Year: 1862




dents Emancipation Resolution.


On the 9th of March last President Lincoln
submitted to the two houses of Congress spe-
cia message on the subject Of slavery, recon-
mending the adoption, substantially, of the fol-
lowing resolution


Resolved That the United States ought to CO operate
with any State which adopt gradual abolishmcnt
OF slavery, giving to such state pscunsry be used
by such state In its discretion 10 compensate for the in
convenienccs public and private, produced by such
change or system.


Five days after this proposition had been
submitted to the House, and after an interest
ing debate, the aforesaid resolution in that
body was adopted, by vote of eighty-eight to
thirty-one-a very satisfactory majority; and on
Wednesday last, the I'd of April, this resolution
was adopted, word for word, in the Senate, by a
vote of thirty-two to ten-a majority by more
than three to one. The ten votes in the mega
tive were all from the border slave State. cx-
cepting the two Senators from California, Stark
of Oregon, and Wright of Indiana, all con-
servative democrats Of the old bunker faith
who cannot be made to believe that the old
things Of two years ago have passed away; that
new order of things is upon us, and that even





South we must accommodate ourselves TO the
exigences Of a great political revolution.


On the other hand, Senator Davis, of Ken
lucky; Henderson, of Missouri, and Wiley, of
Virginia, in voting for said resolution, have
shown that in the presence of this revolution
they understand the present position OF slavery
in their respective States, and the advantages
tr fro, h.
ton by a republican Congress of the rights of
the States TO do az they please with their
domestic institutions, and from the initiation
OF the voluntary and compensation policy of
abolition recommended by Mr.. Lincoln. Sena-
tor Davis and his border slave State supporters
OF the resolution accept it as pledge from the
general government against any unconstitu.
tional legislation for the suppression Of slavery;
and in this view they are right; for the rcsolu-
ton opportunely comes in at this crisis as a
guaranty OF protection to the border slave
States, and as a substantial peace Offering to
the States still engaged in this Southern rebel
lion.


Mr.. salisbury, of Delaware, and the other
border slave State Senators who opposed the





open the door 10 the agitation Of abolition in
said States took contracted and superficial
view Of the question; for under any crcum-
stances il is utterly impossible that the border
slave states can come out Of this war, in regard
10 his ticklish institution Of slavery, just as they
we're before With the return OF peace COM
pensation or no compensation from the general
Al ,,.tI n.
only the advantages, but the necessity, Of super
seding slave labor by free labor, and, as far as
possible, by free white labor.


President Lincoln in his more comprehensive
view of the subject desires TO initiate the policy
OF emancipation in the border slave States, in
order TO deprive the leaders of this rebellion OF
the hope that ultimately the government will
be forced to acknowledge The independence Of
some part Of the disarected region" hope
which they still cherish from the pro-slavery
sympathy of the border slave States. lie con-
tends, therefore, that in initiating emancipation
| in said border States we forever detach
them from the vital institution Of slavery in the
| cotton States. and that thus morally The rebel
| ion will be so weakened as to come speedily to
| terms Of submission to the Union.
This is the prominent idea of the message. 1t
has doubtless had ts full weight recognized in
the adoption of the resolution by the two houses
Of Congress But not less important, os thus en-
dorsed il Mr. Lincoln's emphatic recognition of
the absolute authority possessed over this ques-
,ion Of slavery by each State for itself Upon
his ground Of state sovereignty oyer The subject