The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-10-08


ID On first reading this proclamation, iwe
that it referred to the 9th section
of the ,ceniscation act, and proclaimed
what the President understood to be the
legal effect Of his previous proclamation
founded on that section - This in all con4
science would have been bad enough. On
reading the proclamation a second time,
however, we perceived that it makes no
reference to the 9Th section of the confso
cation act, and, On examining this section
itself, weperceived that titsrsubjeot-lnatter
is1diferent from that Of the proclamation,
the former relating to all the property Of
rebels in any State, while the latter relates
expressly and exclusively to all the slaves
of the States inrebeIlion. Ttthhs appears
that the proclamation is not and does not
assume to be, feuAded on the confscation
law or any other law tits evidently an
arbitrary act Of the Presia aentas Command
'erlin.Chief of the Army and Navy of the
Union. In short, it. is q naked stroke of
military necessity aia yesr a..e4, s,
I'VE shall not stop now to discuss the
character and tendency of the measure.--
Both are manifest The one isi as unwar-
sfantable as the other.is mischiexons.a<sThe
.measureis wholly unauthorized and wholly
,pernieious., Thought it cannot be executed
in fact, and though its execution fobably
viii never be seriously attempted, its 'm6ral
Influence will be decided and purely hurt
full; So far asitsownpurposei is eopeern-
ed, it is a mere brutunt tuLnaen, but it will
prove .onlystoo effectual, for. the purposes
70 the enemy. 1t is gigantic asar.patiioat;
Eunrelieved by the promise Of q solitary ads
vantage however minute andfaint, but TON
the, ,eontrarys aggravated by. the menaee Of
great and unmixed evil.s.A id vAssa a.
Kentucky cannot and aeiH not acquiesce
Aiin 5 this measure Neoer! AS little will
she allow it to chill her devotion to.the
cause thus cruelty imperilled anew The
government our. fathers framed is one
thing, and a thing above rprice; Abraham
Lincolh, The temporary occupant off the
executive schair, is another thing! and d
thing Of Comparatively Isr lively little worth. The
one is an individual, the sandsAofwhose
official existence are running fast, and who,
when his official existence shah end, will
be no, more or, less than any other individ:
ual. The other is grand political struc-
tureS, IN which is contained the treasures
and the1energies of civilization, and upon
whose lofty and shining sdome, seen from
the shores of all yclimes, centre the eager
hopes of mankind. Y 80
What Abraham Lincoln as President
does or fails to do, may exalt OF lower oul
estimate of himself, but not Of the great
T fandrbenefecnt; government of which he lis
but the temporary servant. The temple
/ isonot the less sacred and precious because
the priest lays an unlawful sacrifice upon
the saltser.e sThe loyalty of Kentucky is not
ttecbe shaken by any mad actg the, Pres
ltdeat. Ifsaecessarys ssi,e scitd resist the iaet,
and aid in holding the actor to jnstaand
lawful laecoaatabilityy but she ayill never
tlift her own hand against the gloriousfab-
| ric bscausei heg has bhndlys or cri minally
tsmitten it.s She canno be so false to, her.
self as this. Sheais ihcapablsa ofssuch
guiitand folly.s ~ tsaIbs7 .sa1 is;ssi I r.
The President has fixed the frst oi
|nextsJ anuary as the timesfot his procla
nation to 60 into effect Befarethat time
the sNorth will be aealledp upon ITO elect
fmembers; of Congress, and the New Con
eress will assemble. & We believe that the
lprociamation will strike the loyal people
Of the N Nerth in general with amazement
hand abhorrence. zMss know ii. - We ;sp.
| peal to them to manifest their righteous