The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-05-28
The Presidents Prnelamatinn

The PfeSldenIS PROCLAMATION.
We must respectfully beg leave TO doubt
whether the Presidents proclamation will
have the effect of aIIaying the excitement
and apprehension produced by General
Hunters order debating the slaves forever
free y The States of South Carolina, Geor-
gia, and Florida. The proclamation does
not say that the Government has no power
to interfere with the domestic institutions
of the States, or that the President may not
in certain contingencies attempt 10 exercise
such power; 1t merely says that General
Hunter was not authorized TO isl Athe or
der he did and the Government nd no in
| timation OF his intention 20 issue such an
| order. This is the extent OF The Presidents
disclaimer Whether il is competent for
HIM as COMMANDMENT Chief of The army
and navy TO exercise such supposed power
as means OF preserving the Government,
| is a question which the President reserves
to himself He clearly intima,es that ii is
an open question TO be decided as he NAV
see fit and the exigencies of the country
may demand
| The fatal blunder of the administration
is TO leave this an open question II should
have been decided year ago. Every day
! that il remains undecided is day lost 10
/ the country. Such iEdecision is unbecom.
! ing 10 use the very mildesi term, in an ad-
! ministratlon entrusted with the control Of
! governmental affairs a: the most moment
| Gus period of our career as nation. De.
cision, firmness, promplness, a settled and
uny'e'ding policy, is necessary in this cri-
sis; not vascillaiing course, which invites
the assaults of faction and stimulates the
enthusiasm of theory propaganjists; not
hand-to- mouth policy, living from day 10
day upon expedients a helpless drifting
upon the tide of circumstances
When the President OF the United States
tells The people in an official proclamation
intended TO be known and read by all men.
that he holds in reservation the question
whether he shall al some future day employ
the army in destroying the domestic insti-
tulions OF the rehellous States, he inlimaies
that he may possibly undertake TO do what
he has no constitutional power 20 perform
We do not wish to misrepresent his posi-
ton, but we put the question 10 every un-
prejndiced mind whether this is not pre-.
ciseiy The 2urPort of his proclamation
What The President of the United States
undecided as to whether he possesses or
viii undertake to exercise the power of
abolishing slavery 10 the States Does any
man not a fanaticai Abolnionist seriously
believe that the President has the Consiitu-
tionsl power TO decree The emancipation OF
the blacks z Where is the clause in the
Constitution that conIers this power p
Where the passage that by the most re-.
mote implication invites il So so long as
the rebellious States are recognized as be-
longing TO the Union [and this is the theory
upon which the war has been conduc,edl
they are subject to The constitution and en-.
titled TO all The rights guaranteed by the
constitution. Moreover as our government
is one of limited powers, and those powers
are specific in the fundamental law, it cam
rot transcend or overstep The limits pre-
scribed by the Constitution.
The President refers TO the re- olution
adopted by Congress al his suggestion,
pledgiug the United STATES to give pecuni-
ary aid 10 any State which may adopt a
gradual aboishmen; OF slavery, for what
purpose we do not see without il is 10 warn
the Southern States that if they do no, close
with ilis offer, emancipation without com
peusation may be enforced. This par: of
the proc amation has no connection with
/ what precedes 1t, unless II Is meant as an
intimat;on that in case voluntary emancipa-
tion is not acceded 10, involuntary emanci>
patton may be enforced as military neces
siiy. The meaning, however, is not clear,
notwithstanding the President deems il ne.
cessary 10 declare with The utmost solemn
iy-' /: acts not The Pharisee"-as if the
suspicion haunted his mind that the resolu-
tion of Congress was open 10 that charge.
In fine the proclamation leaves the ques
ton jus, where it found it. I. is thoroughly
non commiital, leaving every other point
in darkness except the single one, that Gen.
Hunter was not authorized 10 issue an or
der freeing the slaves in the States OF South
Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
The Old Union against the New.
The Ah0I;tiopis4s ernH The idaa If he