Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-10-09
RECEPTION OF THE PR0CLAMA-
TION.

A sufficient time has elapsed since the
proclamation Of emancipation was issued, to
afford some probable indication of its effect.
That freedom or slavery must perish, was
long before selfevident. We had no doubt
as to the final result of life and death
struggle between the two antagonistic prin-
oiples as embodied in the Union and the pro.
posed confederacy. We have all along been
utterly unable to believe that Omnipotent
Justice would permit such return of the
people to anarchy or despotism, ignorance con-
fusion and darkness as would be involved in
the triumph Of slavery over liberty; the worst
kind of oppressive aristocracy over the be st
form of free democracy. While therefore
the proclamation indicated to'us no new re-
suit of the gigantic struggle, yet it suddenly
marked and fixed the attention of the
world upon the point Of time from which the
downfall of slavery, slavery of whites as well
a. blacks, was to become the direct policy Of
the national government In this light. and
in view of the intense and conflicting senti-
ments OF different sections upon the subject,
the proclamation pointed an era in the pro.
gressive history of the nation and of the
world.
That anxiety, corresponding with the mag
nitude Of the act, should have been felt by
many loyal hearted people, as to the practi-
cal results Of the steps, was natural. This
anxiety, we rejoice to say, is gradually break
ing and clearing away before the accumulat.
ing evidence that the proclamation, besides
being inherently just, is being received gen
orally as every loyal man would wish. OF
the unanimity with which it is hailed at the
north, resulting in more hearty, enthusiast
tic and earnest support of the government
instead of the distraction predicted by many
it is hardly necessary to speak. 1t was I'M
Just to fear the northern people, despite the
traitorous Vaccinations and croakings of the
Woods, Valandiehams, Seymours, & Co.,
when freedom and their country were at
stake.
mas fallen like a thunder clap upon
the leading traitors of the South, hurting
panic and dismay among them, Is evidenced
BY the proceedings Of their Congress, the vir-
ginia Legislature, &c., in relation to it. As
sassinations, black flags, and all sorts of dia-
bolisms are the frantic propositions with which
it is met. All this is merely evidence that the
proclamation is the most disastrous blow that
has fallen upon our enemies, and none are
more sensible Of the fact than they. OF the
rebel cry that it is contrary to the laws Of
warfare it is only necessary to say, that it is
the right and duty Of the government to en-
ploy all means to weaken the enemy, as well
by destroying his industrial sources of sup
plies, and detach,ng from him those who are
willing TO come to our assistance, as in
slaughtering him with sword and bullet
The reception of the proclamation by the
southern traitors, then, is one of the most
convincing proofs of its wisdom, foresight and
weight, as a war measure.
But what We particularly designed to cali
the attention of our readers to. is such lew
extracts as we can make room for, tending
to show how the proclamation has been re-
oeived in the border states, where the most
disastrous effects, in alternating the feelings
Of their citizens, we're feared by many. In
Kentucky, IS We stated some days ago, the
proclamation was not at first well received by
the Louisville Journal, and others. 1t is
gratifying to notice that the tone of that
paper, in it, second sober thoughts upon the
subject, is softening and gradually improving;
and We have no doubt the majority of the
Kentuckans will soon, if they do not already,
appreciate the necessity of the proclamation
~ war measure, as we'll as its generous
proders to them Of compensation for their
slaves. It is, a We have SAID, only CUES.
tion OF compensation to them, for slavery Is
doomed to be swept from their soil by the
bosom of destructive war, proclamation or
no proclamation. That under such circum-
stances, the proposed compensation to all
who are loyal is all they could ask from .
generous government; and that it is their
interest, therefore, to favor the proclamation
which prouises such compensation, We conf.
deotly believe they will realize. There, as
we'll as in other states, one Of the good effects
Of the Presidents act, is to separate the loyal
from the dBloyal, the wheat from the chat.
No moro dsllying, no more neutrality" no
moro riding the fence, but an open, bold
- against the government on the