The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-05-28
KILLING BY KINDNESS.


Never, perhaps, has the truthfuluess of
the above Bible text shone forth more
clearly, more forcibly, than in the procla-
nation of the President multiplying the
precipitate, uncalled-for, injudicious pro-
nuuciamento of Gen. Hunter, designing
at one bold stroke to free forever one
fourth of the slaves of the Confederacy,
whether belonging to Union men, those
that have ever in all the troubles and loss
es that have beset them, in the fratricidal
war that is cursing our land, adhered in
heart to the old flag revcriug the consti-
tuition, law and order; or, on the contra
ry, to those that have been and are still
labonng with zeal and perseverance
worthy the hottest cause, 10 overthrow and
destroy our noblest, most sacred blood
bought institutions.
Who sanctions the bold step taken by
Gen. Hunterl Who can think its ten
dency is to soothe the troubled waters,
calm the ruffled passions of deluded, mis-
guided men, and bring them back TO So
Der reason and duty? Who, on the con-
trary, does not see and feel that the poll
cy of the President, as set forth in an-
swer to Gen. Hunter, is eminently calm,
dignifed, conservative, and worthy his
high position, and well calculated to dis
abuse the Southern mind that this war is
embraced by the North as a God-scnd for
the emancipation of slaves.
We hail with eminent satisfaction The
policy of the President on this important
national question. 1t clearly shadows
forth spirit Of wisdom and Cancellation
that every true patriot and philanthropist
can but admire. In our opinion that one
act Of our Chief Magistrate will do more
TO heal the breach and restore amity be-
tween the North and South than any 9th
or course that could, at the present state
Of our national affairs, be adopted.
The spirit of the proclamation so com
mends itself that we publish it entire in
connection with that of Gen. Hunter:
PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, There appears in the public
prints what purports to be a proclamation
Of Major General Hunter, in the words
and figures following, TO wit;
HEADe'Ts Dept OF THE SOUTH,
Huron HEAD, May 0, 1862.
General Order, No. 1.-THE three
States of South Carolina, Georgia and
Florida, comprising the Military Depart
ment of the South, having deliberately
declared themselves no longer under the
protection of the United States of Amer
lea, and having taken up arms against the
Said United States, it became military
necessary TO declare them under martial
law. This was accordingly done on the
25th day Of April, 1862. Slavery and
martial law in a free country are altogeth.
er incompatible. The persons in these
three States-South Carolina, Georgia
and Florida-heretofor held rs slaves,
are therefore declared forever free.
DAVID HUNTER, Maj. Gen. Com.
ED. w. SMITH, Act. Adjutant Gen.
And, whereds, the same is producing
some excitement and misunderstanding,
Therefore, l, Abraham Lincoln, Pres
ident Of the United States, proclaim and
declare that the government of the Unit.
cd States, had no knowledge or belief of
an intention on the part of Gen. Hunter
to issue such proclamation, nor has it
yet any authentic information that the
document is genuine; and further, that
neither Gen. Hunter, or any other com
mander, or person has been authorized by
the government of the United States to
make proclamation declaring the slaves
of any State free, and that the supposed
proclamation now in question, whether
genuine or false, is altogether void, so far
as respects such declaration.
further make known that whether it
be competent for rue, as Commander-in-
Chief Of the Army and Navy, to declare
the slaves Of any State or States free,
and whether at any time, or in any case,
it shall have become necessity indispen-
sable to the maintenance of the govern
ment to exercise such supposed power,
are questions which, under my response
bility, reserve to myself and which l
cannot feel justified in leaving to the de-
cision of commanders in the field. These
are totally different questions from those
of police regulations in armies and camps.
On the 9th day of March last, by a
special message, recommended to Con
gress the adoption of a joint resolution,
to be substantially as follows:
Reeolved, That tho United States
ought to cooperate with any State which
may adopt agradual adjustment of slave
nv, giving mid 10 such Stale in its discre-