The national Republican., 1862-10-01
rt,E PROCLAMATION.

That on the erst day Of January, in the year
Of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
sixtv.three, all persons held AS slaves wltnln
any state, or designated part OF state, the
people whereof shall thea be IN reoelion
against tho United States, shall be then, thonCe.
forward, aud forever free; and the Executive
Government of the United States, including the
military and naval authority thereof will re-
cognile and maintain the freedom OF such per.
scus, and will do no act or acts to repress such
persons or any CT them. in any efforts they
may make for their actual freedom
The above portion OF the Presidents proc
lamation has occasonrd a good deal of dis
cussop particularly in this city
II has bceu asked, by what authority does the
President do this thing that there Ia no law ol
Coogrea1 for 1t, ani no warrant in the Conali
tuition which allows or authorizes II,
So. indeed, II is said, with sort Of triumph
ant air, by certain parties, and they march away
from you, alter saying thus much, rs though
they had the argument, and that no more could
be said.
Let us examine, for few moments, the
grounds for this part Of the proclamation, and
Try to ascertain the solid authority and neces
sity for it.
There is a mode Of argument n nlDunirequent
iy rescrled TO, which IL the answering Of one
question by asking another We will inquire
therefore, by what authority We shoot down
rebels on the battle field, take from them their
property OF different kinds, such as stores
horses mules wagons, etc, etc. Does not the
Constitution provide that mo man shall be
deprived Of his life, liberty, or property, with
ont due process oi law %" HnT, then, can the
Government deprive any man Of his life. aud
any species OF property, without due process o
law and by wha, process OF law Is the rebel
shot
These ohlector-, or many of them al least
| see nothing wrong, nothing unconstitutional in
taking the life OF JEFF. Davis, and all who agree
| with him throughout rebeldom, or all who may
be found in aims against the United States, aud
all who aid and abet those 10 arms. That these
persons should be made 10 suffer in their per
sons and property, and that those of them or
| the battlefield shonld ha killed is clearly O
matter Of light. Nothing unconstitutional il
that
Shoot down the rebels on the battle field
| catch Jth. Davih and any OF his leading con
| spiraiors, If you can, and hang them; condscatt
| their houses, lands, merchandise, aud cotton
etc but don't tree their negroes The former
is constitutional and perfectly proper but ths
| latler ,s clearly unconstitutional aud improper
| This is the upsh Il of the reasoning OF some
parties who inquire for the grounds Of the
| above declaration OF the President
II there i3 war necessity for doing any q
thesa acts 10 check aud put down the rebellion
there is q necessity for doing all them. The
| one Is as clearly constitutional as the other.
We would ask th' se sticklers for the consli-
tutionality and perpetuty Of slavery, wha,
there is abont that institution 80 much more
sacred than life itself? We always supposed
| that the gceater included the less II to sup
port, mantain, and defend the Government
we may take life, We certainly may take The
mere inciaeninls and appendages OF life
W. understand this part Of The President
proclamation 10 rest upon ths nc cesa;ies Of The
war The rebellion nusL be put down and
what OF life and of property stands iRihs way
II nir ecnoumna .tion "davontiy to br
wished must give way, Herein lies the con,
stitutionality Of every part Of the President
proclamation, Slavery the bulwark of the re
bellon. Therefore, slavery must go down.
We would in this connection, call atten.
tion to synopsis OF the proclamation on the
| al 10 Of tn, ,GaN mil L.
veDient for reference.