Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-05-31
SATURDAY, MAY 81, 1862
The Proclamation of Gen. Hunter.

A late telegraph dispatch brings us the
intelligence that General Hunter who is in
command Of the Military Department COM
posed of the States of Georgia, South Carroll
ma and Florida, has declared martial law over
that district. 1t is a4,rinciple recognized by
all civilized nations that martial law suspends
the operation Of civil law; but before the
martial law can become operative, the act
proclaiming it must receive the official sane
ton Of the President, who is Commander-in-
Chief of our army and navy. If he should
sanction the action of his subordinate, Gen.
Hunter, slavery will be virtually abolished
in that district, and it will be a notice to the
slaves that they are no longer subject to the
control of their former masters, but are at full
liberty, hereafter, "to pursue their own hap
piness in their own way" subject only to the
laws and regulations established by the au-
thority Of the Military Commandant in con-
formity to the Constitution ana laws of the
United States. Capt Rufus Saxton has been
appointed Military Governor Of South Carroll
ma. It will not be denied that the people of
those States forfeited ali claim to the protec-
tion Of tho Constitution and laws Of Govern
ment, the moment they rebelled against its
authority. They voluntarily and Of their own
fres will and choice staked the interests of
slavery, and every other interest dependent
upon constitutional law, both general and To-
cal, upon their ability to make good their dec
laratisn Of Independence by an appeal to ply
sical force. with the certain knowledge that
If they failed they would lose all. and be SUBJ
ject to the pains and penalties imposed by the
Constitution and Laws Of the Government.
whose authority they had so recklessly set at
defiance.
They have most signally failed to retain
possession Of their territory. Our victorious
armies having obtained possession Of the most
important points. find themselves compelled
to submit to rebel authority or establish gov
ss.neat that shall recognize the Constitution
and Laws Il the United States. General
Hunter assumed the responsibility and pro-
claimed that slavery had ceased to exist. 1t
mattsred not. in his judgment. how this fact
wss made known. whether by proclamation
o. oshsewisa. All be desmed necessary in the
cass was to give pablo notice Of the estab-
lishment Of . military government. The
slaves would have been free without any
pahlic proclamation Of the fact, and he
asds il that they might kAov that they
wsss under 10 moral Or lsgal obligation. to
obey their rebel masters, and to continue their
war upos the government.
The Cea(edsgate States made war upon
thsir GoveEnmsnGlo secure advantages to the
instjtitiea At slavery. not secured to it by the
Constitution and Laws Of the United States,
and which they eouh not obtain by adhenng
to ths Usioa. Thy voluntarily chose to
staks its vssy existenos on the success Of
thsir aazuegls - ssaablsh an independent
Government. II they fsil they will no doubt
expect TO sa4sr the consequences Of their
Nsassa. They ass not 20 unreasonable a. to
expect oar army to protect them in the enjoy.
ment a their dave property which constitutes
Id greatest element Of strength in prosecu-
tn their war against the government.
Until quito recently We have been treating