Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-12-06


Government and by re-modelling the Con-
stituiion underIhe pOwero of military des-
potism. The mode by which they succeed
ed, Is too familiar TO all to need repetition.
That they were tired of republican insti-
tptions and intended their overthrow, is ap-
parent from their own declarations. Their
prominent statesmen were constantly i'm
pressing on the public mind, in Congress
sud through the press, that "free institu-
tions, free labor and free schools were a
failure;" "Ihat no government was stable
where labor WAS represented in the law
making department.; that Il was necessary
to stability that capital should opR labor;
that the working classes of the North were
no better than the slaves of the SoRth
that slavery aud democracy were iucompAt-
i BILE; that the laboring man was only on an
equality with the slave, and ought not to
vote because he had not sufficient intelli-
gcnce."
The Southern States had enjoyed repub-
lican Institutions siuce the adoption of the
Federal Constitution. Not single right
had been infringed in any State. If they
were satisfied with republican institutions,
Why inaugurate the rebellion, as they do
not propose to secure any additional rights
to the people. Their object cannot be to
diminish taxation, for they abolish no Off
ces, nor decrease any salaries. It will GER
tainly cost more to maintain tIUO Govern
ments than one. There can, then, be no
other object than to rob the people of their
rights as freemen. and impose on them
heavy burdens of taxation. These facts
must be patent to every thinking man and
yet we have thousands in cur midst, who
are sympathizing with the rebellion, and
many of them among the laboring class
es.
THE PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION OF SIP
TBNBER 22D.
do not know any of the peculiar rea-
sons of the President for issuing the proc
lsmation of September 22d, which has
called forth so much discussion throughSut
the country That proclamation declares
''ail persons held as slaves on the LIST of
January, 1863, within any State or desig-
mated part OF a State, the people whereof
shall then be 10 rebellion against the Uni
ted States, shall be then, thenceforward anu
forever frees" but il also declares, "tbat if
any State, or the people thereof, shall on
that day be in good faith represented 10
the Congress OF the United States, by mem
bers chosen thereto at elections wherein
majority of the qualified voters of such
State shall have participated, shall, in the
absence of strong countervailing testimony,
be deemed conclusive evidence that such
/ SSNNSi ouA AAO PGSptG bnDEGOAg uOA buGu
| in rebellion against the United States"
L endorsed that proclamation at the meet
| ing of the Governors of the loyal States at
Altoona, held on the Gath of September,
and 1t is due you that state the public
reasons which caused my endorsement.-
The Confederate States had formed their
Constitution, based on the declaration that
"Sidrry WaS its chief corner stOne," aud
upon that they iuaugurated the rebellion
aud brought on the war. Nearly sixteen
months had passed since the war was com:
menced. Little progress had been made.
Six hundred and fifty thousand men had
been brought into the field by the Federal
Government. That army had been greatly
reduced by battle, sickness and desertion.
In consequence of the large addition to the
Confederate army by their CONSUMPTION
acts, it was deemed necessary to call for
six hundred thousand more. The people
| responded With great zeal in furnishing the
required number.
The leaders of the rebellion had impress
ed the minds of the slaves with the idea
that the Federal Government would take
aud sell them to the sugar planters of Gu
ba, to detray the expenses Of the war. =
Il Thus the slaves themselves, to a great ex-
tent, became active partizuus within the
Confederate lines. They were everywhere
engaged in doing the servile work of tue
camp, and, in many Instances, in perform
ing the duty of the soldier. All other
business than carrying on the war, was
suspended. Their whole energies were
directed to the prosecution of the rebellion.
Their slaves number more than four mil
liousi and they we're engaged, in addition
to the duties before alluded to, in raising
supplies of every kind for the maintenance
of the army; while ut the North, all our
agricultural, commercial, manufacturing,
aud educational pursuits, being carried on
by Irhite men, it may be safely estimated,
that the four millions of slaves engaged in
the production of the sinews of war, are
equal to eight millions of men at the North
carrying on the pursuits before mentioned.
This state of facts stood out in bold re-
lief to all candid observers. 1t was appar-
ent that while slavery is the strength of the
confederates and afforded them the great.
est assistance, it Was. also, their weakness
and could be easily turned to their over
throw, 1t was evident that all the indus
trial pursuits of the loyal states must be
stopped, the army increased from one mil
lion to fifteen hundred thousand, or the
confederates must be stricken at their
weakest point and an end put to the war
The President chose the latter course, aud
placed before them the alternative of re-
turning to their allegiance, or universal
emancipation in all the states and districts
which refused compliance with the require
ments of the proclamation. Subsequent
events have shown that as far as the sue
cess of the Federal army Is concerned, it
has had happy effect. Our armies in the
Southwest have been successful, equal to
our most sanguiue expectations; aud, con-
sidering all the circumstances, we have
nothing to discourage us for waat OF sue
cess in the East.
1t is objected to the proclamation that it
is mere declaration on the part of the
President, that it could not reach beyond
our lines, aud, therefore, could have NO
effect on tue slave. The rebels do not re-
gard 1t in that light. They prohibited its