The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-12-12
The Presidents Message and the
Emancipation Proclamation.

It's pretended by some that the Presi-
dents Message, 50 far forth as 1t relates to
emancipation, is modification, If not an en-
tire abandonment Of the policy put forth in
the emancipation proclamation.
If then the Message is to be considered
with reference to that proclamation 1t is nee
essary to ascertain IL there is anything in the
one having reference to the other. The two
documents must be construed together.
In the emancipation proclamation the
President declares his intention to recon-
mend the adoption Of a practical measure for
the adjustment Of slavery in this language !:
''That il Is my purpose upon the next meet
ing OF Congress TO again recommend the adop-
ton Of q practical measure, rendering primary
aid and the free acceptance or rejection Of all
the slave States 50 called, the people whereof
may not then be In rebellion against the United
States, which States may voluntarily adopt i'm
mediate or gradual adjustment Of slavery
within their respective limits. and that the eff
fort 20 colonire persons Of African descent. with
their consent, upon this continent or elsewhere,
with the previously obtained consent Of the
government existing there will be continues"
II 10 fair to suppose that the President,
when he issued the proclamation, fully un-
der.tood what practical measure" he was
about to recommend; and that il is the one
which be urges with so much zeal, and so
much evidence Of long and patient investiga-
ton. Such being The case, il seems to US
folly to suppose that the President, in issu-
ing the proclamation Of Freedom, was but
setting up man ofstraw to be knocked over
with his Annual Message.
live understand the proclamation Alright,
it, operation is confined to the slaves Of those
in rebellion, while the benefits Of the propos-
cd amendments to the Constitution inures
only to loyal owners Of slaves. One article
Of the proposed amendment is as follows:
"All slaves who shall have enjoyed actual
freedom by the chances Of the war at any time
before the end Of the rebellion. shall he forever
free, but all owners OF such who shall not have
been disloyal, shall be compensated for them
at the same rates as Is provided for States adop-
ting adjustment Of slavery. but in suee way
that no slave shall be twice accounted for"
five are not mistaken. the first day Of
January next, will disclose the fact that the
President is determined, to make the number
OF slaves who shall enjoy "actual freedom by
the chances Of the war" as large as possible.
and thus reduce the number to be paid for to
the lowest figure.
The necessity Of the case requires that
those who are to be benefited by or have any
advantages from compensated emancipation
should be loyal. They can only receive these
advantages by returning to their allegiance,
and receiving them under the Constitution.
Till they have complied with this neccss'.
~. the emancipation proclamation applies
exactly to their case. and will undoubtedly
bs firmly enforced. Any other course would
BE- allowing traitors 10 take advantages OF
their own wrong.
In this connection. one thing strikes US a.
being pertinent. 1.-THE proclamation is mere
waste paper. and can work no possible dam
age to the rebels. why is II tina, their sympa-
thizsr snatch, like a drowning man at q
straw, at everything that can afford the least
glimmer Of hope that the traitors are to be
saved from its enforcement.
The fact is, the President like most other
men, makes distinction between rebels and
ioyaiis,s. He looks upon the former class as
enemies to the Government. who are seeking
In o,srthrow. Against them. % long a,
they continue In their chosen attitude otarm-
ID rebellion. he viii use every means to vim
dicass tho supremacy Of the Constitution and
the Laws.