North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-10-01
from the National Intelligencer.1

Federal authority.
[From the National Intelligencer1
With our well-known and oft repeated
views respecting the inutility of such procla
nations, it can hardly be necessary for US to
say that, where we expect no good, we shall
be only too happy to find that no harm has
been done by the present declaration Of the
Executive.
This new proclamation with regard to the
contingent emancipation of slaves in the in
insurgent States not being self enforcing any
more than the proclamation Of General Hun
ter in regard to the Immediate emancipation
of slaves in the States of South Carolina, Geo
rgia, and Florida, the only difference between
the TWO papers resides in the signatures re-
spectlvely attached to them. And as, in
themselves considered they are likely to
prove equally void of practical effect, we are
not without the suspicion that the President
has taken this method to convince the only
class of persons likely to be pleased with this
proclamation, Of the utter fallacy Of the hopes
they have founded upon it,
This opinion, we may add, derives confirm
alton from the fact that he suspends for some
months the enforcement of so much of his dec
laration as denounces the emancipation of
slaves in punishment for contumacy on the
part Of the insurgent States, while he gives
immediate force and effect, so far as force and
effect result from proclamations to the regu-
lations prescribed by the new article Of war
and the provisions Of the confscation act in
the matter of slaves. On any other theory
than this the proclamation may be said to
open issues too tremendous, and to be franght
withSconsequences too undveloped, to admit
of calculation or forecast by any intelligence
we can command.
From the New York World.
This new proclamation really amounts to
little. The President proclalms, in substance
that on the first of next January he will issue
still another proclamation, putting in force the
main provisions of the confscation act. 1t is
unbecoming the dignity Of great Govern
ment to make such menaccs as to what it will
hereafter do in territory Of which powerful
armed foe disputes the jurisdiction. If, on
the first Of next January, the war is substan-
TALLY ended, there would be some reason in
giving the insurgents their election between
submission and civil penalties. But they
can confront us with great armies. That part
of the proclamation which relates to slaves
coming within our lines is particularly weak.
The law is the same that it was several
months ago. If proclamation On this point
is necessary, why was it so long delayed g
Its issue at this late day looks like confess
ion to the radical clamor.
[From the New York Herald
The gravity of this proclamation will strike
every one. 1t hastbeen forced upon the ma
ton by the Aboltionists Of the North and the
secessionists of the South. 1t inaugurates an
overwhelming revolution in the system of la
Dor in vast and important agricultural Sec
tion of the country, which WILL if the rebels
persist in their course, suddenly emancipate
three or four millions of human beings, and
throw them, in the fullness Of their help
lessness and ignorance, upon their own
resources and the wisdom of the white race
to properly regulate and care for them in their
new condition of life. But the Importance of
this crest social revolution will not be con-
fined to the section where the black race now
forms the chief laboring element. 1t will have
an influence on the labor of the North and
Wnst Ii will To a cart nin axtant hr,nn fha