Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-09-25
Fremont and the President-A
Legal Argument.
BY J. +. MILLS.

We will never cease to have won lers.
Great men assume and def all svfs Of
characters and costumes, 50 that we can be
certain Of no mans identity. President
Lincoln has modified the proclamation Of
Fremont, and the people Of the West do
not know whether to be amazed or indio-
nant. Such a proclamation, from such d
man, in such place, at such time, as
sumed the magnitude Of an eras proyi-
Dental event. Every loyal man read in
that proclamation transcript Of his own
thoughts, a sufficient proof that public
opinion demanded it. Europe demanded
proof that the great Republic no longer
crouched before the imperious Shareholder.
Fremont gave that proof. and To- he Is
snubbed BY the President. Topurchase d
doubtful and conditional loyalty in Ken
lucky, he has thrown wet blanket over
the enthusiasm that the outspoken and
timely words Of tde great pathfinder had
enkindled. II Kentucky would not be
loyal but by the surrender Of Fremonts
position, it proves her loyalty is spurious
and conditional and not worth the pur-
chase. Everybody will say we need q
fast day now. The country must awake
from this Bull Run retreat and calmly in-
quire whether the President or the hero Of
the west is right. If the columns Of the
Louisville Journal and the threats OF
selni-loyal shareholders in Kentucky can
sway the President from bis propriety, the
determined and indignant voice OF the
west, whose cause has boon committed to
Fremont. will restore him again. Which
is right? The President seems to con-
slider the whole matter and mode Of confs-
cation to be governed and limited by the
late act Of Congress. The first section
confscates property used or intended to be
used by the owner in aiding rebellion; the
4th section confseates slaves used with the
masters consent in any military or naval
service against the Union. The property
after seizure is to be condemned in some
district or circuit court Of the United
States. Such judicial COMBINATIONS will
90 on long after the war is ended. The act
neither authorizes nor prohibits these seiz-
ures and confscations which are demanded
by the immediate exigencies Of war. Both
before and since that act the government
has proceeded to coutiscate the property Of
citizens whether of the free or slave States
and whether loyal or otherwise, not upon
the ground that the owner was using o.
intending to use the property in aid Of
treason, but upon the ground that such
property might be used by the rebels in
some way against the government The
character Of the property was considered,
not the intentions Of the owner or shipper.
Could it be used by The rebels in making
shoes, in curing their soldiers Of the fever
and ague, or ID publishing disloyal news
papers? If 50, it is and was confiscated
even before this act of Congress IN the
hands Of a Union man il might be, who
was shipping it South, and who had No
motive but to get bis money for it, and
with no hostile intentions against The gov
eminent. Coffee, tobacco, paper, quinlne,
horses, cattle, pork, -four have been seized
on their way South, and in the South, in
dependent Of any reasonable purpose Of
the owner, and are we to understand the
President that this policy is to be aban-
doned Even under the act of Congress
Fremont is right. If a man uses himself
ii the rebellion, it Is sufficient evidence Of
his intention to dedicate bis property TO
the same purpose. 10 save the negro
from confiscation, the President makes eff
fectiye war impossible, Claib Jackson's
oyerseer may work fifty negroes on his
farm, if he has one, may raise corn and
wheat and horses, and Fremont must pro-
tect this property unless lie can show that
Claib uses or intends to use it for the bene-
fit Of the rebels. Tbs administration
might as well issue an order to Fremont 70
supply The rebels with provisions and ra-
tons it once; then why not supply them
with powder, lead and minnie muskets
Tie administration is to Play the part 81
cor bog in this war, and help Fremont 9
little and feed and clothe Sterling Price
and his rebels, u lease to them the fields
and negroes Of Missouri for this purpose
and then tell the boys to fight tout. The
press and people and army should speak
out in condemnation Of this solemn t'iflihg
ii tones Of thunder. We cannot feed,
clothe and protect the property OF men en-
gagged IN tie slaughter Of oaf eountrymen.
Hurra for Fremont: be not discouraged
young hero ard hope Of the the West now
dearer to us than eyer. The jealousy q
an administration made the hero OF Buena
Vista President, and So sill it be VIII
you.
W, ,,g,afI