Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-09-26
The Trouble about Fremont.

lfroin the wheeling lhellgencef, 18th Inst
The President has ordered Fremont to
modify his proclamation SO as to conform to
the act of Congress, in relation to the con-
iscation of rebel property. The letter con-
tanning the order will be found in this morn
ing's paper. We published the section of
the act referred to yesterday morning.
This would confine the operations of the
proclamation to slaves of rebels actually
employed, in military sense, against the
government, and would coniiscate none 9th
er. 1t would not change the efficiency of
the proclamation in any other respect, but
would acknowledge the right of command
ers to execute under martial law, all persons
found in arms against the Government, and
to confscate all the property of such per-
sons, except slaves not employed in mill
tary sense against the Government.
This is the matter i'll a nutshell, as we un-
derstand it. ...s
The public press is very generalin in its con-
demnation of this act of the Executive
The belief that Fremont was right, seems
to be nearly universal Such has been ouI
own conviction from the first, and we have
found no reason to change it as yet.
People are too apt in times of excitement,
to overlook general principles, and we don't
know that Presidents are any exception to
the rule. In the prosecution of war, the
object of the enlightened commander is moi
to destroy, but to inspire fear-to convince
an adversary that he can be destroyed, and
will be, if he persists. To this end great
armies are raised, great Notifications built,
great navies fitted out Convince an ad
versary that he has no chance at all of sue
cess, and how long will he hold out? Sup
pose when this rebellion first made its ap
pearance, the Government of the United
States could withina week have displayed
an efficient army of halt million and q
| navy of corresponding strength. The re
bellion would have slunk away and hid itsel
without ever daring to strike blow. 1t wa.
the weakness Of the Government which they
were sure Of, having caused it, that anima
ted the. traitors; 1t was its tenderness which
they felt sure they could presume on tina
made them insolent. Great abilities to re
sent injury are the surest guarantee of con
tinued peace in a time of peace, Grea
ability to infict injury and disproportion
ate weakness on the part Of an enemy vii
compel a suspension Of hostilities withou
ever employing it; for belligerents ar
governed by the same considerationsof con
sequences as govern individuals,
1t was on this general principle that Ere
mont acted in declaring that the power o
the Government should be brought to bea
upon the weak point of the rebellion. BE-
heving, as we do, that nothing could inspir
such terror among the rebels as the punish
ment proclaimed by Fremont, declaring tn
slaves Of all persons in arms against tn
! Government free men, it seemed. to US nc
only just measure of retaliation, but wis
stroke Of military policy.
1t must not be overlooked in this connet
ton that in exigencies like the present, mil
, tary law is higher than civil, The Presider
by his act cannot bs understood as denyin