New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-16
THE EMANCIPATION OF THE SLAVES OF
REBELS.


FROM The Eogdoa Times, Sept 90
An important piece OF intelligence reaches as from
America. President Lincoln has requested Gen.
Fremont to modify the proclamation by which be
declared that the elayes Of insurgent proprietors
should be liberated. The proclamation, 1t is said,
ltranscends the powers given him by Congress, and
therefore must not be acted upon. Thls resolution
of the President seems 20 have been fully expected
by the Washington politicians, altnough one or two
members Of the Cabinet were IN favor OF proceeding
10 extremities against the Confederates. The Pres-
dent, though elected by the Republicans and Abol-
tonists has been sobered by responsibility, and now
has the credit Of being OF the most conservative
men Of his own party. Aware that to emsncpate
the slaves even OF Rebels was 70 bring a new aud
fearful cause Of animosity into the contest he has
administered something ike rebuke TO his active
and Jealous subordinate and for time the North
will refrain from using against its antagonist the
most terrible weapon IN its srmory.
But there are not wanting signs that the great
orestion of emancipation may OF some future time
he brouph, into the field. BY some persons that
ouestion has been thought to lie at the bottom Of the
s,rfe from the very beginringi others have held
that the North should at least have openly proc aimed
il as the object of the war AZ soon az bosies broke
ont while third party appears 10 consider that the
ADOPTION OF the emancipation doctrine by the Federal
Government will a, any rate, eonduee to the speedy
Termination OF the struggle We think il highly prob
able that, II the war continues, determination 10
abolish Slavery will be avowed by the people OF the
North They could hardly be expected to reels. any
longer .he consistent advocates Of This principle or
to forego the employment Of 20 effective an engine
ains, The cause Of their adyegsaTies; but do not
seo fha. this morentous step IL likely 10 be taken At
present and great would be the intrinsic merits OF
The meaeure we entertain serious doubts whether 1t
would really contribute, under existing clrcum-
stances. 10 the conclusion Of the pending quarrel.
Thai the institution Of Slavery Is aoominable in
the ewes of Englshmen, and that the doctrine Of
emancipation if aways and sincerely professed by
the Northern States, would have strongly commend
ed their cause 10 the sympathes OF this country IL
moi for a moment to be doubted. But the North
was never generally possessed by any such feeling
The Republican party did, indeed, oppose the extern
sion of Slavery into new Territories but 1t was
oply section Of THE party which advocated aboli-
ton; aud the Democratic party, whlch was very
strono was not disposed 70 interfere with slave
holders even to this limited extent. Even now af-
ter all the provocatons which the Slave States have
given /, 10 not clear that either the Government or
The people of the North are prepared to attack their
pecuar institutions. Their great object is naturally
the preservation of the Union and the proclamation
of Aboltionst principles would not only destroy any
chance OF compromise, but would, II the purpose
could be carried out result in the utter disorgani-
zs,iou of one-haf of the Confederacy. If the Gov
ernmeut OF the old Union had applied to this
question that doctrine which with singular pre-
snmptlon they applied 10 the external policy OF the
Republic-if they had treated Slavery as they pro-
fessed 20 treat European settlements, and had said
|
disturbed no fresh acquisition extension should
be permitted on the American continent, England
wonld have applauded the compromise. None but
unreasopinQ fanatics believed that Slavery, however
revolving 70 nature, could be safely abolished by
summary edict or that 1000 600 slaves could be sud-
denly liberated without results fatal, possibly, 70
themselves as others. If the Monroe Doctrine
had bat been applied here. il would have been as
much as could have been expected, and that, per-
haps was the end az which section OF the Republi-
cans were aiming That, indeed, may be the result
now IL the Southern States, without being actually
conquered, are cooped up and driven IN upon them
selves; but il does not appear that the doctrine Of
summary emancipation has been yet accepted by any
Of the Federal authorities.
Even the inciient which has brought this question
immediately into prominence is quite consistent will
the preservation Of Slavery an institution OF the
State Of Missouri. Gen. Fremont proclaimed thai
all the slaves of any proprietor in against the
Union should be liberated; but such proclamation
evidently involves the undertaking that the slaves Of
any nonnsurgent proprietor shall be retained IL
bondage with the sanction Of the Supreme Govern
ment. Slavery, in fact, is treated as species o.
right or privilege which citizen forfeits by the &C
of rebellion not as institution TO be condemned il
, itself That may be convenient discrimination To-
the purposes of war but i. Is not view OF the sub
ect which will much improve the cause of tho North
erners in European eyes. We now know, too, tha
the Generals proceeding has by no means found un
qualified approval at Washington. The President
order only confirms tho former evidences Of Fedora
policy. Mr.. Chases circular had already given th'
old undertaking TO respect the "insitutions of thu
South. That, at least, is the only Interpretation VI
can put upon the assertion that the whole countr,
isdisposed TO recognize all the constitutional rights
OF the insurgent Satee We must infer, therefore
that the Federal Government is not yet prepared L
commit itself 10 an emancipation policy, and the con
sequences OF such aresolution might boso embarrass
ing that we cannot wonder at the hesitation evinced
, II must DO remembered that the North has nov
Loot the chance Of establishing high moral superior
ity by declaration against Slavery. That groun'
might have been taken with infinite credit az a,
earlier period but, after the tenderness with which
the South and its nsutious have been treated up L