The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-22
President Lincoln and Slavery.

After Presid Mt Lincoln saw the necessity of
denying the act of Gen. Hunter, in his recent
order freeing the slaves in his department., he
could do no less than he did, in making public
that disavowal, and declaring the order, 50 far,
void, 1t is obvious that Gen. Hunter should
met have ventured upon issuing such an order
unless he had the uest assurance that it would
be approved at headquarters as 1t is quite too
important matter, irrespective OF what might
DO its effect upon what we usually designate as
the Border State sentiment, to be inaugurated ex
cept with the appreciation OF the COMMANDMENTS
chief. And, after it was issued. if the President
did not deem the necessities Of the war demand
ed such Il step, and he found, at the same time,
tina it was causing uneasne,s among sensitive
shareholders, it became his duty as well as his
right, to nullIty the objectionable and unau-
not commander-in- chief, and it is we'll that he
and all other Generals: not excepting those
mos, lauded, as well as those most abused
should be reminded of that fact, and should be
made to understand that he who by the suf
srages Of the people occupies the executive chair
TN the Government is, by right-a right indie
spensable to the preservation of our liberties -
far above any General in the field The civi
power ia he Government may need that shieldt
yet, and We rejoice to know that while Mr.. Lin
coin is President they will ever have 1.-THE
militorn e ba Ror,,blio knip,, boz
wise firmness in iV proper subordinaton to the
civil as well as military head of the Nation.
But while the President was declaring void an
act which had 10 authority, and of the necessity
OF which he was not persuaded, he also took
most opportune momen, to reiterate his most
solemn convictions of the necessity Of gettirg
rid of slavery and we are confident that the
historian Of these times will find in this, rs in
Mr.. Lincolns ncipation message, an evidence
of the profound and earnes, purpose of tho
President to link his name with the great work
of making this Republic free from the great
and wicked stain of slavery. And, while we
read this portion OF his manly proclamation, we
cannot regret that Gen. Hunter should have
hastily published the order which has given the
President occasion to thus put himself again,
and more unequlvocally than before. upon the
record, as the earnest advocate and worker for
Freedom. There was need that he should do
so,--not that he had given occasion for the per-
sistent Misrepresentation of his views and wishes
on the subject by the pro-savery press Of the
country, but because that press had, without
reason or facts sought to lessen the force of his
emancipation scheme by representing it as only
a stroke Of policy,-an impracticable proposal
which would never be accepted by the States,
and therefore of no account, and only
thrown out to quiet the clamors of L" abolition
agitators." The President. in this DECLARE ton,
leaves no room for doubt The part Of his proca-
nation, calling attention to the resolution which
he had recommended, and which had passed
Congress by 30 decisive vote, was, in no sense,
gerlnane to the subject Of Gen. Hunters order,
and was neutrality-suspicious. the proclamation,
or the order which called il out The President
might have contented himself with the negative
part Of his announcement, and, even then, anti
slavery men could not have reasonably COM
planned. But the President did not do that,
but took the occasion to address an earnest,
beseeching appeal to the Slave States to cooper
ate with the general Government in removing
this gigantic evil from the land. lie disclaims