Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-24
The President,a Proclamation.


uments that ever came from the executive de-
partment of this republic. 1t begins the end
of the rebellion by establishing a war policy
in regard to the cause OF it. The president
declares now, as heretofore, that his aim is to
crush the rebellion and save the republics
and, feeling that the time has come to strike
at the principal cause and support of the re-
bellion, he issues carefully prepared declara-
ton of the policy that will hereafter be pur-
sued by the government, in order to defeat
treason and save the Union.
The presidents aim is to exterminate slave
slave states,-Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland,
Delaware, and Western Virginia, -where the
war power of the government can not be used
against the institution, he will continue to
urge the policy of emancipation with compen-
sation from the general government He
will again present this matter at the next ses-
sion of congress, and all his influence will be
employed to induce those states to accept his
proposition.
He will from this time strictly enforce the
acts of congress, forbiddiug the army to be
used for catching and returning runaway
slaves, providing that no fugitive slave shall
be returned to disloyal owners by any author
bodybuilding army officers to decide wheth-
er claimed fugitive slave does or does not
belong to a rebel,-and setting free by confs-
cation all the slaves of rebels that come with
in reach of our armies. These acts of con-
gress alone, rigidly executed, will set free
seven-eighths of the slaves in every rebel
state occupied by our troops, and they will of
course be executed wherever our armies may
occupy rebel territory.
In addition to all this, the president pro-
claims and orders that on and after the first
day Of January next slavery shall be abolish
ed in every state that may at that time be in
rebellion against the government At that time
he will designate by proclamation, the states
and parts of states in which slavery is to be
abolished; and then, in all such states, ac-
cording to the terms of his proclamation, "all
persons held as slaves within any state, or
any designated part of state, the people
whereof shall be in rebellion against the United
States, shall BE THENCEFoRwARD AND FOR
EVER FREE, and the executive government
OF the United States, including the military
and naval authority thereof, will recog-
nize and maintain the freedom of such
persons, and will do no act or acts to repress
such persons. or any of them, in any efforts
they may make for their actual freedom"
This ic +ha cf 10 H.,
slavery question, the policy which he finds
necessary to make successful his efforts to
crush the rebellion. He proclaims it boldly,
and no one who knows him, or has studied his
character carefully, will doubt for a moment
that this great act of his administration has
been done with elaboration and sincerity.
We all know that his action has been deliber-
ate; and no man acquainted with him has yet
whispered doubt of his honesty. We know,
too, how deeply he has felt the responsibilities
of his position, and how earnestly he has de-
sired to do what is best for the nation. After
studying the whole situation carefully. and
listening to all that could be said for and
against the policy now declared, he has de-
L
wisdom and necessity of this decision can not
be questioned successfully. The loyal people
of the country will sustain him with brighten
ed hope, feeling that this proclamation against
slavery begins a higher life for the nation,
and gives assurance that the rebellion shall be
destroyed beyond the possibility of resurrec.
ton.
Ihe New York Journal of Commerce says
very truly that Zone effect of this proclama-
ton will be to make it necessary for the lines
to be drawn distinctly between the supporters
and the opponents of the administration"
Now let us see who will support the president;
and also who is more in earnest to save slavery
thanto save the country The policy of the gov
ernment in regard to slavery and the rebellion
is fully declared. We know what it is, and
must take sides and those men in the LOYAL
states, who will not support the government
unless it upholds slavery, must now reveal
themselves. Until now these men have
sought diligently to raise an issue between
the president and those of his most loyal sup
porters who have favored the policy he now
proclaims. They can no longer pursue this
method of aiding and abetting treason; and if
they can still hope to organize party in the
loyal states to undertake negotiations of
peace" with the rebel leaders, and form an
alliance with them to crush anti-slavery men.
they must change their method and attack
the government itself.
This declaration of the presidents policy
will be hailed with JOY by all truly loyal men.
1t removes all doubt. There is no longer anv
occasion for Improbable discussions among
them In regard to what the president will or
should do with reference to slavery. 1t has
been their purpose to support the govern
ment, without faltering, in its warfare
against treason, whether their sugges-
tons were favored or not. They are
unconditional Union men. who, while diff
fering perhaps in their estimates of the best
policy to be pursued, have unitedly adhered to
the president with mistaken confidence in his
honesty and patriotism. 1t will no longer be
possible to foment discussions among them,
Tor they will unitedly support the government
and its declared policy against all its ADVERSE
Tes.
The Ninth DIsrRIcr.-The republican
congressional convention of the new ninth
district embracing the northern towns of
Worcester county and Franklin and Uan,u-