The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-11-19
WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID A
YEAR AGO.

YEAR AGO.
On the 18th of Sept, 1861, Mr.. Holt
Of KY, wrote the following letter to the
President of the U. s. upon Fremont's
proclamation dated August 80. 1861.
We reproduce it as bearing upon the times
and bestinterests of the country. What is
said of the confscation of the property
Gin slaves) not used by rebels is of great
public interest:
"The proclamation of General Fremont,
under the date of the Both of August
transcends and of course violates the law,
and declares that the property of rebels,
whether used in support of the rebellion
sieting in slaves, that they shall be at once
manumitted.
"The act of Congress referred to was
believed to embody the conservative policy
of your Administration upon this deli
cate and preplexing question, and hence
loyal men of the Border Slave States have
felt relieved of all fears of any attempt on
the part of the Governmant of the United
States to liberate suddenly in their midst
apopulation unprepared for freedom, and
whose presence could not fail to prove
source of painful apprehension, if not of
terror, to the homes and families of all.
You may, therefore well judge of the
alarm and condemnation with which the
Union loving citizens of kentucky, the
State with whose popular sentiment am
best acquainted, have read this proclama-
ton. The hope is earnestly INDUCED by
them, as it is by myself, that this paper
was issued under the pressure of a militia
ry necessity which Gen. Fremont believed
justified this step, but that in the partic-
ulars specified it has not your appreciation,
and will not be enforced in derogation of
law.
"The magnitude of the interest at stake
and my extreme desire that by ne misap-
prehension of your sentiments or purposes
shall the power and fervor of the loyalty
of Kentucky be at this moment abated, or
chilled, must be my apology for the frank
ness with which have addressed you. and
for the request I venture to make of an
expression of your views upon the points
of Gen. Fremont's proclamation on which
have commented. L.a
have the honor to be very respectful
ly your obedient servant. j. HOLT.
His Excellency, Abraham Lincoln, Presi.
dent of the United States
TEE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Sept IL, 1861
"Hon Joseph Holt-Dear Sir: Yours of
this day in relation to the proclamation of
General Fremont is received. Yesterday
I addressed letter to him by mail on the
same subject and is to be mande public
when he receives it. I herewith send you
a copy of that letter, which, perhaps,
shows my position as distinctly as any
new one I could write. l will thank you
not to make it public until Gen. Fremont
shall have time to receive the original.
'Your obedient servant,
ae.I GA. LINCOLN"
Here follows copy of the President $
letter to Gen. Fremont, which has already
been published.
This correspondence was placed in the
hands of Gen. James Speed, of Frankfort,
KY, by Mr. Holt, who accompanied it by
note, in which the following passage oc-
ours: z5eff aa
ssThe Government has the same right to
confscate slaves engagedin digging trench
es or mounting guns for the rebels that it
has to confscate their arms when captured
during the process of the war, but, having
confscated them, Congress goes no fur
ther. -sl
Upon this law the President stands
firmly, and in doing so, and in disavow
ing Gen. Fremont's proclamation, he gives
another of the vcr-multiylying proofs
that the war, which is one for National
existence, does not Geek to extinguish OIL
interfere with slavery as established il
the States. If this institution suffers
detriment from the events or issues Of the
rebellion, the blow will come from those
who under the pretense of defending it
are striking at the life of government
under whose Constitution it has enjoyed
complete shelter and protection for three
quarters of a century"
Has the war ceased to be one for tn
National existence? Has the President
right to extinguish slavery in the States
Are the slaves prepared for freedom
Has not the Presidents proclamation be
come source of painful apprehension,
not of terror, to the homes Of loyal Uniol
men in the South as well as to rebel
there? These are some of the question
suggested by second reading of this let
ter.