Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-10-09
The Democracy and the Emali-
cipatiOn ProcIamatiOn.

1t ought to be necessary-the intelli-
gence OF the public mind ought to make
it necessary-that we would correct the
misrepresentation of the abolition news
papers that the objection of Democrats to
the Presidents emancipation proclama-
ton lies in the fact that it "destroys sla-
very" The objection of Dem ocrats
does not lie in that fact at all We have
said numerous times, and we repeat with
emphasis, that the vast majority Of the
Democracy care nothing for slavery, per
Sc, in its relation to the war. If they be-
lieved the President possessed the consti-
tutionsl power 10 proclaim or not as
pnrely a question Of expediency, and as
for ourselves, we might be inclined to de-
/ fer to the Presidents judgement in the
decision Of the question. But they do
not believe the President possesses the
constitutional power to issue such proc
lamation anil herein lies Meir objection TO
tie proclamation. 1t is not the protec-
ton Of slavery they seek-thay are per-
fectly willing that slavery shall suffer the
legitimate and inevitable consequences of
the war, constitutionally conducted, and
they understand perfectly that those con-
sequences will be disastrous to tit is
tie iactalaJHty Of the constitution they
seek. Their alarm is not that slavery
shall perish-let it perish if such be the
logical order of events,-it is that the
constitution will perish. Their dread is
that this first step in disturbing the foun-
dations of the Government will not be
the last step. They have all the while
felt that in the constitution the country
had a sure anchor, and that when the
President should cast loose from that in
any essential thing-when he should re-
sort to some other law than that--the fu-
ture would become uncertain, dark and
dismal 1t is not that they have so much
less confidence in Mr.. Lincoln than in
any other man-to the arbitrary will Of
no man under heaven would they consent
for a moment to trust the dcstinies Of tho
Government.
If the President had himself believed
that there was AT absolute and overwhel-
ming necessity tor this step-that it was
positively essential to the suppression OF
the rebellion and the restoration of the
Union-we might comprehend the wis.,
uOUl Vi IL. Dul VIC uaNC IuC hlOot
bitable evidence that, certainly up to with
in ten days of the date Of the proclama-
tion he had the most serious doubts OF
the measure. Indeed, it would be diff
cult to find more eogent objections to the
expeliency Of it than he urged to the
committee Of religious fanatics OF this city
who recently visited him to urge the
adoption of it. 1t does not seem posi-
ble that ten days could have wrought SO
radical change in the Presidents con-
victions as to finally make the measure
to him one of absolute and overwhelm-
ing necessity.
We make no faactious opposition to-
| the proclamation. 1t shall not abate one
lot of effort at our hands to aid the Gov
ernment in the suppression of the rebel
/ lion. 1t must not, and we are sure it will
not, abate one jot of the efforts Of Demo-
Gratis anywhere in that behalf. There is
no safety except in the suppression OF the
rebellion. Whatever evils may arise un-
der the Government at Washington, they
will be minor to the evils of the rebellion.
and we must trust to their correction
when the rebellion shall be crushed. IN
this respect the paramount duty OF every
citizen is plain. But we do protest
against the proclamation, as we shall pro-
test against every act in disregard OF the
supremacy of the constitution, we 40
protest against it, and it is due to the
| President himself that every citizen VINO
laments it should protest against 1t un-
ooasingly. We must hold on to the Con-
stitution as tho very ark Of safety
cGgo Times.