The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-05-23
A Bold Strike-FOur Million Slaves Lib
Grated.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT
OF THE SOUTH,

OF THE SOUTH,
Hilton Head, S. c., May 9, 1862.
The three states of Georgia. Florida and
South Carolina, comprising the military de-
partment of the South, having deliberately
declared themselves no longer under the pro-
lection of the United States, it became mil
ltary necessity to declare martial law. This
was accordingly done on the 25th day of
April, 1862. Slavery and martial law, in a
tree country, are altogether Incompatible
The persons in these three states, Georgia,
Florida and South Carolina, heretofore held
as slaves, are therefore declared forever free.
DAVID HUNTER, Maj. Gen. Commanding.
Ed. W. SMITH, Acting Asst. Adjt Gen.
The above was the startling news of Sat
urday; and in fact it was the news talked a.
bout for a number of days.
Gen Hunter is commander of the depart
ment of the South, so called, which embraces
the states of Georgia, Florida and South Car
DINA. Gen H. has always been known as
a moderate man, of conservative tendencies.
Born in the District of Columbia, and educa-
ted at West Point, he was Lever accused of
abolition proclivities. He was in Missouri
under Fremont when the proclamation of
the latter was so modified by the president,
and is of course aware of the stand taken by
the administration in that matter. If we may
Judge by his past course on important ques-
tons, he does not act hastily, and keeps his
own counsel. Yet this appears to be hasty
and unauthorized measure; for President
Lincoln has issued proclamation which en-.
tirely upsets Gen Hunters plan for the eman-
cipation of all those slaves. And not only
does the president override Gen Hunter in
this particular instance, but he emphatcally
puts stop to all such freaks of his generals
in the future. This, it will be remembered
is the third attempt to commit the admins
tration to direct emancipation, beginning with
Gen Fremont's proclamation in Missouri,an
closing with that of Gen Hunter, copied a.
bove. The president declares that he rese,res
to himself alone the right to determine wheth.
er he can constitutionally resort to such q
measure. However much We may wish the
slaves of the South emancipated, we must ac
knowledge that this is right, and approve of
the presidents frmness, consistency and pru.
dent policy. The following is his proclama
tom
By the president of the United States a
proclamation: Whereas there appears in the
public prints what purports to be procama
ton from Major General Hunter, in the word,
and figures following, to wit: Here follow,
Gen Hunters proclamation as given above.
And whereas the same is producing som.
excitement and misunderstanding, therefore
|. Abraham Lincoln, president OF the United
States, proclaim and declare that the govern
ment Of the Unite d States had no know ledge
or belief of an intention on the part of Gen
Hunter to issue such proclamation, nor has
it yet any authentic information that the doc
ument is genuine; and further that neither
Gen Hunter nor any other commander OF
person has been authorized BY the govern
ment of the United States to make proclama
ton declaring the slaves Of any state free
and that the supposed proclamation now ir
question, whether genuine or false, is alto
gether void, so far as respects such dec!ara
ton. further make known that whether i
be competent for me as commander-in-ch
of the army and navy to declare the slaves O
any state or states free, and whether at an,
time or in any case it shall have become
necessity indispensable to the maintenance,
of the government to exercise such suppose,
power, are questions which under my respon
sibility reserve to myself and which | can
not feel justified in leaving to the decision O
commanders in the field These are totalI
different questions from those of police regu
lations in armies and camps. On the SIKH
of March last, by special message, recon-
mended the adoption of joint resolution, t,
be substantially as follows:
Resolved, That the United States ought t
cooperate with any state which may adop
: gradual adjustment of slavery, giving I
' such state in its discretion to compensate 70
the Inconvenience, public and private, pre-
duced by such change Of system.
j The resolution in tie language above QUO
= ted, was adopted by large majorities in bot
branches of Congress, and now stands an au
s thentic, definite and solemn propose! of tn
nation. to the states and people most immt
diately interested in the subject matter. I
!. the people of these states | row earnestl
appeal. | do not argue. | beseech you t
make the arguments for yourselves. 70
J. Garnet, if you would, be blind to the signs {
n the times. / beg of YOU a calm and enlarge
e consideration of them, ranging if it may b,
o far above personal and partisan politics.
' This proposal makes common cause for
t common object, casting no reproaches upo
It any. 1t acts not the Pharisee. The chang
It it contemplates would come gently as tn
dews of heaven, not rending or wrecking ar
ything. Will you not embrace it? So niue
good has not been done by one effort in a
Il past time as in the providence of God it
e now your high privilege to do. May tn
J. vast future not have to lament that you hay
). neglected it.
In witness whereof have hereunto set m
Is hand,and caused the seal of the United State
e to be affixed. Done at the City of Washing
Al ton, this nineteenth day of May, in the yea
!. of our Lord one thousand eight hundred an
sixty-two, and of the independence of tn
% United States the eightysixth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
d BY the president,
n VIM. H. Seward, secretary of state.
- SHOCKING BARBARITY.-Read what N
Raymond of the New York Times saws abol