Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-02-12
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1868.
THE EMANCIPATION EDIcr IN LOUISIANA


issued on the LIST of January last, after g ordering
and declaring" that all persons held as slaves with
in certain designated States and parts Of State,
are and hepceforth shall be Free" added the fol-.
lowing recommendation, obviously intended for
the instruction of those who wcro the benefcaries
of bis proclamation
"And hereby enjon upon the people declared to be
free to abs din from all violence unless in necessary self
defence; nd recommend to them that in all cases iDhen
aito1ed they labor faithfully for reasonable oages."
1t is evident that the President in releasing SO
far he could the slaves of the Iusurgent States
from the obligations of laboriug for their former
masters, did not contemplate their introduction
into the "Palace Of Idleness," whose pleasures
have been sung by the poet He meant that they
should work " in all cases when allowed" and not
to abuse their ncwly-acquired liberty by exacting
more than reasonable wages"
Called to enforce the proclamation in Louisiana,
Gen. Banks has given validity aud application to
this as we'll the other features Of the edict and
the regulations which he has made under tho head
Of "labor" and "wogss" in conformity with the
Presidents recommendation, will be found in the
following army order:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF
Neio Orleans, January %, 1863
The proclamation of the President of the United States
dated January L. 1868 is published in General Orders for
the and government of the officers and soldiers
o thls command and all acting under their autho
y Ii dsgnates portions of the State of Louisiana which
are not to be affected by lis provisions The laws of the
United States however forbid officers of the army and
navy To return slaves to their to decide upon
the claim OF any person to the service labor Of another
and the inevitable conditions of state Of unayodaby
deprive al classes of citiz Of much of that absolute
freedom OF action and control of property which local law
and the continued peace of the country guaranteed uni
cured to them TIE forcble seizure of fugtves from
vice or labor by their is Inconsistent wi these
laws aud Conditions nasmuch leads TO personal vo
ence and the disturbance Of the pubic peace and
not DO permitted Officers and soldiers will not encourage
or assist slaves 10 leave their employers but they
compel or authorize their return by force
The public interest peremptorily demands that all per-
sons without o'her of support be required to
tain themselves by labor Negroes not exempt from
this law. Those who leave their employers VIII be
PEELED 10 support themselves aud families by labor upon tie
public works. Under circumstances whatever can
they be maintained in ldeness, allowed to wander
through the and cities of the State without en-
ployment Vugnncy and crime will be suppressed by an
enforced and constant occupation and employment.
Upon every consideration, labor is entitled to
equitable proportion OF the crops produces To
the objects both of capital aud labor tho sequesration
is hereby authorized ard directed upon confer
ence with planters aud other parties to propose and
absh yearly system of negro labor which shall provide
Tor the food clothing proper treatment and just compen
saon Tor the negroes, at fixed rates equitable pro-
portion Of the yearly crop, may be deemed advisable
IL should % just but net exorbtant onerous. When
accepted by The planter other parties nil the conditions
OF continuous aud faithful service respectful department.
correct discipline, and perfect suborduaton shall be en-
forced on the part OF the by the officers OF the
Government TO secure their payment the wages Of
labor will constitute lien upon its products
This msy not be the best but it is now the only pract
cable system Wise men will do what they when they
cannot do what they would It's the law of success In
three years from the restoration OF peace under this vol
untay system Of labor the State Of will produce
fold the product Of its most prosperous year the
past.
The quartermaster's department. Ia charged with The
duty OF harvesting deserted fields cutvatiu
abandoned estates Unemployed negroes will be engaged
10 this servce under the cootro of suitable sgeuts
planters, with just compensation 10 food clothing aud
money consistent with the terms agreed upon by the
mission, ard under such regulations will tend to keep
families together, to mpart sesuppotng habits to the
aud protect the best interests Of the people and
the Government.
BY command of Major General BANKS.
RICHARD IRWIN, Lieut. Coll
Asst AdJ't General
These regulations are SO obviously made in
cordanoe with the spirit aud letter of the Prssi-
dents proclamation that we are surprised to find
any admlrer of that paper dissenting from the
steps taken by Gen. Banks to give force and apph-
cation to the Presidents iojuncion.. It would
seem that the iridescent hues which once spread
such an aureolo Of glory around the proclamation
in tbs eyes Of certain political theorists have now
SO completely vanished that the latter cannot be Just
In sppreciatipg the proper merits Of the document
For instance, the New York Tribune donounces the
order Of Gen. Banks, made in literal pursuance of
the proclamation, as not creditable" to him, and
thinks il reads
As issued year ago, in the hhlcyou days OF
Federal tustse slave hunts aud OF the
Of Border State counsels In short ii does what may be
done by the commander of distant dep to snnu
the Presidents proclamation ard counteraot It's effect
within the limits of the district under his control f this
is not lite purport aud result what shan be said of such
passage as thisl
" Officers aud soldiers will not encourage or assist slaves
olcave their employers bat they OF
their e.uru by force"
Well what shall be said Of Proclamation Of
Freedom" which enjoins on its subjects to cab
stain from violence" against their former masters,
and in all cases, when allowed, to labor for
reasonable wages" in the service of their employ
ersY Such is the " recommendation Of the Presi.
dent, and Gen. Banks has simply enforced the
views Of Mr.. Lincoln in the premises. 1t is true
that, under this order, the emancipated slaves are
to be taught that freedom is not license, and that
liberty does not mean exemption from labor Some
highly-colored dreams may be rudely broken by
this shock, as Republican contemporary calls it,
and it may be- as another journal suooests that