Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-09-19
Order of tha Prasidant

Those who we're unwilling to be convinced be-
fore, must now be satisfied, that the proclams-
ton OF General Fremont, in Missouri, was In
contravention OF the views Of the Administra.
tion, as 1t was certainly counter TO law. Indeed,
only set purpose, it seems to us, to miscon-
strue the expressions Of the President, and to
believe him regardless Of his duty under the
Constitution, as to the rights of the slayehold-
Ing States, can account for the incessant outcry
OF some of our Northern presses, that this was,
or must be ade war of emancipation. No
countenance to this fanatical pretense has been
afforded at Washington. Besides the obligal
ton of the Administration to obey the Consti!
tuition and be faithful to it's oath Of office, men
with any eye to, the future, could not help see
ing that the avowal of any such policy would be
Instantly destructive to all hope of restoring the
Union. No army could be kept together to
fight for emancipation OF the army Ia the
field, it, is well known that ,three-quarters, at
least, of both officers and men, including the
Lieutenant General, and the Chief now more
directly in command, of whom 80 much isjustly
anticipated, are true Union men, on just and
honorable principles, to every part of the
Union. l,.,...p
It is high time, therefore, for these presses to
abandon atog gether, not only their style Of keep
ing this matter before the public, bu. every
such illusory and unfounded theory, The time
must soon come when it will be reckoned treason
TO urge projects which, If carried out, would
be destructive to the country, and when men
will no longer be called traitors, for merely in
sisting upon principles essential to it's safety -
The letter of the President makes all this clear,
II it was not so to every mind before. There
can be no doubt now that Gen. Fremont took
uron himself the exerciee of an unwarrantable
authority in his proclamation; and thus that the
gralifcatiIn of some of our contemporaries was
premature, when they INDUCED the idea that
this proclamation was "key note" we believe
some of them called II, to war for emancipa-
tion. so. Il -.te,r u..... .lslul ,f3 He'u
The Act Of Congress to which the President
refers provides for the confscation Of the prop.
erty of those who take up arms against the
United States, or who render aid to those who
do so,-and also, that the person to whom labor
or service Is claimed to be due shall forfeit his
claim to such labor, If the person held TO such
labor is BY him or his agent required or permit.
ted to take up arms against the United States,
or to be employed in any military or naval SER
vice whatsoever against the lawful authority oi
the United States, during the present insurrec
ton. The Act is not very carefully drawn, and
1t is easy to see, may leave the subject open 70
a good deal of litigation, by and by--but at any
foso ~ Pfofiuos loI auuuuioatVu ~ Ill suVh
cases, in order to determine their merits. Gen.
eral Fremont, on the contrary, was inclined
10 confscate and make the slaves free by force
of proclamation or the exercise of military
law. o. -...... .,..a .. a.9 e-sI,
The Presidents order not only checks such
Illegal and revolutionary proceedings, but IL
will have the effect to repress unfounded specu-
lariUns On the arhiaos, 70 avert fatal dangers,
and will also lead to renewed confidence in tha
eventual authority of the Constitution and the
laws. Courier. ~ ''i ~ NV