Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-05
WOttcster 9ailp Spy.


dent Lincoln is erroneous. He simply APP
pended to his own proclamation, which we
give in full below, the September procama-
ton of the PRESIDENT:
IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION OF GEN. BANKS.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
New ORLEANS, Dec. "a, 1S62.-To the Peo-
pile Of Louisiana In order to correct public
misapprehension and misrepresentation; for
the instruction of the troops of this depart
ment, and the information of all parties in in
terest, official publication is herewith made of
the proclamation by the president of the Uni
ted States, relating to the subject of emanci-
patton. In the examination of this document
it will be observed:
l. That it is the declaration of purpose
only-the full execution of which is contin-
gent upon an official designation by the presi-
dent, to be made on the first day of January
next, the states and parts of states, if any,
which are to be affected by its provisions:
ii. That the fact that any state is repre-
scented in good faith in the congress of the
United States, is conclusive evidence, in the
absence of strong countervailing testimony
that such state and the people thereof are not
in rebellion against the United States:
Ill. That the state of Louisiana has not yet
been designated by the president as in rebel
lion, nor any part thereof, and that it has COM
piled with all the conditions of the proelama-
ton respecting representation:
~. That pecuniary aid to states not in re-
belllon, which may hereafter provide for i'm
mediate or gradual emancipation; the colon
ization of persons of African descent else
where, and the compensation OF all citizens
who have remained loyal, ''for all losses by
acts of the United States, including slaves"
are among the chief recommendations of this
important paper.
1t is manifest that the changes suggested
therein, and which may hereafter be establish
ed, do not take effect within this state on the
first of January proXimo, nor at any precise
period which can now be designated, and call
upon all persons, of whatever estate, cond-
ton or degree, soldiers, citizens, or slaves, to
observe this material and important fact, and
to govern themselves accordingly. All unu-
sual public demonstration of whatever charac-
ter will be for the present suspended. Pro-
vost marshals, officers, and soldiers. are en-
joined to prevent any disturbance of the pub
lie peace. The slaves are advised to remain
upon their plantations until their privileges
shall have been definitely established They
may rest assured that whatever benefit the
government intends will be secured to them,
but no man can be allowed in the present con-
hands. If they seek the protection of the
government, they should await its pleasure.
Officers invested with command will be vigil
liant in the discharge of their duties. Leave
OF absence from camp will not be permitted,
except in cases of great emergency. Soldiers
enrolled III the regiments of native guards will
not be allowed for the present to visit the To-
callteS of their enlistment, nor will visitors be
received unnecessarily in their camps. These
regulations, enforced with all the troops of the
United States in the localities where they are
enlisted, are now imperatively necessary.
These troops will be confined to the duty
specified in general orders, and will not be
charged with special authority in making re-
searches, seizures, or arrests. 1t is my pur-
pose to execute faithfully all the orders of the
government, and assume the responsibility
OF these instructions as consistent Herewith,
and require prompt and faithful execution
thereof
Public attention is called to the act of con-
gress cited in the proclamation, which forbids
the return of tugitives by officers of the army.
No encouragement will be given to laborers
to desert their employers, but no authority
exists to compel them to return. 1t is sug
gested to planters that some plan be adopted
by which an equitable proportion of the pro-
C eeds of the crops of the coming year, to be
hereafter determined upon the judgment of
honorable men justly representing the differ
ent interests involved, to be set apart and re-
served for the support and compensation of
labor.
The war is not waged by the government
for the overthrow of slavery. The president
has declared, on the contrary, that it is to re-
store the constitutional relation between the
United States and each of the states," in
which that relation is or may be suspended.
The resolutions passed by congress, before the
war; with almost unanimous consent, recog~
nized the rights of the states in this regard.
Vermont has recently repealed the statutes
supposed to be inconsistent Herewith. Mas
sachusetts had done so before. Slavery ex-
listed by consent and constitutional guaranty :
violence and war will inevitable bring it to an
end. 1t is impossible that any military man,
in the event of continued war, should counsel
the preservation of slave property in the rebel
states. If it is to be preserved, war must
cease, and the former constitutional relations
be again established.
The first gun at Sumter proclaimed eman-
cipation. The continuance of the contest
there commenced will consuminate that end,
and the history OF the age will leave no other
permanent trace of the rebellion. Its leaders
will have accomplished what other men could
not have done. The boldest aboltionist is
cypher when compared with the leaders of the
rebellion. What mystery pervades the works
of Providence We submit to its DEGREES,
but stand contounded at the awful manifesto
tons of its wisdom and power! The great
problem of the age, apparently environed with
labyrinthic complications, is likely to be sud
denly lifted out of human hands. We may
control the incidents of the contest, but we
cannot crcumvent or defeat the end. 1t will
be left us only to assuage the horrors of in
ternecine conflict, and to procrastinate the
processes of transition. Local and national
interests are therefore alike dependent upon
the suppression of the rebellion.
No pecuniary sacrifice can be too great an
equivalent for peace, But it should be per-
manent peace, and embrace all subjects of dis
content. 1t is written on the blue arch above
u.s. the distant voices of the future-the
waves that beat our coast-the skeletons that
sit at our tables, and fill the vacant places of
desoate and mourning fresides, ali crv out
that this war must not be repeated hereafter
Contest, in public as in social life, strength
ems and consolidates brotherly affection.
England, France, Austria, Italy-every land
fertile enough to make history, has had its
desoating civil wars. 1t is baseless nation.
atty that has not tested its strength against
domestic enemies. The success of local in
terests narrows the destiny of a people, and
is followed by secession, poverty, and degra-
dation.
A divided country and perpetual war make
possession deluson and life calamity.
The triumph of national interests widens the
scope of human history, and is attended with