The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-09-21
Eremont,s Proclamation


Notwithstanding the positive assurances
from Washington that the Cabinet hear
tily approved" Fremont's late proclams.
ton, it leaks out that the Cabinet did not
approve it in terms, but subjected it to
material modification. The change is
substantially this: that while the Procla-
nation sets free at once the negroes owned
by any man proved to have taken up arms
against the government or to have com.
i.ted any traitorous act; the modifica-
ton makes the proclamation conform to
the late confscation act OF Cong ress, which
gives freedom only to such slaves have
been employed, by authority of their
owner or his agent, ain or upon any fort,
navy-yard, dock, armory, ship, entrench.
ment, or any military or naval service
whatever against the lawful authority of
the United States
The correspondence upon the subject
between the PRESIDENT and Gen. Fremont
shows that the President asked Fremont
to make the modification; Gen. F. declin'
ed, saying he preferred the President
should order it to be made" and the
President thereupon took the response
bility, and made the order
And the President did right The que:
ton of the proper mode of dealing W tn
the slaves of those in rebellion was fully
considered in Congress, in all its hearings
and the confiscation act was the result.
With that act the Union men of Virginia,
Kentucky, and Missouri were satisfied,
and with the clear understanding that
such was to be the settled policy of the
government in reference to the slaves, they
took their stand in those States. Ere
and going so much further than the law
Of Congress, no wonder the Union men in
the States named became alarmed If a
military commander" said they, lean
thus set law of Congress aside, where is
the limits of his authority and what as
surance have we that the next proclama-
ton may not free all our slaves, whether
the property of Union men or rebels p
The President saw the danger, and decid-
ed to stick to the law. The question was
not whether the proclamation or the law
was the better policy, but whether it was
better to abide by the law while it stands
To our apprehension, there can be no two
sides in the matter
The President ordered the change at
the particular request of the Union mea
in Kentucky, through Ex-Secretary Holt
We add paragraph of Mr.. Hollis letter,
asking the change:
The act Of Congress referred to was be-
lieved TO embody the conservative policy
OF your administration upon this delicate
and perpieXing question, and hence The
loyal men OF the Border slave States have
felt relieved of all fears from any attempt
on the part OF the government CT the
United States 10 iiberate suddenly IN their
midst population unprepared for free
dom, and whose presence could not fail to
prove cause Of apprehension If not of
terror 10 the homes and fam. lies of all
You may therefore we'll Judge Of the
alarm and condemnation with which the
Union loving citizens of keutucky-the
STATE "Itl! "ic>S l'OIuidI St4'lIIl!sLl am
but acquaiuted-haye read this prociama-
ton. The magnitude of the interest at
stake, and my extreme desire that by 10
nisapprehensiou oil your sentiments and
purposes shall lhe power and fervor of the
loyalty OF Kentucky be at this moment
abated or chilled, must be my apology for
the trankness with which have address
ed you, and FOX the request | venture to
make an expression OF Your views upon
the points OF Gen. Fremont proclam@ ion
upon which | have commented.