Year: 1862




Mr.. Lineoi.'s Emancipation messags.


The English papers generally persist ID
their Misunderstanding of President Lincoln's
Message, treating it as if it were thrown out ~
bid and . bargain. 1t really 10 q pity that
our transatlantic cousins cannot take more
liberal and more enlarged views of American
affairs and the policy of our government. We
need hardly repeat what we have already
said, that the emancipation Message of Mr..
Lincoln, which has resulted in a resolutions
adopted by both houses and signed by tho
President was neither a bid nor the Suggestions
of bargain, but was simply thrown out for
the purpose of discussion, not as a POLITICAL
but as social moral question. Mr.. Lincoln,
in the true spirit of wise conservatism, would
bring back this subject to the position in which
it stood before the country thirty years ago in
the slaveholding States themselves. At that pc
rod those States began seriously to think of.
and to propose measures Of emancipation, and
there is no doubt whatever but that the very
suggestions thrown out by Mr.. Lincoln would
have been acted upon and carried out Long be-
fore now, had it not been for the violent inter-
ference of the abolitionists and their bitter in
yectives against men who were honestly bent
upon remedying all that was evil in their posi-.
ton.


Thequestion now arises, what should be don0
with the slaves wherever the policy Of emanci-
patton, as suggested in the Message, may be
adopteds Colonization is certainly out of tho
question; it would not be possible to expatriate
four millions of people. The idea may serve
for hobby; but, practically, it is an impossi-
bility. Why not, we would ask, place them,
after their emancipation, when any State shall
have resolved upon the measure, under the
power of the State where they reside, treating
them as distinct and separate class, un-
der the protection of the laws, requiring
them to work, and causing them to
be paid for their work? Why expatriate
so large an amount of valuable labor Then
let them be retained to work and labor as .
class, such as they are, distinct from the whites.
placed under strict but fair laws, specially
enacted in view Of their special position, re-
quiring them to work, and protecting them in
being paid for their work. This would be not
only possible, but easy in accomplishment.
They are a distinct people, and let there be spe-
cial and distinct laws to govern them in each
State, protecting them in their lives and pro.
perty, but enforcing the necessity of labor.
They would thus be a subordinate class of la
bores, yet their own masters, subject to spe.
cial tutelage and control, without possessing
any political rights, subject to arrest and
punishment as vagrants in case they refused or
neglected to work. They would depend upon
their own industry and exertions for their live
lihood, and it is to be belived, they would
labor more vigorously and effectively under
the lash of necessity and the stimulus of re.
ward than they ever can be made to do under
the lash of the driver. We think there would
be many advantages resulting from placing
them in this manner as freemen under q sys-
tenn of laws suited to their character-advan-
tages which would be felt both by Themselves
and their former owners. Why, then, should
not some such system as this be tried, rather
than impracticable schemes of colonizationt
which, even if practicable, are hardly desirablei
Such plan, judiciously carried into execution,
would set them free as far as they are capable
of freedom; it would remove the odium Of
slavery, it would enable the Southern planter
and farmer to get more labor out of them at
less expense, it would leave them to take care
of themselves and not depend upon others;
they would be under the stimulus of benefiting
themselves, and we believe that in all respects
it would be better for them, better for their
masters, better for the State, and better
in the eyes of the whole civilized world.
At all events it would be more humane
than any plan of forced and involuntary
expatriation to other climes and other pe0-
pie, differing in language, habits and religion
from themselves.