The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-29
The True Scope of the Presidents Procla
nation

There are two classes of persons who are no,
willing to give the Emancipation Proclamation
the praise which it really deserves, viz those
who are dissatisfied with it because it is not i'm
mediate and general, and those who are dissat-
ished with it because it assails Slavery. The
latter class are sure to find only evil in it, and
the former can see little good 1t was not to be
expected that those who love slavery for any
cause would be pleased with this movement
locking to the abolition of their fayorite insti-
tuition, but it does seem to US that every one
who sincerely desires to see this nation freed
from the debasing, demoraizing and dangerous
influences of slavery should rejoice at this ma
tlonal expression in favor of Freedom.
What is the real scope of the Proclamation ,
10 us 1t is something more than a mere menace
to the South, or mere war measure looking to
the suppression of the rebellion 1t is indeed
true that, for its legal justification, and as
against the constitutional arguments of those
who have hitherto defended the institution
from every national effort TO hem it in, or weak
en- it, the Proclamation must be treated strictly
as a war measure All its limitations, and the
peculiar way in which it is finally to take effect,
II at all, are also to be judged wholly as
questions OF ways and means in suppressing re
belllon and restoring revolted States to their true
place in the Union, and subordinate to the Gen
eral Government. And in this method of treat
ing the Proclamation, lies the answer to the
pro-savery style OF sneering at the Joy Of the
radicals because, 1t is said, 1t offers to spare
slavery to those rebels who shall before the LIST
OF January desiet from their treason ; the
Proclamation ostenslbly being put forth to hasten
the cad OF the rebellion, and not the end of
slavery. And unless it can be fairly argued that
Immediate emancipation would put down trea-
son before the LIST of January, the postponement
of the time when it shall take effect has full JUS
tifcatiOn.
But this is the mere letter Of this most impor-
tant State paper, the mere form which hides
the living spirit of truth and justice and right
eousness, which, We believe, animates and glori-
hes this act OF President Lincoln, and which
will give it a place in history as one of the
greatest, Tisest, and best acts Of the century
Mr.. Lincoln said, in his recent letter to Horace
Greeley, that his personal wish was that all
men everywhere should be free. lie also has
known that many millions OF the loyal people
who were upholding him as the Chief Magis
trate Of the Republic, sympathized deeply with
him in this personal wish He has known tina,
Christian men, in all parts of the country, were
r'ading, in the Affections of the nation, God I
Judgment upon us for not striking at the grea
sin OF slavery. He has also known that gooc
men IN foreign lands, men who loved this coun
try, admired cur free institutions, and earnestl,
desired the success of our experiment OF self
government were amazed that the nation di(
not accept the issue slavery seemed forcing upor
It, And does anybody suppose that thi
knowledge and this personal wish of Mr. Lin
coin have had no effect upon the President, bu
that ne has coldly, and as mere military meas
ure, announced his purpose of emancipating tn
slaves in such territory as may be insurrection
49, N''N "NA' nv" JO"A DoOo oil UOuy Sup
pose that the effect of this proclamation upo
the future of the war, and upon the future G
this nation. is to be of no more consequence tina
as though the President had confscated all tn
horses and cattle of the insurgent States Ha
approximation no more significance, as mora
force, than as though it had declared that cotto
and rice and sugar should not be grown IN r
surgent districts after january
We are glad to reckon ourselves among tho,
who find in this proclamation a deeper signlf
canoe, more far-reaching craftsmanship
broader philanthropy, and a more humble an
pious faith 10 absolute justice and eternal Ugh
than enter into the cold calculation of Incl
material forces. We see IN it national a.
acknowledgement that Freedom is the right of tt
black man, as well as the white man. We 81
IN it a re-afirmance of the truth that all men a.
created equal, and endowed by their Create
with certain inalienable rights, among whc
are fife, liberty, and the pursuit Of Happiness