The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-12-04
BLO0MSBURG, WEDNESDAY, DEG. 4ih, 1861
= Tar Rrpnnr1c.n PRrss thronah this


say upon the-subJedt of emancipation of sla
very. Week after week these Republican
editors are administering 10 their readers,
in small and large potions, "negro emanci-
patton }" in order, perhaps, 10 arrive at some
conclusion as to how the public pulse beats
upon the subject. 1t would, we qpine, re-
quire no long time 10 correctly ascertain the
sentiment Of the people North, as we'll as
South, upon this matter. But still they con-
tinue to throw out their Jsstrs, zone after an
oIher, as il it was the all absorbing question
of the times. They talk about the proper
time arriving, when it will become a sheer
uaiiitary necessity 10 declare, by Proclamation,
the negroes all free, in order TO accomplish
the work of putting down this rebellion,
which Job "the powers that be" considered
could be done inthfee months or less time =
Talk about the time arriving, for the eman-
cipation of slavery if that time is ever COM
ing, il is here now, Just as much as ever it
will be. The Administration has no author
ity to declare, by proclamation, or any other
way, the negroes free, '(snd we'll they know
ii,) unless they are going &c lay the Consli-
tuition to one side altogether, and consider
the document null and void. The Admin
istration has, in several instances, as is well
established, usurped powers, which, con-
stitulionally, il had no right TO do; but it was
in cases of no little mou1entary importance
TO the Administration in defending the Gov
eminent against powerful enemy that
were boldly menacing its destruction.
The people have given the President right
in what he has done; and in cases where be
has tread outside of the Consiiintioe they
are pretty much of one mind, willing 10
consider il all for the best. II appeared 10
be necessary that he should cali out Volun-
. teers to save the Capitol, at time when
traitors were standing in sight plotting its
capture. For him TO have waited until he
could have convened Congress, -foE a little
authority, at that dreadful moment, would
have been, in our opinion, very impolitic
He would at once been charge with not do
ing his sworn duty, or.beirg in league with
the traitors, by quietly submitting to the
taking of the Capitol and the overthrow of
our Government, which he could have pre-
vented; and, thank God, he did prevent it,
thereby saving himself from the vile stigma
that otherwise would have been heaped
upon him.
The writ OF habeds corpus was suspended
by Mr.. Lincoln, another terrible thing
There were some people in the country, at
the time of this suspension, disposed 10
bubble and make a disturbance about the
matter Nobody, particularly, contended
that the President had constitutional rigl t
to suspend the writ; but that he did 1t, aud
thai il was for the good of the cause alone,
must be conceded. We have heard promi.
nent and able members of the democratic
party declare that they would have doEe
still more; besides suspeading the writ OF
kabeas corpus, they would have suspended the
persons for whose benefit the writ was
about to be applied, and thus put period
to The existence of the traitors.
However, this matter, right or wrong, has
been gotten along with, and at present not
maca are being said upon the subie ect.-
Still, another serious thing was performed
by this Chief Magistrate, viz: the blockading
was vested in the power of Congress, hence
the President had no legal jurisdiction over
the matter, further than the recommend ling
of an act authorizing such blockade TO te
effected. But, in an hour Of great peril this
matter was taken in hand by MIR. Lincol0,
and acted upon without the authority oI
Congress, and on the assembling of that
body, they sanctioned the act. The Senate,
If we remember correctly, refused TO pass
an act sanctioning the official acts o. the
President, saying that they were satisfied
with what he had done, and did not deem
it necessary.
You will observe, reader, that these were
all matters of very great momentary impor
tance towards the sustenance of our Gov
eminent They needed prompt and decided
action and through the President alone could
that be accomplished, when the country a
tkat time was On the very brink of suffering
for the benefit of that action. With these
usurpaiions of power, as we choose 10 cal
it, everv patriot should be satisfied, knowing
that ;hrough them, in great measure, ou
Government has been maintained.
The war is being prosecuted, it is pre-
sumed, on our part, in an honorable way
still there exists at the North that Abolition
faction who are trying their very utmost tt
place it on a different fooiing- a 1ur agains
siagsyyi They write and publish elaborate
articles 10 prove TO the Administration tha
By declaring the blacks of the South free
il would put speedy termination to this
rebellion--that the rebels would then lay
down their arms and come back into the
Union and sue for peace. They try to make