Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-21

The Emancipation BILL
Mr.. Arnold, Of Illinois, has introduced
into Congress bill to aid the President
in carrying into execution his PrOelams-
tion. As Legislative enactment is neces-
aary to sustain the President in the exer-
else Of bis eivil and military power, it is
ilportsnt that the Presidents plan be
heartily sustained in Congress. Mr.. Ar
nold's bill, therefore, demands something
more than casual notice. The plan pro-
posed by this bill viii be sufficiently clear
BY the following extract:
Now, therefore, for the purpose Of carry
ing into more complete and immediate ex-
eeution the aforesaid proclamation, and to
secure forever the recognition and main
tenanoe Of the freedom Of all persons de-
signated therein, and thereby to provide
more effectuaDy for the suppression Of
the rebellion, the securing Of domestic
tranquility, the maintaining Of the COM
mon defense, and the preservation Of the
liberties Of the people:
Be e enacted 6y the Senate and HoUse of
Representatives. Of the United States Of Amer
iea IN Congress assembled, That in all states
snd parts Of states designated in said
proclamation ss in rebellion, the re-en-
shaving or holding, or attempting to hold
In slavery or in involuntary servitude OF
any person who shall have been made or
declared 10 be free By said proclamation,
OF any Of their descendants, from and af-
ter the date Of said proclamation, other
wise than in punishment Of crime whereof
the accused shall have been duly convict
ed, is and shall be forever prohibited. any
law or regulation of either Of such states
to the contrary notwithstanding.
This bill provides that no rebel state re-
stored to the Union shall be allowed to en-
act any law or regulation whereby the
Proclamation shall be imperative, 5yEtEm
JElmes.
Ills claimed by such papers as the World
that the only means Of giving practical leg
islative effect to the Proclamation is either
to provide facilities to enable negroes to
sue for their freedom in the Courts Of the
United States, or to declare the retention
Of slave 8 crime, punishable upon con-
vietion in the ten States where the alleged
crime was committed. The Proclamation
Of Emancipation, they say, is necessarily
paper illumination and can only have effect
% far as it induces negroes to run of.
This is sll very plausible talk, but exam
ined in the light Of the consequences AOw-
ing from it, it is only spsciOus fallacy,
intended as On obstacle to legislation and
sbllndfold for the people.
Who imsgines that any United States
Court made up of men in sympathy with
the rebellion in Georgia, Alabama orsouth
Carolina. for some years to come, would
adjudge freedom to a slave by virtue of the
Proclamation. What jury of former slave
holders or rebels would condemn q man
for holding sls7es2 There is ne possible
solution for the question unless the State
governments come under the control Of
loyal men. We always have believed that
there existed a strong union sentiment
throughout the South, only waiting eman-
oipation from rebel thralldom to give eI-
preston to itself as it has already done
wherever any slave State has come under
Federal sway.
Let the idea Of Mr.. Chase, embodied by
Mr.. Lincoln in his Proclamation Of Am
nesty, that Of committing the South to the
hands Of loyal men, be sustained, and all
difficulties vanish. The Proclamation be-
comes q reality. It subordinates sll fu-
ture State legislation on the question of
slavery to the welfare, nay the very life it
self Of the nation: or rather it annihilstes
the possibility Of inimiosl legislation. In
stead ofits being true that Congress can
pass no law whereby those in the slave
States who do not make their escape, shall
be freed" Congress, cooperating with the
Executive, becomes the great emancipation.
The chief struggle of the enemies Of the
Administration will be to make the Pro-
clsmation Of Emancipation nullity only
60 far as war enfOrces it. The people
must urge upon Congress the necessity of
vital legislation, overpoWering all the at
tsmpts Of COpperheads and rebels TO re-
establish the source Of all cur evils on its
old footing.