Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-01-24
rME ADMNIsrNAr1oN ANp rnE

aN.to the cause OF the recent change IN the
Cabinet, speculation is rife in all quarters.
On the one hand it is claimed that the differ
ence between the President and Secretary
Cameron on the policy of making the war
ono of emancipation, has brought about ne
cessity for a change that there may be unity
in the Cabinet. Some even go so far as to
arraign President Lincoln for having driftod
toward the border State doctrine, that
slavery must be protected whether the rebel
! lion be put down or not" On the other
hani Others ,and they are not few attribute
IL to the financial embellishments in which
the country Is placed, and the impossibihty
I Of cxtricating the government from these en-
Z berrassments SO long as the lavish hand Of
, Mr. Cameron had control Of the War Depart
Z meat But bethe cause either the one or the
other, we can sec no Justification for the on
.aught that is attempted to be made upon
the President by those who arc the advocates
of an immediate emancipation policy, and are
clamoring that proclamation Of freedom to
al, the slaves shall procede the march Of our
armies. President Lincoln Is sworn to sup
port the Constitution in all its parts. and
while melting out tho punishment that is
due to the rebels for attempting its overthrow
for slavery, he could never justify himself in
( rushing to the other cxtemc and violating
that sacred instrument against slavery
/ We have no fear for tho final result Of this
rebellion upon the peculiar institution 1t
is doomed-hopeIes,ly doomed But its de-
strucuon is to be brought about as the result
Of the vigorous prosecution Of the war. and
not a. predetermined purpose on the part
Of the government. As our armies advance,
the property Of every man in arms against the
constitution must pay the penehy Of the re-
beliion and be converted to the use and bene-
f. Of government whether that property con-
sists Of slaves, Of lands, or Of anything else
? which will strengthen the hands of the rebels
Union men in the seeded states who have
opposed the mad schemes Of the rebel leaders,
and only ceased that opposition when their
property and their lives were in jeopardy,
have just good a right to the prote ton Of
the constitution to-day as they ever had, and
President Lincoln has no constitutional or
legal right to deprive them OF that protection
lie has however, right to confscate every
species Of property belonging to rebels, and
when the slaves of the rebels shall have been
taken from them, and their lands shall have
been sold for he benefit Of that government
they have been trying to subvert, the insti-
taiion itself will have been almost completely
wiped out in this country, and free men and
- '-t.- ...iii .sa.s.li.7 f.ta ia nlaco
We are not yet prepared, however. to JOIN
with the enemies Of the government aud give
aid and comfort to the rebels by deuouncing
President Lincoln for attempting to defend
the constitution against all comers. The on
ly thing for the people and the press to do is
TO auHd By he administration so long as the
administration stands by the constitution.
We would rejoice as heartily, and swing our
hat as high, as the most enthusiastic emanci-
pationist to see the accursed institution Of
slavery abolished; but let it be done, as it
surely will be, as a result of the suppression
of the rebellion, and not as means for its
accomplishment.
DIR. CHEEvER AND THE PRESIDENT.
IL is reported that this notorious clergyman
said in his sermon in the Hall Of Representa-
tves in Washington on Sunday week, that
Mr.. Lincoln is like pharoah, who kept
Gods people in bondage, and brought plaques
upon Egypt because he does not lend him
self to the policy of the cipaticnists.-
II we remember rightly, Congress, at its ex-
ira session, explicitly declared lst, That
this war was not for the subjugation of the
South; 2l, That it was not designed to in
terfere with the domestic institutions Of the
South, and Sd, That it should cease as soon
the rebellion was suppressed. 1t would
seem as if this constitutional policy, declared
by the Congress and adopted by the Presi'
dent, is insufficient for the radicals. They
would change the issue, and give " this wal
moral object As if it was not moral b.
ject for nation TO contend with treason, fol
a Government to wage war for its own exis
tence, for the preservation Of its jurisdiction
its Constitution and its laws over all it,
subjects What higher moral object car
be imagined than that for which we are nov
fighting; Is not the safety, the honor, the
peace, and the permanence of this Republic
" moral object; z" Is not the suppression o
treason, rebellion, instruction, stalking tC
its ends through long reaches OF ipiquity, -
moral object - Is not the preservation o
free institutions, unimpaired for millions o
Anglo Saxons. and the transmission Of then
to untold myriads Of their posterity " a mora
object" compared with which even the doubt
fu emancipation of the slaves dwindes into
insigniGcance DO not Cheever and his
school know that there are other moral Oh
jects" in the world than those which relate
exclusively to the negro
We trust that Congress will not reced'
from its position or give the war any othe
direction than the suppression Of rebellion
and the restoration Of the Union. II that il
not a moral object according to Choever
it is too late to introduce one There il
somethiuu refreshing in President Lincoln