A Liberal Northern Proposition to the Border States--Magnanimous conditions of Pardon and peace.
We beg the attention of conservative patriots to the following impressive exhibition of Republican affection for the
South, and especially for the
Border States.
It is an extract from a speech, which the
Globe has given to the world, of
Hon. D. E. Somes, member of Congress from
Maine:
‘
"It is true, the
North has been condescending and generous towards the
South, and I have no doubt will continue to be, so long as the
Union shall last.
It is natural for intelligent and honest communities to be more generous than just, especially towards the
weak and
crying; but when criminals come to such a people and demand that their crimes shall be endorsed, instead of being pardoned, I think it is rather more than they will consent to. And although a few members of Congress, representing a generous people, may be induced to stand god-fathers to traitors, and become accessories to treason, after the fact, I feel confident that
their constituents will hang them higher on the tree of public scorn than Human or
Judas hung. "
’
"Let me say to gentlemen of the border slave States, if you would be protected by the
Federal Government against insurrections — if you would have slavery still
tolerated, and your
fire-sides respected --if you would escape the torch and the assassin's knife, I beseech you, in all candor and frankness, accept the aid and co-operation of your best friends;
ally yourselves with the North, and let the cotton States fight their own battles.
Acknowledge the rightfulness of the doctrine of freedom, education and elevation which now obtains in all the free States; disenchant yourselves of the influence of that which, in your hearts, you would gladly be rid of, and the
North will assist you.--Gentlemen may scout the idea of emancipation,
but it is soon to come. God and humanity have decreed it. Empty compromises cannot prevent it. If the slaveholders are honest in declaring that they are afraid that the people of the
North will interfere with slavery, and destroy it altogether, and that these fears are founded on the increasing anti-slavery sentiment and political strength of the
North, would it not be well for them to treat this Northern power with consideration, and would it not be wise to conciliate it?"
These are the allies whom some members of the Virginia Convention prefer to the
Southern States, and these the terms on which they can secure that alliance.
The "condescending, " the "tolerating," the "protecting" North will for a time spare the firesides, the daughters, wives and children of the
South, if they will hasten to conciliate the
Northern Powers.--Oh, men with mothers, with wives, with daughters, how can you leave the homes of
Virginia and all she holds dear exposed to such an enemy?
But
Mr. Somes goes farther, threatens the
South with bloody retaliation if they do not permit abolition emissaries to travel unharmed in their midst, and thus spur up the border advocates of compromise and conciliation:
‘
"And now I warn the
South that unless it retracts at once from its treasonable operations and commences a system of conciliation toward the
North, it may make up its mind that slavery in the States will date its downfall from the day the first act of treason was committed, and in a few years it will go out in blood.
I warn you not to take the flimsy compromises which some few gentlemen on this side of the
House would offer you. They do not represent the sentiment of the
North; the
North will repudiate any compromise, such as has been proposed, and the party that makes it.--Let us look this question squarely in the face, and grapple with it as it is. Let us not attempt to deceive ourselves or cheat others.
In a crisis like this we should be men, do our duty, and take the consequences."
’
Mr. Somes then proceeds to show the precise system of conciliation, the exact kind of concessions and compromises which will satisfy the
Republican States.
Here is the plan, set forth with commendable frankness and distinctness:
‘
"The Border States are between two fires.--What can they do to extricate themselves from this dilemma?
I repeat, conciliate the free States.
First, by consenting to the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, the dockyards, and arsenals, on a basis which shall be just to the slaveholder; and, second, to a system of gradual emancipation in the
Border States, and allowing your people, within your own borders, the right which the
Constitution guarantees them — to discuss the subjcet of slavery.
"Consent to this, and the
North will aid you in any reasonable endeavor to protect yourselves and your property, and the whole civilized world will applaud you in so humane an undertaking.--I will not advise you as to the particular mode of emancipation.
Free discussion among yourselves will lead to a peaceful and equitable solution of the whole subject."
’
Mr. Somes is a truthful exponent of the public sentiment of his party, and the above is in strict accordance with the programme of anti-slavery agitation, which was laid down twelve years ago by
Mr. Seward, and which has been consummated in the triumphant election of
Abraham Lincoln.
