New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-30
OFFICERS ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE
TYhat Should be Done with the
Emancipated Slaves.
COMMAND or NETWORK MILITARY DEPARTMENT.
General Dix Succeeds Governor Morgan.
sn.,i.l pi.rstch to Tie \. Y. Tr,bune.

Special Dispatch to The n. Y. Tribune.
WAsHiNGTOS. Mouasy, Dec. 49, 1852
THE PROCLAMATION OF FREEDOM.
qhe President has been strongly pressed to place
the Proclamation Of Freedom upon high moral
grounds and 20 introduce into the instrument uu-
eouivocal language estifying TO the negroes right
60 freedom upon the precise principles sxpounded by
the Enaucipaoxists Of both Old and New England.
THIS claim is resisted, for the reasons that policy
requires that the Proclamation be issued as a war
measure and not 8 measure Of morality; aud that
Law and 5ustice require that the slaves should be
enabled to plead the Proclamation hereafter if neces-
sarv to establish judicialy their title TO freedom.
They can Do this, the President says, on procla.
rnstion proceeding a war measure from the Com
nandsr.in-Chief Of the Army, but not on orc
issuing from the bosom Of philanthropy.
THE ANXIETY TO CAPTURE THE ALABAMA.
More than one application has been made to the
Government by merchants and ship-ownsrs in New
York and Boston for letters of marque to authorize
private pursuit snd capture Of the Alabama. They
have been refused necessarily. 1: il said tina, bill
to meet the Gaze OF this aud all other pirates will
speedily 90 through Congress ts reaSsembng.
shp-owners in New-York may coon hail the
privilege of fitting out under letters of msrqre.
THE REBEL HORsENiAN, STUART, AMUSING
HIMsEIF.
The Rebel Gen. Stuart spent last night within
mile and half Of Burkes Station, near enough to
Fort Lyon TO keep its garrison awake all night.
When last heard Of the Rebel leader was at Dranes-
Vile squirting toward Leesburg. The cutting of the
telegraph wires disabled us from correcting the
errors in the story Of Stuar,s raid az received in
quarters usually perfectly informed. II il as;onsh.
ing that so little mischief done by this cavalry
dash Of 9, 800 men, with five field pieces. Sgel
headed them with speedy vgor, aud Slocuin divided
them with swift descent from the north. The
excellence Of their horses and their complete knowl
edge Of the by-paths Of the region enabled them
cape from ths prompt movement Of our infantry.
As to the raid itself, the closing and keeping tigh,
sbut of a line 30 miles long in such a country Vr-
GINA ia an impossib;lity save with the Of cav
airy in quantities that present cavalry system
does not admit Of. Sigels men, at Dumffies, only
1900 in number, with two pieces Of artillery,
whipped Starts three brigades. The Rebels carry
back noihiugto brag Of save swift heels.
OFFICERS ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE.
Over $50 officers are absent without leave from
one grsnc division Of the army alone If this dere-
fiction I've substitute the word for "scoundr elism'
ran with uniform rankness through the other oivi-
sons of tie Army Of the Potomac, 200 would be
the total number, who in defiance Of lsU and
disregard Of shame, skulk from the enemy and
sirk duty Tue statement viii DO discTeGited, and
NAV REQUIRE cerfcaton IRON tie records Of the War
Department. But it is true. Aud Congress has been
applied TO- to relieve by special law the embaIass-
ment Of the War Department in dealing with the
nonstrous and shameful truth. The remedy to ap-
ply to the crime of colonels ceplain's or Heueu-
auts assertion from bis regiment in the face of the
enemy, simple one. It's TO shoot him. But
when it comes 10 shooting 200 officers the mder
remedy of striking their names from the Army List
is left, aud the Genera-in-Ch and War Secretary
sernly and justly adopted ii and began TO apply it.
But the business OF the War Department and Of the
Executive got an instantaneous clog from the cloud
Of applcanls Congressman and others, pleading for
the re-nssllmeni Of the dismissed officers, and prof
ferlng documentary evidence enough TO pave Penn
eylyania avenue Of their complete innocence in their
absence from their posts and OF their indispensable
necessity to the war. Hug. as was the evil Of tbs
deserion the advocacy Of the deserters became, in
an instant almost evil Of Administration utterly
unendurable and from which the Department had 10
run for refuge TO Congress. How mildly Democ-
racy Furnishes the highest military crimes! Tie BIZ
before the Senate only forfeits the allowances and
emoluments of officers absent without leave from
their duties 10 time Of war, for more than thirty
daysthat u.s. it cuts off about half of their pay and
solves the problem how to get on half pay in Amer
Sea, during 8 time Of war; Getcommissioned, desert,
.skulk for thirty days and your name is inscribed
on the list and your suck at tie Treasury Is lawful
and tranquil, though il be cowardly scoundrelly,
s'rAPF-OFFIcE SEEKING.
The pursuit after s.sf.oflicers, not on staiIs, to
crafty the troublesome curiosity Of the Serate,
would lead if persisted in, to Europe in The case OF
captain, who is probably spending in the cafe Of
the Provincial Brothers, the money he was supposed
to be earning monthly Oh the Rappahannock-ha
led TO a law Office in Cincinnati and discovered all
other captain in full practice at the bar Of that city
and in the fu practice VI dra ing his pay every
thirty days 1t would 10 mild punishment of this
warrior 70 change bis name by act Of Congress- and
have him known hereafter at the bar and in the
army as Sally Brass.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE EMANCl-
PATLD SLAVES.
very clearly defined and strong opinion is re-
csiNng shape here, tina, it is the duty Of the Gov
eminent 70 follow the Proclamation Of Freedom on
the lst Of January, instantly with military or