It is by no means necessary that this measure should be suddenly marked by any signal results on the negroes or on the Rebel masters.  The force of the act is that it commits the country to this justice,—­that it compels the innumerable officers, civil, military, naval, of the Republic to range themselves on the line of this equity.  It draws the fashion to this side.  It is not a measure that admits of being taken back.  Done, it cannot be undone by a new Administration.  For slavery overpowers the disgust of the moral sentiment only through immemorial usage.  It cannot be introduced as an improvement of the nineteenth century.  This act makes that the lives of our heroes have not been sacrificed in vain.  It makes a victory of our defeats.  Our hurts are healed; the health of the nation is repaired.  With a victory like this, we can stand many disasters.  It does not promise the redemption of the black race:  that lies not with us:  but it relieves it of our opposition.  The President by this act has paroled all the slaves in America; they will no more fight against us; and it relieves our race once for all of its crime and false position.  The first condition of success is secured in putting ourselves right.  We have recovered ourselves from our false position, and planted ourselves on a law of Nature.

  “If that fail,
  The pillared firmament is rottenness,
  And earth’s base built on stubble.”

The Government has assured itself of the best constituency in the world:  every spark of intellect, every virtuous feeling, every religious heart, every man of honor, every poet, every philosopher, the generosity of the cities, the health of the country, the strong arms of the mechanics, the endurance of farmers, the passionate conscience of women, the sympathy of distant nations,—­all rally to its support.  Of course, we are assuming the firmness of the policy thus declared.  It must not be a paper proclamation.  We confide that Mr. Lincoln is in earnest, and, as he has been slow in making up his mind, has resisted the importunacy of parties and of events to the latest moment, he will be as absolute in his adhesion.  Not only will he repeat and follow up his stroke, but the nation will add its irresistible strength.  If the ruler has duties, so has the citizen.  In times like these, when the nation is imperilled, what man can, without shame, receive good news from day to day, without giving good news of himself?  What right has any one to read in the journals tidings of victories, if he has not bought them by his own valor, treasure, personal sacrifice, or by service as good in his own department?  With this blot removed from our national honor, this heavy load lifted off the national heart, we shall not fear henceforward to show our faces among mankind.  We shall cease to be hypocrites and pretenders, but what we have styled our free institutions will be such.