St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1862-05-29
Gen. Hunters Proclamation.

INTO the doctrine that 1.-The king can do no
wrong" We are getting to assume that
"the Prefident" must be right. So, while
the loyal press Of the country, universally
applaud the signing Of the bill for abolish
iuy .lavery in the District of Columbia on
account Of ito anti-Slavery tendency, they
are almost equally ready to applaud the
resembling Of Hunters Proclamation as a
death blow to rebellion in his district, re-
considered and took it for granted they
must have been mistaken when the Presi-
dent vetoed the measure. Now, those
who were most clamorous for leaving this
question to the commanders IN the field,
and who, on this ground justify the Presi.
drst in not interfering with Halleck's in
fAu'ous order, are ready to coincide with
his interference with Hunters arrange
ments. Whatever the President does
must be right, is the doctrine of the
hour Hallsck's order to exclude all re-
reliable information, Of the movements of
the enemy, from his lines has already caus-
cd the murder Of thousands of our brave
men, and keeps tho army of Corinth to-
dry totally in the dark, and divided by
conflicting rumors and counscls but who
blamcs Mr.. Lincoln for not resembling it?
Gen Hunter is completely removed from
the reach Of aid, in the very heart of the
enemy's country, without men enough to
defend himself against a vigorous attxck.
The rickly season is approaching. His
soldiers are not able to bear heavy labor
in that climate. Ills predecessor played
out the game Of coa1ing white men to join
tue standard Of the Union. They would
not even read his proclamation, and now
when Gen. Hunter seeks to draw to his
aid the only Union men in his district and
70 save his army and find means to prose-
cute the war, the President forbids. Our
men must die in the bitches there, be f.
nally overcome or replaced by thousands,
and it is all right.
Now the folly Of the Presidents inter.
ference is painfully manifest to all obser.
vers,for while it will prevent Gen. hunters
resping the reward Of his proclamation, in
making tho slaves believe they are remand
ed to slavery and 50 teaching them to look
upon cur armies with distrust, it does not,
cannot, restore this property to their OWL
ers. Those slaves are certainly free, and
any Court Of Equity in the world would so
pronounce them. Gen. Hunter is Prcsi-
dent J.incoln's legal representative-his
ngent-and bis act is just a. binding as
thoagh it had been done by the President
himself A no could not take back his
own act to the injury Of third parties, so he
cannot resoind the act of his representa-
tive. If tho President has the power to
proclaim emancipation when in his judy
n,eut be may deem it necessary, every one
IT the heads of bis military divisions has
the right unless specially withheld, anc
when a commander exceeds his delegated
authority it is his principal who must bear
the consequences, not Innocent third par
lee.
That proclamation emancipatcd all tho
layes in Con. Hunters district, il there
} military power in tho United States to
n.ueipate4hen,, ana the President can
o rt!t nna, 4 ,hct. retlk loel 70 Ga !,
SIS /