Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-12-11
A1cepttOn OF the Preside"t,s @COmpsas
stated Emancipation scheme.

Wv NaNN HN'S"NNa NNNNN 'A'N
value slavery more than the Union, there is
no disagreement upon the point that the great
end had in view by the president is that of a
comprehensive, far looking and patriotic states
nan II is clear TO him, as to all dispassion-
sss and unprejudiced lovers of their country,
0At owing TO the essentially aggressive and
|unrepablican character Of the "peculiar insti-
1aton "a sure and lasting internal peace can
y based only upon the foundation Of a sabstan-
tally homogeneous system of free labor in
III the states. In addition to what will readi-
y occur 10 most persons upon this point, it is
: 0ly necessary to mention fact which is not
yArticularly treated of in the message, but
which we have seen suggested elsewhere, viz:
Aas while the white population increases in the
urge ratio stated by the president, the slave
population also doubles every thirty years, and
were the old order Of things to continue, there
are those now living who would see not less
than thirty millions Of slaves in this nation
weight upon the free institutions Of. the coun-
ctry which they could not carry, and which
from the "rule or ruin" character of the I" in
s.ituhon would surely sooner or later again
bring on fearful national convulsions. OF the
ssoessity of the end, then, which the president
has in view, to permanent peace and prosper
NY, there is no room for doubt.
The question is upon the mode of attaining
IN. And here the presidents plan seems to
have met with no very warm reception by any
party, of whatever political shade. Its oper-
alton is too slow for those who are most ardent
N their antagonsm to slavery as the root of
snE,national evils. Others, regarding its great
scope and long operation, hesitate about ex-
pressing any decided opinion upon the intrin-
sc merits of the plan itself; while the pro-
'alaveryites of the north, opposed to its object
sntirely, only qualifedly commend it Gas bet
Der than they expected" and are disposed TO
bet it pass as plan whose contamination, as
yroposed, is too remote to borrow any trouble
about at present. The latter rejoice, too, in
the avowed belief that it is in conflict with,
and an evident backing down from, the presi-
dents emancipation proclamation of last Sep
stAmber. Even the National Intelligencer
s1skes this view of the matter, the wish being
father to the thought, we suppose. Says the
Intelliqsmcer, "either the presidents procla-
nation is a confessed nullity or his plan is
,Aelusion and snare"
For ourselves, we are confident the president
d nct,the, man thus to stultify himself. He
says but little. it is true, of his proclamation
IN his message. The explanation has been
suggested (and is probably true as far as it
soss) that the reason why he had SO little to
say oft, as well as Of the progress of the war
i that he,was SO absorbed with the elaboration
and urging upon the attention of CONGRESS-, of
his compensated emancipation scheme, as
The most vitality important subject upon which
he could gyesthe beneft of his reflections and
Judgment, that he contented himself with but
little upon subjects which would be presented
fully in the reports of the Departments, as
well as upon thesubject of his proclamation,
because the latter had already been SO fully
discussed ever since its issue by every newspa-
psr and politician in the country.
But in addition to this it must be carefully
borne in mind that he issued the proclamation
- commander in chief of the army of the
United States it was purely a war measure,
and as such is not the proper subject of con-
gressioaal action,-of congressional adoption
or rejection; while his present " compensated
emancipation scheme is urged upon congress
BY him in his capacity as president, as civil
magistrate merely, and in that view he asks
be attention of Congress to slavery on'y in
S sciyil relations to the government, and to
n tain objects which he thinks may be attain
by wise legislation to finally suppress its
vii :. The president seems to have understood
he importance of keeping his powers as com
nam Ter in chief of the army, distinct and sep
.rate from his functions as civil ruler Simply.
Blu what the president does say in his mes
sage pom the subject Of his proclamation seems
explicit enough, and abundantly sufficient to
uo.se HE purpose knoson. He says that " mel
YER the war nor proceedings under tie proc
:. ~at, ion piU be staid because of the recon-
-. dnt ions of the plan" = The plan is re-
,on,, men. led as means not in exclusion of,
Mt a. idtEonal to, all Others" The recon-
.enda, ion that congress provide by law for
ponpens utine any state which may adopt
,maucipa 4ion,' before made by the president,
!. reneved as 40 "advance part OF this plan.n
Finally, he introduces the discussion of his
scheme by saying that be encloses to Congress
! copy oe his proclamation of September, and