Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-23
WHOLESALE EMANCIPATION.

] from 1oft hOyal, arrived az New 1Ork, WIN
nearly 1000 bags Of unginued cotton for the
government, The only news Of Importance
is the proclamation of Major Hunter,
abolshing slavery in the states Of Georgia,
Florida and South Carolina, which comprise
the department Of which he is the military
commander 1t is as follows:
"HEADauARrERs DErARrNENr OF TIM sorrH.
HIlruN HEAD, S. G., May, 9, 1852. I
"0EsBRAL ORDER NO. n.
"Thc three states of Georgia. Florida, and South
Carolina, comprising the Military Department Of the
South, having deliberately declared themselves longer
under the protection Of The United States of America,
and having taken up against the said United Sacs
it becomes military necessity declare them under
martial las This accordingly done the 25th day
q April 1902 Sauerv and marital iato in a free eour
trg arc altogether incompatible The person. IN these
Mree states. Georgia Florida ard South Carolina here
totore held drcs, therefore declared orertr free.
Official "DANtD HUNTER,
Major General Commanding.
"kD. W SMITH, Acting Assistant Ad dutant- General"
Gen. Hunter has but very recently been APP
pointed to the command of this new depart
ment, which appeared to have been created
from the changed aspect Of affairs in that sec
ton, and the pressing necessity Of placing it
under an independent command. This proc
lamauon, therefore, assumes the more impor-
tance from the fact of its having been issued
so soon after receiving his instructions from
the President; and one naturally inquiries
whether Gen. Hunter has authority from the
War Department or from President Lincoln
/ to take so important step, and initiate in his
department a wholesale and indiscriminate
emancipation poicy,-for it will be seen that
there is no discrimination between the slaves
Of loyal men and rebels every slave within
his department is declared forever free. -
If it is done in accordance with instructions
from higher authority, we cannot understand
the message of President Lincoln recommend
ing compensated emancipation wherever the
States heDlselUss shall take the initiatory steps,
neither can we understand his message giving
his reasons for signing the bill abolishing sla-
very in the District of Columbia. Gen. Fre-
mont was required to modify his proclamation
in Missouri; Secretary Cameron's report Of
the War Department was altered at the sug-
Reston of the President; and the administra-
tion has pursued an entirely different policy
from that indicated by this proclamation of
Gen. Hunter We cannot, therefore, believe
that it has the sanction of the administration.
but that like the proclamation Of Gen. Phelps
on reaching Ship Island, it will fall dead from
the hand that has issued it, or that either the
proclamation or Gen. Hunter, one or both,
will be recalled.
| The assertion--and it is nothing more than
an assertion, that "slavery and martial law
in free country are altogether incompatible,
is completely refuted by the practice of the
administration in other military departments.
The State of Maryland is under martial law,
and yet slavery exists there. The District Of
Columbia has been, and still is, under martial
law, and yet slavery existed there until an act
was passed by Congress abolishing it, and
providing compensation for the slaves liberia
ted. The foundation on which Gen. Hunter
bases the Wholesale and indiscriminate eman-
cipation in his department is, therefore, fall
lacjous and his proclamation, based on such
false assumption, is simply nullity 1t ex-
tends over territory where the Union army
has not yet set foot, and where he has no def
mite knowledge as to the loyalty or disloyal-
ty Of the people.
We can but think that Gen. Hunter would
have manifested greater wisdom in following
the examples of Gen. Burnside in North Car
olina, Gen. Johnson in Tennessee, and still
other Generals in other places, and left to the
National Government the administration Of
the civil laws. His duties as military COM
mauder of the Southern Department required
no such interference with the civil auihor-
ties, and we cannot believe that this act will
meet the approval of the President or of
Congress. President Lincoln has ever mani
tested his determination to deal with slavery
in cautious and prudent manner, and with
proper regard to all .he interests involved
and in this he is receiving the cordial approval
Of the whole country. If Gen. Hunter had
left it to him to take the initiatory steps in
relation to slavery in his department, he would
have manifested more wisdom, and we think,
reached the desired end much sooner and
with less of complication than in the manner
he has attempted.
Dispatches from Washington state that
the President has expressed the utmost dis
satisfaction with the course of Gen. Hunter,
and that he will be Immediately recalled and
his proclamation ignorsd. We hope this is
true for, if sustained in so extraordinary
proceeding, it will only intensity the bitter
ness, already existing in those states, against
the North and against the National Govern
meat, and prolong to an uncertain issue a con-
test which now scenes so near a close. Gen.
Hunter must be the yeriest dullard to sup
pose that the President would ignore the
whole policy of his administration thus far,
and sanction measure so at varience with
the policy he has most unmistakably marked
out.
The proclamation is the more to be regret
ted, since there is large class of men, in
and out of Congress, who scruple not at the
means employed, If so be slavery can be abol-
lished. Such men will Of course approve
Gen. Hunter, and create division in tho
North against the Administration Gen.
II,,tos ,,ust l.,a l,en f,llv .waro ~ fh;.