East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-12-10
GEO. F. LEWIS, PUBLISHER.

quarters. / am glad that your positions
on this subject are such as they are, and
that you have taken them without ambi-
guilty or hesitation. AS the middle
ground between extreme action on the
one side--the surrender Of escaped or
captured slaves to their owners, rebel or
loyal--and extreme action on the other
1.-the abolition declaration Of emancpa-
tion--it will meet with general approval,
If rightly understood, excepting in aboli
tion quarters. 3}f Hn in
The distinction is a nice one, but, as /
think, obvious. Fremont ayows the
Shibboleth Of Abolitionism, and ignores
the right Of property in slaves, You
recognize it, and seize the slave as any
other rebel property and convert it to
public ses, precisely as YOU would rebel
munitions or implements Of war, aud turn
il against the enemy, or hand it over to
loyal or Union citizens.
You disclam and repudiate Abolition
ism. Fremont proclaims Emancipation
as primal object and result of the war,
and captured slaves, instead of being
used as material of war are to be let
loose upon free or slave communities, as
they may prefer You capture them as
you would ship, fort, an so FOUNDER,
or musket, and, as military necessity
deprive the enemy Of o material of war
and apply it to the uses of the captors
In this light it becomes an element Of
strength not only in the conduct of the
war, but in the enforcement Of the laws
and vindicatien of the Constitution over
the designs of treason and rebellion, In
the abolition of Fremont sense it becomes
an element of weakness and division, and
interrupts vigorous prosecution of the
war. f,ili le i9fi1fg
POI The first great duty is to put down this
causeless and most fagitious Rebellion ;
the next, to restore tho Union to its indi.
visibility OF the full performance OF
the first, and much sooner than many,
myself included, thought practicable, /
have now no doubt. The second will not
be without its difficulties. If we re-es.
tablish the Constitution, after repressing
and furnishing the Secession violation OF
il, and require implicit obedience to its
provisions, no extended question of diff
ference and irritation can arise that will
produce serious agitation and conflict
But, if we seek to accomplish the first
great purpose--thc suppression Of the
Rebcllion--by Abolition means and posi-
tions, we shall retard that much desired
consummation, and probably Illustrate the
second material purpose of the war, at
least, lay the foundation Of future dis
sens;anS. acrimonies and alterations. The
convey the Impression @
further in the Abolition direction thar
Fremont. To my view, your provisions
are antagonistieal to Fremont; and they
constitute the dividing line between th'
| Administration and the Union feeling o
the country on the one side, and Aboli
tionism and Secession (both looking Il
the permanent disintegration of th'
Union) on the other. But loyalty snc
the energies of the Government will pre-
vail 't
The effective ability and vigor will
which Secretary Cameron has conducted
his branch Of our great service, unde
the difficulties which environ Govern
ment unaccustomsd to war, and especial
civil war, has won for him the admiratio
of the country, and position Of hig
favor with the people.
Sincerely your friend, and obcdent servant,
:. g 1rf - EDWIN CR0SwELL.
Col. John Cochrano.
i p. S.--Mr. Dickinson, who is now i
my office, allows me to say that he full
concurs in this view Of the question.