Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-09-18

2nd, Contiscation of the slaves of rebels
measure which could not have become law
without the sanction of the President. In
addition 10 these may be mentioned the ab-
clifton of slavery in the territory under fed
eral control District of Columbia, &c. and
the conservation of all territories of the United
States to freedom forever.
Slavery committed suicide when it insti-
tuted this rebellion. A healthy, substantial,
constitutional and withal, rapid progress is
being made towards the overthrow of the in.
stitution, with which every anti-slavery man
should be atisfied.
Few, We think, will disagree with our cor
respondent that Z" it s our right and duty as
citizens to call our public me to a strict
judgment at the bar Of public opinion" In
exercising this right, however, we must watch
that We do not drift into the easy but danger
Gus current that will carryus into the stormy,
trackless sea OF passionate preju dices and nm
founded opinions. In other words, facts
should be carefully sifted out as the basis of
our criticisms, and all sides comprehendel in
our judgments.
For example: " saysa correspondent from
the field Eve quote from the above letter.
there was Encouragement everywhere, be-
cause at headquarters there was inconpeten-
cy, confusion, no settled plans, no head p
Such sweeping assertions We find often enough
in newspaper correspondence; but it would
be difficult to imagine anything less stable
and substantial upon which alone to build
Just judgment. We are not yet convinced
that the army OF Gen. Pope did not accom-
plish all that was or could have been rea-
sonably expected, in holding the greatly su-
perior forces of the rebels at bay until the
withdrawal of McClellan's army from the
Peninsula, and the lodgment of all our forces
in the entrenchments at Washington, to
await reinforcemeAts from the new levles,
were safely effected. However this may be,
tits poor foundation on which to rear
charges of " incompetence, confusion, no
settled plans, no head,'-this sweeping alle-
CATION of sensation newspaper correspond
ent.
Much has been said about the return Of
fugitive slaves by pro-slavery officers. The
number of such cases has been, doubtless,
exagerated. The N. Y. Times says upon this
point:
at is a curious fact, and not at all ex
planned by the alleged pro,slavery senti
ments of our Generals in the field. Thousand:
of the slaves dare to run a,cay and reach our
lines, although assured by their Southern
masters that they will be taken by the Yam
KEGS and sold to Cuba. Thousands of them
, have reached our lines and been protected
and probably not score, all told, were ever
allowed by Union Generals to be taken back
, to slavery"
. 1t is contrary to military regulations fo
an officer to return fugitive, and in some
+ cases, at least, we know that where it ha
occurred the arrest of the officer has prompt
e ly followed. The return of fugitive slaves
q by federal officers to rebel masters, can hardl.
y be charged upon the administration as par
of its policy; or to want of policy on it
i part.
q The administration is openly upon the sid
n of emancipation the rebels know it :; thei
. slaves know it so far as the knowledge coul
now be carried TO them; and emancipatio
by confscaton will follow as fast as we ca
penetrate the southern States, and execu
the laws of the land therein. Where is Il
III want of purpose, of which complaint is made
Y We have no space to pursue the subje'
further. 1t is extremely easy to fall into th
1t popular channel OF indiscriminate and unre
e. fecting criticism of all men and all thing
III but much more difficult for the critics then
II selves to propose practicable and distin
/ methods of mending matters.
'h That our cause has not been as successt
u as we wish, is true but it is not lJust
d cast the.blame of all upon imbecility in Il
IL administration We believe the governmel
ne is now fully awake to the exigencies OF t
su hour, and is putting forth its energies to cru
'i' the rebellion. 1t is our duty to assist al
al snstain it. And in regard TO the past we ca
49, not do better than to quote the words of t
~ Philadelphia Press:
OF sIf Mr. Lincoln did not see that the reb,
lion would assume its present proportions,
ID was because such an anticipation was impo
rr sible. The Southern conspirators and the
- Northern allies had sown the wind-t
on whirlwlnd was the harvest which attend
,li- the new administration. Journals as sag
IN. cious as the New York Tribune confident
looked upon the army of Mcdowell as ben
large enough to advance npon Richmond
On. fore Bull Run, and when the New 70