The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-10-25

desire them. = It is not the province
of the government Of the United States to en-.
ter into q crusade against the institution of
slavery. would proclaim to the people of all
the States of this Union the right to manage
their institutions In their own way. know
that my fellow citizens will recognize that as
one fundamental principle upon which we
commenced this contest. Let Us not give our
opponents any reason to complain of Us in this
respect. Let us not bring to bear upon them
the power Of despotism, but the power of the
people of republican government, where the
people rule.
1t was with all these lights before him,
that Gen. FREMONT, in his proclamation of
the 30th Of August. deliberately attempted
to reverse the policy of the Government.
The President quite as deliberately con.
demned the attempt in his order of the 1lth
September, which order, to make the rec-
ord complete, we here copy:
WASHINGTON, D. G., Sept. IL, 1861.
MAJOR GENERAL JOHN q. FREMONT -
SIR-Yours of the 9Th, in answer to mine of
of the End inst, was just received. Assuming
of the necessities of your position than could
at this distance, on seeing your proclamation
of Aug. 30th, perceived no general objection
to it. The particular clause, however, in rela-
tioH to the c0nfiscation of property and the
liberation of slaves appeared to me to be oh.
jectionable in its non-conformity to the act of
Congress, passed the 9Th of last August, upon
the same subject, and hence wrote you ex.
pressing my wish that that clause should be
modified accordingly. Your answer, Just re-
ceived, expresses the preference on your part
that l should make an open order for the
modification, which l very cheerfully do. 1t
is therefore, ordered that the said clause of
said proclamation be SO modified, held and
construed as to conform with and not to trans.
cend the provisions on the same subject con-
tanned in the act of Congress entitled IAN act
to confiscate property used for insurrection-
airy purposes" approved August 6, 1861, and
that said act be published at length with this
order. Your Obedent servant,
A LINCOLN.
The act of August 9Th, to which the
President alIudes, simply confscated slave
property used in war against the Govern.
ment. The proclamation of General FRE-
MONT went to the extent of emancipating all
the slaves of rebel masters, whether Used
against the Government or not. The Pres.
ident in conining General FREMONT within
the bounds of law, vindicated his personal
consistency, and the policy of his Admins
tration.
Another member of the Cabinet, Attor.
ney General BATES, gave it as his official
opinion, when FREMoNT's proclamation was
under review, that it was imperative
wherein it transcended the law of Congress,
and that, outside of the limits of such law,
the statutes of Missouri, governing slavery,
were, in spite of FREMoNr's proclamation,
in full force throughout that State.
We might set forth the declarations of
Secretaries SEWARD and CHASE, of the same
tenor with those of other members of the
Administration, were it necessary to show
how thoroughly committed the President
and his Cabinet are against the idea of
making this war war against the institu-
tion of slavery. We know that we'll con-
certed and formidable attempt will be
made, at the coming session of Congress, to
force upon the Administration change of
policy in this respect. The Abolition pa
pers all over the North are clamoring for it.
The Abolition oraters, in Congress and out,
are stirring up the people everywhere to
demand such change from the Adminis>
tration. We have little fear that such de-
mands will be needed. We have faith, not
merely in the sagacity, but in the irmness,
of the President. From every official indi-
cation, be seems determined that he will not
submit to the dictation of the fanatical ele-
ment of the Republican party. And we
cherish the hope, on every ground, that our
faith in his frmness and intelligent states.
manship is well founded.