Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-09-18
Trouble in High Places.

Trouble in High Places.
Tho President and Gen. Fremont are
at loggerheads. Gen. Fremont issued a
proclamation some days since, as every
intelligent person knows, in which nc
declared that the property OF men,ln the
State of Missouri, who were found ~
State of rebellion against the Govern
ment, should be confscatcd, and if any
OF such property included slaves, those
should be set at liberty upon thcspot.
The North has been loud in its applause
over this act. Abolitionists were frantic
with happiness because they counted 1t
as a master stroke to carry out their pet
ideas Of freedom to the blacks and more
conservative people, who did not con-
slider this war as being instituted for the
purpose offrecing slaves but for MAINTAIN
ing the Government, and perpctnatlng
the Union, considered the step a udlcl-
Gus one, and calculated to have cooling
effect upon secession ardor in Missouri.
Through the loyal States there was
scarcely any fault found with the decid.
ed action Of Fremont, and those who
pretended to know, said it was having a
very salutarv effect among the seccdcrs
in that State. How this may be we
don't pretend to know.
But the President heard of the pro-
clamation with as,onishmcnt. His Cab
met WAS astoundcd also. The whole al
ministration was astonishcd; and tho or
der was sent forth that a portion Of the
proclamation be modified, So that it
should confirm with an act Of Congress
which declares that only such slaves AS
arc found in actual rebellion Memsetres,
shall be set at liberty. This law provides
that though the ownerof Il gang OF slaves
may be rank scccssonlst may he even
jeff. Davis himself or Claib jackson, Or
any other enemy to the Union, his slave
property, unless found actively engaged
in reasonable pursuits, shall remain
beyond the pale of confisc alton.
For instance, the master may be en-
gagged in guerilla warfare upon his
Union neighbors and devote his time to
plotting railroad disasters and catas-
trophies, burning farm houses and sack
ing towns and villages, yet his slaves
may remain quietly at home, take care
of his farm, grow, and gather in his
crops without the least disturbance, be.
cause it is not treason to do so. This
is the way the matter stands now.
MIR. Lincoln has a perfect right to do
SO. He is sworn to see that the laws of
the land are executed, and Gen. FIRE.
mont having set at naught specific
law passed by the last Congress, we
cannot well see how Mr.. Lincoln can be
ccnsnred for seeing that it is executed.
That is just what he was made Prcsi-
dent for. If any of his subordinatcs
transcend their authority,and ignore the
laws of the land, is it not the sworn du-
ty of the President to inform them of it.,
and apply the remedy. Was it not
claimed that Gen. Harvey, while at st.
Louis, superseded his authority and was
he not shclved for SO doing SO high that
he has not got down yetl Gen. Fremont
has done the same thing, and We doubt
if he is any better man than Gen. Har.
ney. But the Republican press are be.
ginning to splinter about it horribly
Upon the action Of the President the
Chicago Tribune Of Monday says:
The feeling in the city yesterday
among all persons, Of all classes and
creeds, upon reading the Presidents or.
der countermanding Gen. Fremont's pro
clamation, was one OF blank astonish
ment and dismay. No SUNDAY in GU,
recollection has been so broken by gen
eral Indignation and rage. The ex
preston was common one among
Democrats and Republicans that Bull.
hun was not circumstance, as compar
ed with this deplorablc mistake. The
news OF the retreat Of our army from
Stone Bridge never produc I'd half Inc
chagrin and dependency here occasion.
ed by the retreat of the Administrator
from the strong and righteous ground
taken by the fearless Fremont. Il was
felt that the penalty OF rebellion had
been removed, and that the war wa,
now merely q scheme of mutual assas.
sination on large scale. The opinion
was universal that public meeting mus,
be held to give force to the conviction,
Of the people, and to petition the Gov
eminent, in both Legislative and execu
tive branches, to adopt Gen. Fremont
policy.
What, tramp'e down the laws of Con.
gress and crush ont President Lincoln
Shall meetings Of the people be called to
denounce the Chief Executive for see.
ing that the laws are enforced. Doe.