The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-11-04
THE PRESIDENTS PROCLA.
Judge Parsons ON Judge Curtis.

To the Editors Of the Boston Daily Advertiser. r.ngn
There are three questions concerning the
Presidents emancipation proclamation. One,
has he constitutional power 10 issue u as n
civil. political or administration acts The
second, was il expedienta The third, has ne
constitutional power as commander in-ch'eI
to issue it, at this time, as military act
These questions are perfectly distinct One
of the most common and most fruitful causes
Of error upon all subjects, is tie ming ing Of
Questions which arc distinct in themselves,
bu, 90 near each other that they confuse each
other '''" ''i.t sle.b.os 9n, iHuonI
| Judge Curtis mingles these questions 80 en-
tirely, that no study Of his phampiet enables
! me to SEQ clearly as to much Of bis arguments
upon which Of these questions it is intended
TO bear. ~ '.@''' ''e"ia4 Lmls ~
Let us separate these questions lai-aap
am sure that the president has no power
to emancipate single slave, as civil, politi
cal or administrative act. p iat ~ t.lwii.I
Was It expeden.i 1 leave this question
to the president. For he is honest, he is ca
pate; he has considered the question long
carefully and painfully, and in all the 'els
tions in which il can present itself. However
wise l may be, or Judge Curtis may be, on
this subject the president must be wiser, or al
rules e probability fail. l1Ia '"f
i As TO the remaining question, have moi
the slightes, doubt Of his constitutional powe
ne commander in chief, to issue his proclama
ton as a military act. nse' l-r
If Halleck, when before Corinth, nigh
have sent force hundred miles to catcl
and bring into his line buudred negroe
with the wagons, horses, and provisions the.
were bringing to Beauregard. the presiden
and con mander-in chief, sitting in the centr
with wider views, wider necessities, and wide
rights to meet those necessities, may IT b
can, prevent the whole mass Of slaves froo
+ aboring to feed the rebellion. He may, IT
can, by the danger Of insurvection, or starvl
, tion, or Of loss Of property, dishearten the re
, bells and drive their armies home. o,h
To say otherwise would be to cay that b
might sl,ike at rel ellion, but must be caref,
not 10 strike away its corner stone. coo
I, Can he do it in facti This questlo
touches the expediency Of the measure, an
this leave to him. But it does not touc
{ his military right to threaten it, ard do 1t
/ he can ae a1aeI arE 81. s38 b,
a Judge Curtis speaks much and eloquent'
! of the presidents right to infict "Penalt
. and ''puushmen,," and tho rights OF the r
4 bells to the protection of tho law. .ft..,E q
! Rebellion has no rights. II rebellion mea
: ANYTHING il means the remuneration and d
: struction Of all law. And therefore it is a
6 cursed before God aud man. a9s y,il =.
= No rebel has any right, aregard 10 Wink
. should weaken or obstruct any military mea
: ure needed 10 subdue the rebellion.
4 Judge Curtis argument would give the co
!, s,itution and the law to the rebels, as Tho
g sword TO smite with and their shield to sa
i them, aud leave it to us only as fettcr.
Then he tells us I e innocent must sun
with the guilty. This is true, and 1t is "a
=, But when the Mingled fire aud hail OF Go'
), vengeance run along the ground, they purs
= no devious path that they may leave I
&c homes of the innocent unharmed f1r VIII
:, national sins bring national ca'amllics, I
- innocent suffer with the guilty. This m
"a be one Of tho mysteries Of Providence; !,
n at all events, fact. And what has be
n will BE-. 5t
:. sar TaEoPHILUs Parsons.