St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-10-03
Fremont's Slave Policy.

f.. Fremont's Slave Policy.
In Fremont's celebrated proclamation
of ~'rtial law, the point which has at
Itracted greatest attention is in his declara-
tion that the slaves of rebels IN Missouri
are free men. 1t is not exaygaratiun to
say that while, with scarcely an exception,
loyal c'tize"s everywhere cordially .prrov-
ell Of the proclamatian, this fcatulr Of it
was popularly indorsed with special EN-
thusiasm. Alnost the entire patriotic
press of the Union, In the most emphatic
language, appIaudcl Fr.mout's course
III freeing the rebels slaves Even the
Louisville journal, in it's deprecations of
martial law, had no word against this por-
tion of the proclamation. Tie almost uni
versal sentiment Was that this particular
step was just aud wise.
As only the peculiar circumstances of
Missouri jus1iie the establishing Of u
military regime ir the place Of her mu-
nlcipal government, so each feature OF
this regime grew out of those circumstan-
ces alone lie severe pressure Of accu-
mulating disorders made martial law ne
cessary. The same pressure suggested
the shooting Of rebels III arms within the
lines Of the army Of occupation, the con-
t$cation Of redels' property, and the free
ing Of their slaves. INC whole policy
Was plainly an exceptional one, incident
to the exceptional aud Singular condition
Of this State. The freeing Of the rebels
slaves here could not, therefore, be fairly
construed as i'll opposition t." the general
policy prescribed by Congress, or as at
tempting to substitute for that policy ne y
one, but only as the exercise by fremont
OF the power to establish martial law aud
to make such exceptional regulations as ia
his Judgment should seem best. Only
If all the slave States were in the condl-
ton Of Missouri, aud about to be necessa-
rily subjected 70 martial law, could Ere
mont's course furnish precedent tor de-
clarlng the slaves Of all the rebels rree
lie cannot justly be charged with even dl
r!setly suggesting national policy differ
; ; }.e.,t from that doptel by Congress
The President has entirely vetoed this
exec 2tional :ction Of Fremont, by ordsrin.
the proclamation 50 far modified as that il
shall conform to and not transcend the
act Of Congress relative to the confiscatior
OF rebels slaves. That act provides tha
the slaves found, with their owners con
sent, engaged iu aiding the rebels in thei
war, shall he forfeited. This aunuiling O
Frenont's popular measure making thu
f slaves Of all Missouri rebels free, has o.
, course aroused much dissent and dissatis
p faction. The evidences of this tee IN.
G are presented in the EXTRACTS from tn,
press in our issue Of yesterday and in tha
OF to day. The grounds OF the Presi
, dents action may or may not have bee,
l fully state, in his published com,nus;ca
+ ton to Gen. Fremout~ Assuming tha
they have been, the difficulty appears t.
be solely in the act Of Congress alluded to
=, and can readily be obvlatcd on the re-as
, sembling Of that body. Bat as Fremon
: had clearly authority by martial law to Sc
Y aside any Legislation, if in his judgmen
the public safety required it, it would seen
, that the Presidents modifying or anuul
= ling order sprang from considerations O.
Y general policy, and was issued by him a
: tremont's military superior. Upon thu
G wisdom or pcuiency Of these consid
D erations the community Can better judy.
5 when they shall be fully presented. /
j. they consist principally in the evident iul
J. r:opricty OF adopting emancipation as par
n Of the Uoion war-cry, they are certainl )
/ entitled to protoucd respect Bat to our
:. mind, and TOR the reasons we have Stated
: above, Fremont's course is properly vpe'
T. to no such objection The mischleis t,
e result from the msappIicaton On u broat
$ scale Of Fremonts slave programme ar
! scarcely conceivable. The population 0
the slave States are about all reuels Tn,
+ pro 5ra'nlne would :nvolve a declaration
}, substantially, that all the slaves III th'
+ country are free men. Tue War would be
4 come one for emancipation The Presi
= dent is ri ght in at once setting his face Us
j.: IL flint against such a War. But this woul,
be mlsapplicatiou Of Fremont'c policy
e Tie adopts 1t onI y iu view OF the peculia
r exiSencies Of Missouri, and in our juIy
/, mcnt these fully warrant and thorouy y4l,
j.. justify it-4NisSouri Democrat.
The Withdrawal Of Troops from
= the West.