Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-06-07
SATURDAY, JUNE Z, 1862
The Policy Of the Hunter Proclamation
Opinions Of the Press-John A. Bingham
on States Rights.

On the first page of this paper will be found
s,n able article from the Marysville Appeal, an
Independent paper, entitled The great Pro-
blcm pressing to a final solution" which We
ask our patrons to carefully read and digest.
Gen. Hunter probably erred in issuing an
emancipation proclamation without the author
ity had been vested in him SO TO do by the
Government and while VIC may entertain
grave doubts of the competency of u mere
commandant of military district to assume
discretionary power III matter fraught with
such important tendencies, we contend that
the principle involved is right, constitu;ionally
and morally, and in exact accordance with
the policy which the Administration, ere tho
close Of the war, must inevitably adopt The
acknowledgement ismade by the President, in
his recent proclamation, that the power as
sumcd by General Hunter is reserved for the
Government alone; and more than half squints
ut future use of the power. Tho only
question which needs be hammered into tho
minds of a few "eminently conservative I"
men is "whether the liberation of the slaves
will speed the suppression of this accused
rebellion?" 1t is generally granted that in
the peculiar exigencies Of the war, elnancipa'
ton would be nothing mere than the slavery
propagandists could reasonably expect; but
it is merely disavowed by Government for
the present. from "motives Of expediency."
When it becomes generally known that slave
labor has already prolonged the war greater
length of time than the "chivalry" could pos
sibly have held out without it. and that it is
still tue main reliance Of JEFF. dom. then ono
unanimous resolve will possess each loyal
breast to strike at once at the very handspring
Of the rebellion. Are We still to regard the
"sscred institution" with that peculiar awe
which prejudice has for years thrown around
it, when slaves are employed to slaughter
American citizens! Must the lives Of thous-
and< of white men he sacri6ced to protcc, and
defend the ~proPerty Of the very men
against whom they fsh, Are We to sacrifice
The Cnien. the lives Of our brave soldiers, our
national honor. and ev-ryiLing We hold dear,
to tuy the l.v~ of . E.w slave ari>;ocrafs and
Southern natobs In the language Of that
gallant Southern spirit. Parson Bro~nlow.
WHOSE wvsds will end a ready response in the
breast Of every loyal mar. we say. give Us
Cniou without slavery. rather than slavery
without the L nion."
Our Union exchanges vie commencing tie
p,aiey Il tn Hunter Proclamation All agree
shss the rxisrpci-s Ct the case demand no hall
way measures. The QUESTION merely rests
uPn exPsdiency. Whoa it is demonstrated
to II satiGhssiou Of the mo-s ob:use minds
shA ths saly v.y to ead the war viii be to
take su.y the ehisf POp and sus,caancs d
tie rsbrlliaa. thsa win the time have arrived
l~ the Govss.asns 10 exeseisr the prrroga.
i've which it - I'D irua the commence
meua 81 the wss. and nike . elsan sweep d
the ssnn Il III villainiex" We CLEAN from
- szehaagss the prevailing opinion uPOs
this suljrct. The AevtAer Gall 4aTgss .
Union Dsmocvasie paper says:
There is a more important question con
nsctrd with this issue whicE has caused 81
rnurh sIucainishncs On the pr Of so'n' Of oul