The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-11-01

the relation shall have been suspended or
disturbed, be compensated for all losses by
acts Of the United States, including the
loss of slaves"
This We say is the gist Of the proclams.
'ion. What is it? Is it universal edict
Oh e"ancapa'iOne Certainly not. By iOf
terms 1t is expressly confined to thoss
states or districts which shall, three months
fro" the date Of it's i.su., be found IN
rebellion, the proof Of their rebellion N h.
the absence Of their representative, from
the floor Of Congress. 1t will not toncb
slavery III Maryland, Western VIRGINS.
Kentucky, Tennessee or Missouri. The
Proclamation has not been issued for the
sake Of the slave, bit has been forced upon
the Government BY the dire necessity to
which 1t has been reduced by the rebels. In
no district of country in which there is q
sembiance Of loyalty will the Proclamation
operate, and in those States and districts in
revolt, it is proposed to compensate loyal
men for the losss which they NAV suffe,
from its operation. We all know that ths
rebels are enabled to keep large armies in
the field solely because they have these
slaves behind them to supply them With
provisions, and that without them the
rebellion would long since have broken
down. We all know, too, that in the
Southern States, with few exceptions,
these slaves are the only true friends that
the Government has, and that they would
willingly give their labors, and, if need be,
their lives, in defence of the Government,
if thereby they could only secure to them.
selves freedom from their perjured aud
recreant masters. All that the proclama.
tion does is to propose, three moa,hs hence,
to recognize their right to freedom aud to
restrain the officers Of the army and navy
from repressing any of them from any
efforts which they may make for their
actual freedom. If there is any moral,
political or social wrong in this We confess
We are unable to see it. No snap judg.
mant is taken On the traitor masters. Three
modths' notice is given them of the inten-
ton of the Government, and if they desire
to avoid the operations Of the Proclamation
they can easily do SO by laying down their
arms and returning to duty and allegiance.
Ii they do no: do so, the fault is their own,
and upon their heads must rest all the
consequences.
The strange obliquity Of perception
which impel men to denounce this act of
the President whilst they profess to sustain
all iis other acts, would 10 amusing were
it not sad evidence that the disease of ''nig-
ger Oh the brain is proving fatal to their
mental powers. BY the Constitution no {
man can be deprived of life, liberty or
property without due process of law and
trial by jury; and yet, without giving
them trial, the President has sent bis
armies to slaughter these rebels by thous-
apds; to lombard and burn their towns;
20 seize, appropriate and destroy their
property to capture aad convey them to
distant prisons and to keep them incarcers-
ted for months, and these F." Union men,"
par excellence, say they have stood by,
approved and applarded /; yet now that the
President proposes to extend to the negro
the right which he would guarantee to .
horse or a mule-the privilege of escaping
FROM the service Of the rebel owner or mas.
ter, see with what holy horror these
exquisite patriots roll up their eyes. The
President, through his army and navy, may
take the rebels horses, bis mules, bis hogs,
his sheep; he may take his corn, bis -four.
bis cotton, his pork be may burn down
his house, lay waste his plantation. shoot
his sons, imprisoh his wife and daughters
but be must not say to bis slaves " be
freemen," own yourselves, work for your
selves, keep to yourselves the proceeds Of
your own industry, enjoy your wife and
your children without let OF hindrance
from this recreant and rebel master,-oh
no, he must not say that it is wrong! it
is Infamous it is unconstitutional J!
Now there may be patriots, very good
and earnest patriots, who hold to such doc-,p
trine as this, but We say to them-not in
anger. but In sorrow-sir, your brsins are
added you may not be aware Of the fact,
but you are fool, an idiot.
To all true men We would say this Procla-
nation of the President is aBo:ber evidence
of the fact that be is still deserving OF your
confidence and support. 10 it be has not
met the demands Of the radical elements Of
the party which placed him in power, BY
proclaiming universal freedom. He has
reached this point BY slow steps aud de-