Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-09-13

put together, and now threatens tue very
existence OF the government, itself.
With ihe-c facts Seiore Us, the frat thought
that would strike the mind, would be to
rsmors ~, oaso Of ,rcabls, and then rebel.
lion would die out. aad we should not here.
after ~ subject 20 these exciting outbreaks
against the government, Bu, there - an.
o,he- thought which springs up in counec'
ton with the foregoing. We live under
common Constitution; We have large mum.
Der. Of men IN the Southern States who are
LOYAL to that constitution. and it would be
placing ourselves in the wrong to do wha,
would ~ a substantial violation Of that in.
,trumsnt. 50 far a. we sustain mutual rrla.
ton. 70 them. While the Constitution
doS. not o, itself establish slavery anywhere,
vet State. are lei; Nv thu, instrument TO
protect IL by law within the State lines.
Under the Constitution. Congress has no
power 20 declare the slaves ia the slave
States Tree. This power has never been
claimed by any political party in tn. eoun.
try. except the little squad Of men who train
under the lead OF Gcrri,i Smith and William
Garrison. Bu, while the Constitution con-
f,r. no such power upon Congress, yet, in
the opinion Of John Quincy Adams aud
many other great American statesmen, there
ia power that has rish' to declare ire
DON u every slave in the country. We
mean the WsE Powr. We cinno, in this
short article stop to give the reasons tha,
are urged in favor o! THIS position. They
are in our Judgment reasonable and sound.
While We believe tie war power has a jdris.
diciiou over thu. matter ihA, c.uli strike
the shacklcs from every slave IN all the
Southern States, 49, DO not think it would
b.. lHdsr pfssrai oroHfiIH's', eIpedieu, 70
exercise Il.
We 30 not say thu, IL this rebellion goes
on and continues. that the time will not
cone when this should be done; bg, We
speak from the stand poin, o. the rrc-cn,.
We believe the lov1i men IN the slave States
are now suTrrin: enough. without ioreibly
hhcratine their slaves fthey are willing,
amid tie terrible pcriis that environ them
on every side, 10 stand by the Union aud
the old aas. we think they oush, to De left
to take care II their slave property il they
can.
Bu, with the rebels, the men who are en-.
ct.ci in attempts 10 overthrow and destroy
,he Government. the case /. altogether DIFF.
fcren,. They repudiate the Constitution
and ,rnmple i, under their feet. aud have
no right, 20 long as they MAINTAIN this -.
.iiion to claim iis protection. Gen. Ere
mont i. rieb, when he says TO all these men.
"You- slaves az free" The rca-ou- are
obvious Rs,ribu,iys justice, as well as the
law q nations declare. the property Of reb'
el. eontraband-liaLle TO con6-ca,iou by
the government, against which they iske up
arm. This very principle rsluarely re-
co.nircd in the reeeu, &C, Of Congress, un
Der which the property Of southern rebels
ha. been seized BY the sovernmen, au,hOri-
ties and cons.ca,el.
The rebels claim tha, their negroes are
property. and taking tha, hypothesis as
true, then negro slaves belonging to them
are con,rabAnd. and ja,, a. liable to be TAX
en- IS any other kind Of property. Bu,
there are other ground. upon which tai.
proclamation Of Gen. FremOnt's can Be
sustained. Southern men engaged IN this
rebellion. BY their act. Of rebellion, make
themselves our enemies 80 long a. they con-
tinue these act, Of hostility. Their slaves
are engaged with them 10 the came ioreible
aggrc-sions aglins, the government, and
this makes them eAomio, and places them
in the .ame category With their masters.
Every man, whether black or white, 10 the
rebel army, or in any way connected with
il, !. common enemy. No matter wheth-
et ths-s slave. 20 into shc-s aggressive, for
chile operation. Voluntarily, or whether
they are forced in by their matters, IL does
rot in the lSAs, alter or change the relations
they sustain to Us. They are enemies in
war. Gen. fremon, has taken tie bull by
the horns; he has touched them in their
most tender spot. For the purpose Of put
ting down rebellion, hrs PROCLAMATION has
more potency and power than powder and
balls. II only need. powder and balls to
back i, up and the work Is done. AT q
single stroke OF the pen our gallant leader
in the We, has knocked the entire bottom
out OF the slaysholdips rebellion In Missouri.
The people will thank and laui him Tor
n. lis action will be approved by the
General Government. and what Is now the
fate at the rebel Shareholders in Missouri
will be the fate Of all slayehOlding rebels in
the other States. They will End that con.
tinustion OF thi. war will bs the end OF
slavery. at least - far rs they are concern
Cd. And the friends Of humanity will
everywhere rejoiee tina. amid the din of war
and the peril thai surrounds our country,
the star Of freedom shines brighter and
brighter. and the day Is being fastened on
when every shaekle .hall be broken from the
oppressed, and slavery shall DO forever blot
tel out from our boosted land Of liberty.