Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-01-09

ing to iucle.
But the operation Of this proclamation
involves even yet more serious complica-
tons in its necessary and Inevitable CON
sequences.
II, after the Executive shall have De-
signated the region destined to expert
ence his promised benediction, the entire
South should lay down its arms, and !,
without an amnesty and unconditionally.
propose to return to the Union, she could
not be allowed to do SO unless The States
subject to the proclamation would acqU,s
esce in its legality and recognize the free
dom it processes to bestow. If those
States, even so proposing to return tothe
Union and submit to the laws Of the
United States, should claim that this de-
cree is unconstitutional and cannot ope-
rate to emancipate the slaves held under
and by virtue Of their local laws, and
that their masters might therefore still
hold them, the rar could not end. Why?
Because, by the terms of the alliance
specified in this decree, the freedom Civ
en- is to be maintained BY the army and
nary" The obligation SO to " maintain :"
it is without qualification, without limit,
and without condition as to time, place,
or circumstance. In all places and at all
times, under all circumstances and at
any cost, without regard to The citizen
and without regard to the Union, the Oh
legation to maintain the freedom confer
red by the Executive is imposed upon the
government as on independent and para
mount obligation. After the first Of Jan
uary, therefore, if on that day the Presi-
dent executes his purpose, this Executive
decree proclaims to the world as the OBJ
ject and purpose Of the war; not the main
tenance Of the constitution and the re-
storaton of the Union, with all the rights
Of the States unimpared, but the over.
throw Of the constitution, the hopeless
arnihilaiion Of the Union, the destruction
Of the rights of the States, and the uni
yersal emancipation of tie slaves of the
South By the military power Of. the Fed
eral government.
| denounce such war as sacrilege
against the dead and TREASON against the
living Of my country. Immense and
long continued applause.
/ have been constituting this proolama.
ton upon the hypothesis Of the President
that he has the power to issue it, have
been endeavoring to SEQ what it mepus
aud what it involves, regarding it as q
decree Of constitutional authority Ara
10 so far as the President, and that rae s..
cal party to which be has committed bis
political conscience, are concerned Il &
immaterial whether it is 10 fact legal
and binding, or unconstitutional and 10.
valid, the President has e. usl it--lc
claims that he has the power to issue II,
and the radicals defend the power; and
he aud they must abide its consequences
and execute its obligations as The conse-
quences and obligations of constitutions
al act, from that day henceforth forever
npon which he designates the States that
are to receive its sanctifying grace.
As it concerns the people, however,
and in view of their duty in this crisis
Of our severe calamity, the constitutions
ality. Of this Executive decree is ques-
ton of the grayest Importance. Let US
consider it.
The most difficult question that arose
in the formation of this government,
was, how to adjust the political organi-
cation so as to give it the vigor and en-
eigy Of united government of all the
States for the purposes that were cen
mon to all, and, at the same time, leave
the several States with uuimpaired and
independent power, sufficient to manage
and control those affairs that were pccu-
liar to each respectively. From the ear
liest history of the settlements of these
colonies, there has been continually ma
nfest love for community iudepcnd-
ence, and an ever living and sensitive
iealously on the subject Of their distne,
ana independent rights Each Of the
colonies had its own peculiar institutions,
opinions, and social customs,
aud the sympathy which grew up among
them was born in the experience Of the
necessity Of each for the united effort Of
all 10 their contact and intercourse with
the nations Of the earth. They were set
lied by men who fed from the persecu-
lions Of the Old World to seek repose ID
the New; who came here to DO subject
10 government Of their own creation,
and enjoy uuiDolcsted by those that found
Or those they left the peculiar prejudices
and opinions that united them iu ffater.
bal harmony The Pilgrims landed on
Rock the Quaker adopted az
bis home tho land that perpotuales the
name Of his pioneer; the Cavalier Set
lied 10 Virginia; the Iluguenot IN Caro-
lima, and the Catholic in Maryland
they were all bound ny political alIegi-
lncc to the mother country, and the sin
dow Of the British sccptre rested upon
III but they were satisfied ID their far
remove from tie scat IF power. and laft
% the management Of tIieir dopsestic Of.
ars, they resisted any attempt al en-.
by their neighbore. they
Exhibited for many years Tho distinctive
'eaiures that hid marked them 10 he be.
ginning, and even perseeuted one ono. K
hnr for or.fntnn,a oaLa TIE N...ls4.l