The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-09-18
From the Chicogo Tribune.
The Prestdeufss order.

From the Chicogo Tribune.
The Prestdent,s order.
The Presidents very important letter
to Gen. Fremont, received last evening
by special dispatch to this paper, is printed
herewith 1t will challenge the attention
of our readers from its intrinsic impor-
lance, and also from the high favor with
which the Generals recent proclamation
was received by all men and all parties,
from Kansas to Maine. To enable them
to see how seriously the vitality of the words
of Fremont is impaired by the Presidents
order, we copy the section of the law of
last Congress, in which the confscation Of
the slaves of rebel masters is authorized.
SEC 4. And be nfurther enacted, That
whenever hereafter, during the present in
surrection against the Government Of the
United States, any person claimed to be
held to labor or service under the law of
any State, shall be required or permitted
by the person to whom such labor or ser
vice is claimed to be due, or by the lawful
| agent of such person to take up arms
against the United States, or shall be re-
quired 0, permitted by the person to whom
such labor or service is claimed to be due,
or his lawful agent, to work or to be en-
| ployed In or upon any fort, navy yard,
dock, armory, ship, entrenchment, or in
any military or naval service whatsoever,
against the Government and lawful au
thority of the United States, then and in
every such case the person to whom such
| labor or service Is claimed TO be due, shall
| forfeit his claim to such labor, any law Of
the State or the United States to the con
trary notwithstanding. And whenever
thereafter the person claiming such labor
Dr. service shall seek to enforce his claim,
it shall be full and sufficient answer to
such claim that the person whose service
or labor is Claimed had been employed in
hostile service against the Government of
the United States, contrary to the provis-
ions of this act.
Approved, Aug. 6, 1861.
1t will be seen that while Gen. Fremont
after declaring martial law, announces in
terms the freedom of the slaves Of all mas
tiers who take part against the authority
of the United States, the President, over
looking the fact that martial law overridcs,
a. a military necessity, the laws of Con-
gress as we'll as the laws of the State in
which it is declared, narrows the General
down to the liberation Of slaves that have
borne arms against the Government, or
have been employed upon some naval OF
military work against the authority Of the
United States. We quote Fremont
language in the proclamation, that it may
be contrasted with the law which the Pres
ident reaiiirIns:
The property, real and personal, Of
all persons in the State of Missouri who
shall take up arms against the United
States, or who shall be directly proven Il
have taken part with their enemies in thu
field, is declared to be confscated to the
public use, and their slaves, if any they
have, are hereby declared free men"
The difference is essential. The law
; frees the slaves who have been engaged il
disloyl pursuits: the Proclamation frees
the slaves of masters who are in rebellion
against the Government. BY the law, tn,
slaves Of Gen. Price and Ex-Governor
jackson, if kept at home raising cotton 70
,, the rebels, must continue to wear their
ssh.cslcs. =; the oc!!aars.at:on, tie slaar;
ofthe lowest and meanest Of the Missouri
rebels, the moment his master commits thu
overt act, becomes freeman. The dis
tinciion is obvious.
, Our position is we'll known. There il
no Constitution, there is no law fo
, rebels. They disown and defy both, ant
} can claim the protection Of neither. Fo
them military necessity is the only ruiz
, which need or ought to be consulted anc
until this ground is assumed and the BATH
is fought OH it, we are condemned to defea
and disgrace. This view, We believe, i
that which the people long ago adopted
and they, with us, will believe that tn,
Administration has committed blunde
. in this matter which no efforts can re
d trievc. Men will ask, and properly too
] Why Ii there this extraordinary tender
|, ness VIII n the question Of Slavery
the tap-root Of this wicked rebellion
l il touched. and such notorious disregart
I Of the rights assuming that tho Constitn
tion shields rebels Of white meny Score