Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic]

This much to me is clear; until God's ha this whole history is recognized, neither the of the North nor the men of the South will or make the right use of the negro's freedom.

There can be no question, I think, but emancipation was set down in the order of di Providence. Had the white people realized, in thought and act, their relation to the sla emancipation might have come sooner, it m have come later, but it would have come peacea and when both masters and slaves were better pared for the change. It is to me a very pai thought that, while there were very many n exceptions, the majority of masters never un stood the solemnity of their trust in the tempor guardianship of these negroes in course of train Many of them, I fear the larger number, recogni chiefly a property interest in the negroes. M with this feeling uppermost could not do their d to the slaves. But God's plans must not be mar by human ignorance or cupidity. So it came pass that God used a great war to set free t negroes.

If the hand of God were fully and devoutly r ognized by all parties-by the people of the Nort by the people of the South, and by the negroesonly the happiest results would follow. When th truth shines clearly upon us all there will be peac and brotherhood. This truth will drive out passio

[graphic]
[graphic]

Had slavery been fastened on New England generations, are the men of New England prep to prove, beyond all question, that they would be so much better than they think the South Should they not, in gratitude for deliverance f the curse of slavery long years before the South its release, be less impatient with those who, cording to their own view of the evils of slav could not be much better than they are? W would we think of the wisdom, to say nothing his spirit, of a missionary who should begin his bors in a heathen land by not only proving idola to be a lie, but by denouncing the low estate the people whom that idolatry had degrade Have they ever considered fairly that, had the re tions of the sections to slavery been changed, h the South been freed from slavery in 1790, a New England burdened with it till 1865, th might have been as deficient in the virtues of t best civilization as they believe that the South and the South might have excelled as they b lieve that they have excelled? In such a case, wh would the golden rule require of the South?

When we of the South recognize, as we ough the providence of God in the emancipation of th negroes, most gracious results will follow in u The spirit of resignation to God's will in this ma ter will go further than any thing conceivable b me to reconcile us to the instrument employed b

[graphic]
[graphic]
[ocr errors]

HAT Mr. Lincoln was truly opposed to slav

and that he wished and sought its abolit cannot be doubted. That he issued his Emand tion Proclamation simply or chiefly in the inter of the slaves, and in order to set them free, own words deny. His grand aim was to " save Union," and he issued his proclamations to help saving it. This subject is brought forward h only because it should, when fully understood, de en and fix the conviction that God, and not m gave freedom to the slaves.

In the "North American Review" for Februa 1880, is an interesting and instructive article on t Emancipation Proclamation from the pen of Pre dent James C. Welling, who was, at the time it w issued, one of the editors of the "Intelligence Washington city, and whose opportunities for f information were complete. Commenting on th article in the "North American Review" for A gust, 1880, Mr. Richard H. Dana commends it ver highly, and says: "It presents the subject wit great ability and fullness of detail, and, as far as m

« PreviousContinue »