The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-05-23
Hunter and Abolitionism.

General David Hunter, commanding the
Department of the South" (which includes
the states Of South Carolina Georgia and
Florida has issued from his headquarters
at Hilton Head, S. G., proclamation abol-
ishing negro slavery in the three states over
which his military superintendence is author
lied to be extended. The proclamation
reads as follows:
"HEApouARrERs DErAR1M'T OF THESouTH,
Hilton HEAD, S. c., May 8, '62. {
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 1.-THE three States
Of Georgia, Florida and South Carolina, COM
prising the Military Department of the South,
having deliberately declared themselves no long,
er under the protection of the United States of
America, and having taken up arms against the
United States, it became military necessity to
declare them under martial law. This was ac-
eordingly done on the 25th day of April,
1862. Slavery and martial law in free coun-
try are altogether Incompatible the persons in
these States-Georgia Florida and South Car
nIina--heretofore held as slaves are therefore
declared forever free.
lOfhclal. 'DAvIp HUNTER,
"Major General Commanding,
SID w. SMITH, acting Adjutant Gen"
When preparations were first going for
ward in the North to carry on the present
war, we charged it upon the Republican"
administration that it was their design to
make it war for the abolition Of negro sla-
very. The charge was distinctly and en-
phatically denied by the organs of MIR. Lin
coin, and we were triumphantly referred to
the inaugural of the President and the res
outions passed by Congress declaring that
the war was not waged ''for the purpose of
overthrowing or interfering with the rights
or established institutions of the Seeded
States" as full and complete refutation of
the Indictment thus brought against them.
But the sequel shows that we were right,
after all. Congress and the President have
seized the opportunity which the war has
given them, to iberate the slaves in the Dis
trict of Columbia, and according to Gov.
Letcher, Of Virginia, that State alone has
lost, since the beginning of the war, nearly
.Wty na'Ilaons Of dollars in slave property
And now, to make the assurance of an Alb
clifton war doubly sure, Gen. Hunter has
issued his pronunciamento setting free one
na'1Iion sIaoes, belonging indiscriminately to
rebels and Union men, and this upon tho
ground that slavery and martial law are in
compatible. Though Haleck, Butler and
Dix have all held martial sway in States
where negro slavery exists, without detri-
ment to the interests of the Government, or
the peculiar institution;'' though the Pres
1dent was compelled to modify Frcmont's
emancipation order, which was not half so
bold and sweeping as this Of Gen. Hunter
though the President and Mr.. Seward cx-
purgated Cameron's report Of the PROPOSE
ton to free and arm the slaves, which it ori-
glnally contained; and though the ostensi-
Bile and outward policy of the Administration
has been to discountenance any open and
nndisguised interference with slave property
except in the District Of Columbia): vet
this Abolition general, burning with the un-
holy fanaticism of his political sect, eagerly
avals himself Of the most firnsy pretext to
proclaim freedom to the negroes within the