Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-09-19
what will be dome with Einan-
cipntcd NCRr0Cs.

We oftcn hear this question put. We
confess il is a serious matter. We see
no other way than that they will immedi-
ately make their way to the free states
Our cities, towns and villages wlii DO
filed with them and then what shall we
do " it'll them Read the loiIoWlhS from
the Chicago Times
ENAScIrAriov.-Wo have watched
with great attention the reception which
General Fremonrs proclamation has met
from the press of the country. By the
abolitionists il is hailed with delight, be-
conse il declares the slaves of rebels ab
solutely aud Internationally free. The
conservative papers of the country are
divided upon it--though, even those who
support it seem to entertain doubts as to
its propriety and beneficial results. We
have supported the act of Congress dc.
claring property used in actual hostility
against the Government subject to cap
ture, and providing legal machinery for
determining whether it is property cap
tured, and whether the owner has con
sented to its insurrectionary use, We
have done this for two reasons first, be-
cause o negro who is armed, or in any
manner used 10y his proprietor to carry on
the rebellion, ought to be subject to cap
turc as we'll as white man; and, see.
ondly, because tho act seemed so wei
guarded that injustice could not be done
under it to loyal masters but Gen. Ere
monts proclamation constit utes the ne
gro himself the judge of the circum
stances which entitle him to frcedom.-
There is no method of investigation in.
stitutcd. He practically says to tho
slaves, "If your masters are armed
against the Government, you can b,
Free"
Now, Congress has passed upon this
subject by solemn legislation, and ha
made provisions which General Frcmon
does not observe. This is wrong. n,
ono, either General or citizen has a right
to disregard the expressed wi Of the rep.
resentatives of the people. If he does
his act is a simple nullity. This proc
lamation, then, is a mere collection OF
words 50 far as it concerns the slaves
1t gives no freedom. The relation be.
tween them and their masters exists just
tho same, and would be enforced by every
court North or South, in the loyal States,
or where the civil authority has freedom
to act. But it is not in this respect alone
that we disagree with it. Here is large
negro population declared to be free,
without any Of the prudent regulations
for t1eir care which accompanied Gcnor-
al Buffers action on the samo subject
What is to be done with them ? IVhat
wW they no wiM Memscioes : These arc
important questions which must be AN
swerod in some manner, and to which
General Fremont in his proclamation
gives no answer. Are they to remain il
Missouri? If they do, will they continue
free, or, indeed, ever be free Are they
to como into Illinois ? We do not wan
them here. Yet they must be dispose,
of in some way. How? Shall they
form into banditti to plundor and mur
der? They cannot take care Of them
selves in a Legitimate manner. Yet, il
this proclamation is carried into practice
large numbers of negroes, suddeny freed
without any means Of subsistence, and
without any power to control them, will
swarm over the State in lawless gangs
and will add another element of disorde,
to those already existing there.