Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-21

On the evening of the 4th day Of Decemhe,,
number OF tho officers of the brigade and ctr
ere OF us who were still on board che Cous,lt,I.
uon we're astonlshed to learn that Cen. PheIps
naa prepared proclamation 10 the people oI
tne Southwest. II was read to us and caused
very great dissatisfaction and indignation. no.
sning but sense OF duty and regard for diecip,
gust. ~''''''' " e'''
Inc next day the substance Of the document
spread IKE wildhre among the officers of the
command aud OF the naval squadron. The re.
mark:o every officer whom heard speak Of Il
was that they had not come down here to fight
ior tne abolition Of slavery, but for the integrl.
The assertion In the opening clause Of the
ProVlAmauon' tnAt lt ts an expression of "the
motives and principles by which INV command
will be governed" Ia I do Gen. Phelps tho ius.
tice 10 believe, unintentionally so1 uutrue: on
the contrary, 1t ia the prevailing opinion that Il
The. proclamation is endorsed by the Administra-
ton, it will lead to much dissatisfaction in Gen.
fnelpa's brigade, and very likely 20 the resigna.
tion Of nearly, II not all, Of his officers. In the
naval department. the feeling is even stronger,
and many OF its officers have no esitancy Ia
declaring their intentions of resigning Il the
proclamation is sanctioned by the Cabinet.
IL the proclamation declared an Intention of
bne most vigorous prosecution of the war and
even asserted that II the abolition of slavery
resulted as consequence of such prosecution. :.
the army OF the Southwest would accent il as
the legitimate jrait OF the foul tree Of Seces-
sionj 10 would have met with unanimous appro-
val and. Endorsement in both branches OF the
service at Ship Islands but az II now reads, they
teel themselves much aggrieved and misrepre-
sented. s1t
Up to the time of our leaving Ship Island
Gen Phelps had been unable to get bis prooa.
nation sent over to the mainlaDd. The trials
and troubles Of "the new .born child" have been
very great and somewhat amusing, and are az
follows: ...
Gen. Phelps accepted the offer of Mr.. Smith
70 secure its dissemination among the people of
Mississippi.
Thereupon Mr.. Smith wrote to Capt. Smith,
commander Of the squadron, asking for boat
aud Gag OF trnce TO take him over to the main.
land oi Mississippi for the purpose Of Issuing the
proclamation.
Captain Smith replied to Mr.. Smith, court.
eonsly but very decidedly, refusing the boat
and flag Of truce, and stating that he should
lay the correspondence and the matter of the
proclamation before Flag Officer Mexican on
his arrival (Which was daily expected), but that,
until then Tin other words, as long as be was
commander of the squadron), the proclamation
should not cross the Sound. Lieut.. Buchanan,
commanding Fort Massachusetts, gave orders
that, during his command OF the post the proc
lamation should not be posted or read within his
lines.
So the Generals proclamation stands, ap.
parently little chance of reaching those for
whom 1t was designed; but learn that O.
copy of 1t is in the hands of an officer who
with Its views, and who has un.
dertaSon TO get it over to the mainland