The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-05-22
The Presidenrs Proclamation.

We publish in another column the Proclama-
ton of President Lincoln, in reference to the
Emancipation Proclamation of Gen. Hunter
This proclamation is very moderate in its tone
and does not go to that length of condemnation
that the pro-slavery or democratic portion of
as Commander-in Chief of the Armies of the
United States, as well as President of the Re-
public, wishes to retain his own high proroga-
tive of Judging when it becomes necessary and
indispensable for the preservation Of the Gov
eminent to proclaim Freedom to the slaves
This responsibility he does not feel justified in
leaving TO the decision of commanders in the
field. He does not condemn the principle itself,
but he, probably justly, thinks that it did not
come from the right source.
The latter paragraphs of the Proelamation,in
which the President prays the shareholders to
accept and avail themselves of the aid held out
by Congress- to get rid of the institution of sla-
very themselves shows that although he is not
Just yet convinced Of the necessity of proclaim
ing emancipation, that denouement cannot
much longer be averted if the rebellion is per
sisted in. The probability is that, were Pres-
dent Lincoln placed in Gen. Hunters position,
and had the department of the South" exclu-
sively to deal with, he would much sooner be
convinced of the policy, if not the necessity, of
such an emancipation Proclamation, than he can
be in the Capitol at Washington. Nevertheless
we are satisfied with the position and the prin-
ciples of President Lincoln. He has Inaugural.
ted the system of gradual emancipation, and we
are confident that whenever the time arrives
when he believes it necessary for the main
tainanee of the Government, and the final and
complete success Of the National cause, he will
not hesitate to apply the words Of Gen. Hunters
Proclamation to all the Slave States We can
wait for that time. -1 E. sas .t. Fl
In our wish to see the principles Of Gen. Hun
ter's Order everywhere put in practice, we
do not and would not approve the idea for an
instant, of changing this war for the Union in
to war against slavery. Slavery has man
and heinous sins to answer for, but if its cup of
iniquity is not yet full, let it survive this war
and come back into the Union again. We know
in Gods appointed time, an evil of such giant
magnitude must be overcome and come to
nought: 1t seems to many that that time has
already come. The military necessity for its
total extinction, seems to many good and loyal
men, to already be present. a.
We see nothing in the Presidents Proclama
tior to Justify the obloquy and condemnation
that have been heaped upon Gen. Hunter.
Those who have abused chat loyal and able of
feer, will look in vain for the passage in this
latter proclamation, that seconds their unjust
and unwarranted attack Gen. Hunter is in
the very midst of the horrors of slavery and he
acted upon the necessities and requirements of
his own position. 1t is easy for man here at
haps, to sit and write epithets and explosives
of abuse of Gen. Hunter for taking the hydra
headed iniquity by one Of its throsts, and giving
it twist that was felt through all its tortuous
ramifcations, although he had net the power to
strange it entirely. But we would like to see
these same wYiters-so sensitive on the sub
ject of slavery that they cannot hear it spoken
of too harshly without homily-in the field
themselves, and feeling some of the horrors of
this war. We presume they would soon learn,
as many others have, to be less tender of the
accursed institution. They would come to the
conclusion, as many others have, that there are
other interests that need protection besides
those of slavery and shareholders.