, 1863-01-03
STOP LYNGs

The Proclamation will open wider still
the foodgatcs Of calumny and falsehood
and the lies By which AIr. Lincoln has been
assa1led are as nothing compared with those
That are yet to come. We sque1ch one to.
day, as it is the most dangerous and wan.
ton that hasyetappeared. It is that which
asserts that the President, in his c1yu,
CAPACITY, has decrced emancipation of the
Aayes Of rebels, and is guilty Of gross usur-
pahon OF power,-that he has not only vio-
lated the Constitution, but assumed the pre.
fogat1ves Of King. It is lie, because,
LIST. The President, in freeing tie slaves
OF rebels, does not act in civil capacity at
at all; but as COMMANDMENTS Chief Of the
army and Navy; and, because,
I'd AS such, he is clothed with discrc-
hona1y power to suppress insurrection, the
exercise Of which he cannot neglect with
out violation Of his oath.
3D. No provision Of the Constitution is
Violated, whatever he may decree for rebels
In arms against the Government Hemieht
IN his dealings with them outrage human
5iy, set the usages Of civilized nations at
defiance, and bring upon himself and upon
The country the execrations Of all the world;
but violate the Constitution he could not.
unless he trampled upon the rights Of loyal
n1en- The rebels in arms, are as alien en-
emies, and If it be admitted that lie might,
as C6mmander-in- Chief, lberate the
slaves Of IN invading army
eay Spanish army that had landed upon
our shores and was captured, it must be
admitted TINT he can manumit the slaves Of
. rebel army and the slaves Of all those
Fho give that army their support in its
Far against the Republic.
9TH. Rebels have no constitutional rights
to be Violated. They spit upon and tread
Under their feet all the provisions of the
Constitution; they refuse the performance
OF the duties which it implies; and they
disown and rcpudiate with infinite scorn
and loathing its guarantees. Hence it is
Clear that they cannot claim its protection.
9th. II, as war measure and in the ex-
ercise Of the discretionary power conferred
upon the President us the head of the army.
he cannot dispossess the enemy Of his slaves,
Tho, in the eyes Of the local law, are prop-
eft, he cannot seize or order the, seizure of |
= reba1 horsa whose 7xadcr1las been slain in
battle If he cannot, as q war measure.
Seize upon what personal effects rebel
possesses, in the exercise Of his sworn duty
TO overcome the enemies Of the Constitu-
lion, he surely cannot order his soldiers to
take rebels life. As life is infinitely more
sacrcd than property, the admission of the
Eight to take the former is confession of
ue stronger and more indisputable right to
use as the demands Of war may dictate, the
latter: Yet who contends that rebel u.s.
sailant Of our army may not be lawfully
9th. The President has never asserted.
has never claimed, has never intimated,
has never dreamed, even, that, rs a civil |
magistrates coequal branch of the civil |
has the right to loose
Slave bound by the local law: No one Of
his friends, here or elsewhere, have ever
Bet up suc.s claim; and were it anywhere
TO be urged they would unanimously resist
it. Their ground is, and it is unquestion.
ably tenable, that os Commander in Chief
he Las the same right to lay down niles
and regulations which shall govern all
The armies in the field, and their relation
to the enemy, rs either Gen. Grant or Gen.
Banks has for the particular army that he
may command. That right is indisputa-
bic. It Is in the Constitution. It is inhe-
rent in his high Office. It is a ne
cessity Of government, and must
be acknowledged. All men must
admit it. Yet when admitted, it
docs not leave the enemies Of the President
peg upon which to stand Who would
.e.. .a'en banks as violator of the Consti-
-ua9n snonld be use and free Beaureeard's
!. ~ =, .ea. uaF1s body servants who mieht
TALL into his handsi The pres;dor+ -ro-
poses to do no more. t4o
But we need not 60 on The, onest;on
is SO plain that none who are not w;1fn,,-
ignorant or .wilfu1ly treasonable csn
pretend to misunderstood it. Hence
when we see journal confound-
Z ing the discretionary war power Of the
president as Commander-in-C CT lei, with bis
p1dapaIE functions as civil magistrates;
f'hqn we heaF Tie President denounced for
. tMs e. s5eEe4se. what is right as clear as
Inc re at noon day-a right welded By an
!! ae9e man us that sun shines upon, and
.or purpose that coulmends itself to the
justice and common sense Of mankind
&c know that treason just as bold as 1t dare
be, is at the bottom Of the complaint, and
INA. those who feel its, animus wait only
an opportunity to: make common cause
will The enemies By whom the best Of men |
enc lustest of Governments arc assailed. i