Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-21
'Ths Proclamali9n o. Con. Phelps.


Theproolamation Of General PHELra iaaapec
to tbd APeople Of the Southwest. ION hisAarti-
val at Ship Island, has already been adverted
to in our columns, We publish in this issue
tho proclamation In full, with statement Of
the effects produced by II upon our troops, TO.
gsther with description Of Ship Island =
These articles will'be found highly interest
ng.F kpaa - lsclatai 'tsFty ,7an pe'5os y
The proclamation speaks for itself Its
character may be summed up IN afeW words.
II is one of those incendiary radical abolition
documents which have been grand means Of
bringing our country into its present trouble.
Its promulga,ion at this time, among the, peo-
pie Of Mississippi and Louisiana, wouldbe like
throwing a 'hre.braud into q msgszlneof pow;
der. lasa 2,a e.'i ili .,te5 = sad ~. ~ {.
We cannot agree with the New York Times
that locally, the proclamation win fall harm
less,v because 1t will not mako its way to the
main land. II appears from the correspondence
Of the Herald that there were officers in Gen.
ParLPs's command, who sympAthized With his
views, and wore endssvoring to get the proclh-
nation into the hands OF those for whom IL twas
designed. It has been already published in the
Northern papers, and from that source, if from
no other, it will reach the Southern people, II
win be precious gOdsend to the secessionlsts,
oWill blazon IL forth all over the South,eas q
document emanating from one Of LIsooLs'S
Generals, and sffording proof positive Of theiu-
tention Of the Administration to uproot exist
ing institutions in the slavo States. To such
proof what can loyal men in the South reply7
Il is hintsd that Gen. PHELPS will be displac-
ed from his command Bot az yet We have
seen no authority for such a statement, Should
be be displaced, it would be like docking the
stable door after the horse is stolen" The
mischief has been already done. Were the
Administration to dismiss him and disayow bis
act, its action would come too late TO prevent
that mischief, and would be as much as possible
withheld by the sscessionists from coming to the
knowledge Of the Southern people. ilrog ~ 3
The original and fatal error wAs in entrushng
she command of the expedition to such scrszy
fanatic. But similar errors have been frequent
ly committed by the present Administration
since its Inauguration on the 4th of March last,
in all branches Of the public service We
hear great deal about the moderation and
conservatism Of President LINCOLN, and we
hope the representations are correct !;
but sensible men will begin to have serious
doubts whether his conservatism Is Of very
stable Character.if important and reupOnsiDIe
posts in tho civil and military service continue
to be filed with the most rabid of the Abolition
tribe. The true test Of conservatism is found
10 deeds, not in words. g. $50 V.ssssQI 4
The i'll timed, not to say sedIiious ,proclA-
nation Of General PHELPs meets with almost
universal condemnation. Some are disposed TO-
make light of it as mere 6ogatelle. But we
might as well triae with the incendiary who
hres our dwelling in the night season, as to
treat IS g good joke the rawlings Of maniac,
who, entrusted with Ig little brief authority"
under prstense of saving the glorious fabric Of
our Union, takes the most efectual means for
pulling Il down about our ears, and buryi1g US
all In one common ruin. There are traitors in
the Abolition as well as in the Secession ranks,
and if the Administration is really in earnest
to save the Union, it should guard equally
against the Vaccinations Of both .F ,5s.is