The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-03

The United States, are excluded from this
proclamation; but then the question recurs,
What possible good can be expected from this
thing, even as war measure. The oracles of
the abolition faction tell us that il will speedily
end the war; that it will array three millions
of slaves Of the rebellious States, covered by
the proclamation, on the side Of the Union, in
the cause Of their personal freedom; that it will
strike off the right arm of the rebellion, and lay
the monster helpless suppliant at our feet,
and that all other expedients will be futile.
These are the inducements by which President
Lincoln has been persuaded to issue this pro-
clamation, It is the last card Of the abolition
Jacobins, and the last step, we fear, which
determines the success or failure of this admin
istration, with the chances heavily against its
success.
sary, unwise and ill-timed, impracticable, out
side of the constitution and full of mischief
Its first effects will be more thoroughly to unite
and exasperate the whites of the South in their
resistance to the government of the Union than
they have ever been united heretofore, and to
establish over their slaves Q more rigid surveil-
lance and discipline than ever heretofore exer-
cised over them. No signs of disaffection
among them will be permitted beyond the
lines of our armies; or should they, hap-hazard,
break out into revolts and massacres, after the
fashion of Nat Turner, in his Southampton
slaughter, the desired plea will be furnished
for armed European Intervention to put an
end to what then may be properly called this
inhuman war. President Lincoln evidently has
some misgivings upon this point, or he would
not enjoin the slaves concerned to "abstain
from all violence unless in necessary self
defence" He seems to realize the danger that
in sowing the wind he may reap the whirl wind.
But let us hope that this proclamation will
prove nothing worse than nullity and harm
less tub to the abolition whale.
1t will assuredly do no good as war mea-
sure while our fleets and armies are held at
bay around the edges of the rebellion. President
Lincoln may issue new emancipation procla-
nation every day in the week through the winter,
but unless, in the meantime, we shall have
expelled JEFF Davis and his government from
Virginia all these emancipation DEGREES will
against the comet" With an army OF eight
hundred thousand men in the field and navy
Of nearly five hundred vessels, operating against
this rebellion, there is no earthly necessity for
emancipation DEGREES Of any sort. With any
thing except very bad management the land
and naval forces under President Lincoln's
supreme command are sufficient to put an end
to this rebellion In ninety days. Under very !
good management the work could be done in
sixty days Nor will the public mind of the
loyal States be diverted from the actual bust
ness Of the war by emancipation sdiets. On,
the contrary, there is predominant public
opinion in the North which regards these ex-
treme abolition measures as dangerous fire.
brands, which may destroy the Union beyond
remedy instead Of saving it; and this predomi
nant public opinion can be satisfied only with
q successful prosecution of the war, not for
negro emancipation, but for the restoration
of the Union and the constitution in their
integrity.