Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-18


The Government and the Proclamation.
We give below letter upon the proclama-
tion of General Fremont, and the action or
probable action of the Government upon it,
which the writer sends to us, "being per-
Fuaded that the Gazette will not have the
courage or the liberality to publish it." The
writer is probably not a careful reader of the
editorials of either the Gazette or of the
Press, or he would have discovered that he
is as exactly in their line as he is exactly not
in ours. We hold that if General Fremont
has disobeyed his instructions, he ought to
be removed. 1t is not a question of right
and wrong in the proclamation, but the
obedience to orders, of that subordinatien to
legitimate authority, without which no great
work can be accomplished. We publish the
letter, however, and a commentary below,
which a friend has 'kindly volunteered"
GENERAL FREMONTs PROCLAMATION.
"To He Editors Of the Daily Paper'i
81 see in the Gazette of the 14th an item
from the Louisville Journal, stating that
the highest authority is about to correct
Fremont's Proclamation so far as to prevent
the liberation of slaves found in the use of
rebels against the Government.
Nothing is more certain than that this
war was planned and is waged, by the South,
for the protection and extension of slavery.
Hence nothing is more proper than that
the North should make it the gallows on
which its wicked authors should hang. Fre-
mont struck the first blow directly at the root
of the war that he was sent to wage. Were
in his place, and this modification should
be sent me, the next mail should carry TO
those who made it my resignation, and the
next morning papers should publish it. And,
had before started to enlist in the Federal
army, would turn upon my heel and leave
to their folly those who were willing to join
themselves to posse of slave-catchers for
the rebel tyrants of Cottondom.
"Unless greatly mistake the principles
and feelings of the North, this modification
will paralyze the arms of the most reliable
soldiers already in the Federal army, pre-
vent the enlistment of many others, and will
give ten fold impetus to the rebellion.
"lf slavery is to be perpetuated, the ques-
tion whether it should be done by Southern
men or Northern men, or both united, is of
no Importance. But if both parties must
fight for it, think the end would be gained
much quicker, and at less expense, by
uniting all parties under the leaders who
now have it in charge, and know how to
manage it. At all events, let the North cease
TO fight, as they have thus far done, for the
benefit of slavery, under the sacred name of
liberty. E PLURIBUS UNUM."
The above communication expresses the
views of the majority of the present sup
porteIs of the war. But such was not the
case when the war commenced. The Ad-
ministration occupy a stand point which en-
abled them to view the consequences of Gen.
eral Fremont's action on the slavery ques-
tion to better advantage than our correspond
ent, who probably takes counsel of his feel
ings.
The prospect of favorable termination
of the war along the whole line of opera
tions never was as good as at present. if the
slavery question can be held subordinate to
the preservation of the Constitution and the
Government.
But where Kentucky, Missouri, Westerr
Virginia, Maryland, and our Union friends
in the extreme South discover that the ne
gro is to be turned loose on them the energy
with which they will rise against the Ad-
ministration will counteract the efforts now
making to save the State.
The Government know this, and naturally
feel alarmed at the action of subordinate,
which threatens to take the control of the
slavery question, even in a remote degree,
out of their hands. They have the response
bility, and understand its consequences bet
ter than those who are only operated on by
the animosities and cxcitements of the CON
test; and we suggest to our readers to keep
cool and trust TO their Government, which,
being daily in communication with persons
from all parts of the country most interested
in the result Of the war, are best able to
Judge and give advice to it.