the separa-
ton might have cost.
Our strife pertains to ourselves the
passing generations OF mcr-and It can
without c7nvuls.on be hushod forever vita
the passing q one generation.
In this Wow l recommend the adoption Of
the following resolution and articles amend
atory to the Constitution Of the United
States:
Iincoln's PInn for CONDENSATION.
Resolved by the senate and house Of
representatives Of the United states Of
America in congress assembled Ctwo-thirds
Of both houses concurringD, That the follew-
ing articles be proposed to the legislature
Tor conyentionsD Of the several states as
amendments to the constitution of the
United States, all or any of which articles.
when ratified by three-fourths of the said
legislatures Tor convcntioncJ, to be valid as
l''iA VI ldtAN w tl' NNlu CONSTITUTION. Wa
Article - Every state wherein slay-
cry now exists which shall abolish the same
therein at any time or times before the Isl
day of January, \. d. 1900, shall receive
compensation from the United States as fol-
lowe, to-wit:
Tho president Of the United States shall
deliver to every such state bends CT the
United States bearing interest at the rate
of-peT cent per annum to an amount equal
to the aggregate sum of for each slave
shown to have been therein by the eighth
census Of the United States. said bonds to
be delivered to such state by installments or
in enc parcel at the completion OF the abol-
ishment, accordingly as the same shall have
been gradual or at one time within such
state; and interest shall begin to run upon
any ouch bond only from the proper time
Of its delivery as aforesaid. Any state hav-
ing received bonds as aforesaid and after
wards reintroduced or tolerating slavery
therein shall refund to the United States
tho bonds so received, or the value thereof,
and all interest paid thereon.
article -. All slaves who shall have en-
joyed actual freedom by the chances of the
war at any time before the end of the re-
bellion shall be forever free; but all own
ers of such who shall not have been dis
loyal shall be compensated for them at the
same rates as provided for states adopt
ing adjustment of slavery, but in such way
that no slave shall be twice accounted for.
article -. Congress may appropriate
money and otherwise provide for colonizing
free colored persons with their own consent
at any place or places without the United
States"
His Arguments Tor II.
| beg indulgence to discuss these proposed
articles at some length. Without slavery
the rebellion could never have existed; with
oui slavery it could not continue.
Among the friends of the union there is a
great diversity of sentiment and of policy in
regard to slavery and the African race
amongst us. Some would perpetuate slavery;
some would abolish it suddenly and without
compensation; some would abolish it gradu-
ally and with compensation; some would re-
move the freed people from us, and some
would retain them with us; and there are
yet other minor diversities. Because of
these diversities we waste much
strength in struggles among our
selves. BY mutual concession we should
harmonize and act together. This would be
compromise, but it would be compromise
among the friends and not with the enemies
of the union. These articles are intended
to embody a plan of such mutual conces-
sicns. If the plan shall be adopted it is
assumed that emancipation will follow, at
least in several of the states.
AS to the first article, the main points are,
first, the emancipation; secondly, the length
of time for concentrating it (thirty-seven
years.; and, thirdly, the compensation.
The emancipation will be dissatisfaction
IN tho aHvnpatpG nf pprDptna1 slavery hIt
the length of time should greatly mitigate
their dissatisfaction. The time spares both
races from the evils of sudden arrangement
in fact, from the necessity of any derange-
~ment-while most of those whose habitual
course of thought will be disturbed by the
measure will have passed away before its
contamination. They will never see 1t. An
other class will hail the prospect of enamel
patton, but will deprecate the length of time,
They will feel that it gives too little to the
now living slaves. But 1t really gives them
much. 1t saves them from the vagrant des-
~titution which must largely attend imme-
date emancipation in localities where their
numbers are very great, and it gives the in
spring assurance that their posterity shall
be free forever. The plan leaves each state
choosing to act under it to abolish slavery
now or at the end of the century, or at any
intermediate lime, or by degrees extending
over the whole or any part OF the period, and
it obliges no Two states to proceed alike. 1t
also provides for compensation, and gem
orally the mode Of making it. This, 1t would
seem, must further mitigate the dissatisfac-
ton Of those who favor perpetual slavery,
end especially Of hose who are to receive
the compensation. Doubtless some Of those
who are to Fay and not to receive will
object.
Urges Its Economy.
Yet the measure is both just and econom-
zeal. In 4 certain seEse the liberia
ton Of slaves is the destruction of property
property acquired by descent or by pur-
chase, the same as any other property. 1t
is no less true for having been often said
that tho people of the south are not more
responsible for the original Introduction of
this property than are the people OF the
north; and when ii is remembered how I'M
hesitatingly we III use cotton and sugar aud
share the profits OF dealing In them, Il may
not be quite safe to say that the south has
been more responsible than the north FOR its
continuance. If, then, for a common object
this property is to be sacrificed, is # not
Just that it be done at a COMMON charge?
And If With less money, or money more
easily paid, we can preserve the benefits OF
tho uuirn hy This p1paDg than wa ran hv ~,