The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-09-27
s A IN T PA UL.


The Consistency Of President Lincoln.
We regret to notice that the ultra Re-
publican papers. so far as heard from since
the President modified the proclamation of
General FREMONT, in conformity to law, are
bitterly severe in condemnation of the step.
The Chicago Tribune denounces the act of
the President as "deplorable mistake, "
and calls upon the people to "speak in
tones of thunder" in support of FREMoNrs
policy. The Press, here, speaks of it as a
" fatal STEP" and "blunder,"- that,
in consequence Oft, all is over" and that
"there is no bright future"
We confess that, until the subject was
thus directly brought to our attention by
the action of the Government, we had not
even read the law on which the proclama-
ton of General FREMONT was based. But
its perusal cannot fail to satisfy any one,
that FREMONT greatly exceeded the bounds
of his legal authority. The law does not
confer the right of universal con6scation of
property, slave or any other; but only such
as is directly used against the Government,
and in aid of the rebellion. Beyond the
limits of this legal authority, General FIRE.
MONT had no right to go, except under the
pressure of temporary and irresistible mill
tary necessity and, under the exigencies of
the campaign in Missouri, no necessity has
existed for the general confscation of pros
perty without warrant of law. The attempt
to do it, therefore, was not only impolitic,
but illegal.
The action of the President in keeping
the Executive, and all Departments of the
Government, strictly within the limits of
the law, except in such cases only as are
justified by extreme necessity, is not merely
right, but it will meet with the approval of
all sober.minded men. The ultraists, who
cannot look beyond the bounds of the Re-
publican party who consider it the mission
of that party to exterminate the institution
of slavery; and who regard this civil war
as war undertaken and to be carried on
for such purpose alone do not, of course,
relish the Presidents action, which inter-
poses an insurmountable barrier against
their fanatical designs.
In taking this action, President LINCOLN
justifes his consistency as we'll as his official
obligations. In all his public addresses,
formal and informal, he has held himself
forth only as the servant of the people,
bound by his duty and his desire to execute
their will, when legally expressed. He
plainly cast upon Congress the responsible
ty of directing the policy on which the war
should be waged. Congress, in the proper
exercise of its discretion and power, deter
mined to what extent it should be lawful to
interfere with the relations of master and
slave. Within the limits of the authority
granted, the President is willing to act {;
beyond those limits he will not 60.
The President is justified in this decision,
no. merely by his duty and oath to faith
fully administer the laws, but equally so
10 view of the treatment he has received at
the hands of Congress with reference to his
official acts before the meeting of the extra
session. 1t is known that, shortly after the
President came into Office, the rebellion
assumed such formidable proportions as to
threaten the instant destruction of the Gov
ernment. In the face of this danger, the
President, as was incumbent on him from
the nature of his Office, exercised powers,
and assumed responsibilities, for which he
had no warrant in the written law. His
action, however, was justified by the perils
of the time and it saved the Govern
ernment from humiliation. When Congress
met, the President asked that his acts thus
performed should be approved by the peo~
Piles representatives. His reasonable re-.
guest was not complied with; and the
President stands before the country to day
unjustfed, if not in absolute reproacb, for
technical violations of law which time has
shown were necessary to the protection of
the Government. With such precedent
before him, President LINCOLN would be fool
hardy to trust again to any generous sense
of public justice. He will faithfully per-
form Ills official duty, but he will not go
beyond that to satisfy fanatical clamor, or
even to accomplish the most desirable
results. And no one can say that he has
not chosen the wisest course, and the only
safe one that he could follow, whether with
respect to his own interests, or the interests
of the Government.
The Richmond E0Ou1rer If tho Cn1