The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-06-07
From the N. Y. caucasian.
GEN. HUNTER AND MIR. LINCOLN.

Gen. Hunter, the commander at Port
Royal, s.. g., has issued a proclamation,
which we copy in another column. It'll
completely eclipses Fremont in the Adolf
ton line, and as for logic, outdoes all pro-
fessors Of dialectics from Aristotle to
Whately. "Martial law" says the cru
dite Hunter, "and slavery are incompati-
bic in free country" As BRnsby would
say, eve should think they as, especially
the "martial law" We shall not argue
the question. We would as soon think
Of undertaking to prove that Hunter was
a sensible man! When the proclamation
reached Washington, it is said that all
fogydom was in an uproar, yet it was per-
fectly evident that Hunter could not "free'
a single niger before he caught him, and
it is very certain he will "free" all he can
catch without proclamation. Why, then,
the pow-wow of the CONSERVATIVES" as
they call themselves. They demanded
that the President should disavow the
Hunter document, and the occasion fur
nishing Seward capital opportunity to
indulge in one of his peculiar Sensations
the President has issued flaming procla-
nation, which sounds for all the world like
the groaning mountain that brought forth
mouse We propose to take a brief
glance at this remarkable document 1t
opens by declaring that "the government
Of the United States had no knowledge or
belief of an intention on the part Of Gen.
Hunter to issue such proclamation. 2
This sentence is not unlike the exordium
of a western judge, when he said: eff
this Court understands herself, and she
thinks she does, &C." If Mr.. Lincoln
means to say by this sentence, that "the
government of the United States" which
is the Constitution, as legally administer
ed by the Executive, Legislative and Ju-
dicial Departments, comprising, all told,
some three or four hundred agents or SER
wants of the people, had no knowledge Of
Gen. Hunters intention, we do not ques.
ton its accuracy; but he does not deny
that Gen. Hunters intention oas known
to members of the Cabinet, who, by the
way, are no part of "the government"
but simply the clerks of the Executive
Department. He announces, however,
that the Hunter proclamation is "altogeth-
er void" Well, we all knew this before.
1t is void simply because he has not the
power to enforce it.. IF Mr.. Hunter should
issue proclamation abolishing negro
"slavery" in Cuba or coolie slavery in
Jamaica and Trinidad, we would not re-
quire the President Of the United States
to tell us that it was "void." What we
have looked for in this sensation" pro-
clamation is single line implying CEN
sure on Hunter. Is he reprimanded for
disobedience of orders? No. Is he to
oe recalled? No. Is there any dissent
given to the principle which Gen. Hunter
enunciates? No. On the contrary, it is
distinctly endorsed, and Mr.. Lincoln init
mates that he may yet assume the power
to do what Hunter has attempted to do
He Preserves this to himself" to be ex-
ercised when, in his Judgment, it may be
indispensable to the maintenance of the
government" (Constitution,) that is to
say, when Mr.. Lincoln thinks it becomes
necessary to maintain the Constitution by
overthrowing it, he proposes to do that
rather astonishing feat in political presti-
digitation. But Mr.. Lincoln does not
simply refer to the Hunter proclamation,
but he E'improves the OCCASION" as ex-
horters say, to again warn and threaten the
States that do not initiate emancipation.
This part of his proclamation is in the
very worst possible taste. 1t is full of
can't and humbug, and is disgraceful to the
Chief Magistrate Of such country. It
sounds for all the world like the conclu-
sion Of Hard Shell Baptist Sermon
just see how admirably the language can
be parodied :--'Gt acts not the Pharisee--
an. The change it contemplates would
come as gently as the dews of Heaven
ah,--not rending or wrecking anything
all. Will you not embrace it--ah So
much good-ah--has not been done by one
efforts all times past-ah-as in
the providence Of God-ah--it is now
your high privilege to do--ah. May the
vast future not have to lasnent-ah- that
You have neglected it--ah! Amen-ah."
This is a perfectly fair paraphrase Of this
sniyclling document. For an administra.
ton to talk of piety and doing Gods SER
vice, which, according to the honest men
OF its own party, has stolen more money
from the United States Treasury during
one years power than it took to carry on
the entire government under the proceed
ing one, can only be accounted for on the
ground that when some people wish to
performfhe most astounding feata If roaca Is