St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-09-26
The Presidents Order.

The Presidents very important letter
to Gen. Fremont, will challenge the attes-
ton Of our readers from its intrinsic i'm
portance, and also from the high favor with
which the Generals recent Proclamation
was received by all men aud all parties
from Kansas to Maine. To enable them
to zee, how seriously the vitality of the
words IF fremont is impaired by the Pres;
ident( 3rder, we copy the section of the
law Of II Congress- in which the conGsca-
ton OF 1he slaves Of rebel masters is au-
thorizcd
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That
VIII. never hereafter, during the present insur
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 service 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 or permitted by the person to whom
such labor or service is claimed to be due, or
his lawful agent, to work or to be employed in
Or upon any fort. navy yard, dock, armory,
ship, entrenchment. or in any military or na-
val service whatsoever. against the Govern
ment and lawful authority 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 sach labor, any law of the
State or Of the United States to the contrary
notwithstanding. And whenever thereafter
the person claiming such labor or 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 Gov
eminent Of the United States, contrary to the
provisions Of this act.
1k1t will be seen that while Gen. Fremont,
after declaring Martial Law, announces in
terms the freedom Of the slaves Of all mas
ters who take part against the authority oi
the United States, the President, overlook.
ing the fact that Martial Law overrides. as
4 military necessity, tho laws of the State
in which it is declared, narrows the Gen.
eral down to the liberation Of slaves that
have borne arms against the Government,
or have been employed upon some naval
or military work against the authority o!
the United States We quote Fremont
language in the Proclamation. that it may
be contrasted with the law which the Pres
ident reatirms
Approved AuSust 9th, 1861.
"The property, real and personal, of all per
sons tn the State Of Missouri who shall take up
arms against the United States, or who shall
be directly proven t. have taken part with
their enemies in the fed, is declared to be
| contested to the public use, and their slaves,
if any they have, are hereby declared free
men.
The difference il esse ntial. The law
frees the slaves who have been engaged in
disioyal pursuits the proclamation frees
the slaves Of masters who are IN rebellion
asains: the Government. BY the law, the
slaves Of Gen. Price and ex- Governor Jack.
son, if kept at home raising corn for th<
rebels, must continue to wear their shack
lee. BY the proclamation, the slave Of the
lowest aud meancst Of the Missouri!rebela
the moment his master commits the over
act, becomes = free man. The distinction
is obvious. ... ,....... 49, II 49,.
Our position i. we'll known. There i,
no Constitution, there is no law, for tn,
rebels. They disown aud defy both, ana
. can claim the protection of neither. -Fo
/ them MILITARY NECESSITY is, the oul,
rule which need or ought te be consulted
and until this ground Is assumed aud tn,
battle, Is fought on it, We are condemned
to defeat and disgrace. This view, We be
lieye, i that which the people long ~
adopted and they, with u, will believ
that the Administration has committed
blupdcr in this matter which no efforts "a,
! st, ,Msn xilt >sk, aud properly toe