East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-02-17

States and districts OF 3,OOO ,UUO Ot
black laborers must diminish the nun.
Der of white soldiers they can hereafter
marshal against us, lessen the supplies
for those already in the field cripple the
enemy, diminish the hardships aud dan
gers of the loyal soldiers, preserve use
full Ives, and render success certain,
aud, therefore, we endorse the proclama.
tion of the President of the United
States, issued on the first day of Janu.
AIRY, 1868, fit and proper ia every point
of view, as a war measure and in tax
ing this ground the President has dis
charged duty TO our brave and patri
Otto soldiers to free institutions, and to
the Constitution itself, he could in no
wise have omitted, aud he is entitled to
the thanks and support OF all good cit
zens.
The above, which Is one Of the series
ofresolutions adopted by the Republican
State Convention which met at Detroit
last week, is worthy of attention as
fair sample of the argument made by
tine fuglemen Of that party in support
of the emancipation policy. Does the
proclamation do the thing proposed,-
s. e.. "deprive the rebel States and dis.
tricts Of 5000. 600 black laborers ~ by
no means. II has been in practical OPP
GRAFTON since the issue Of the first proc.
lamation in September last, nearly five
months, and only an insignificant nun.
Der of tho very poorest and most help
less class of negroes have been freed
from the masters upon whom they sere
a burden, to become burden upon the
government or the charities of the PEG.
pie of the loyal States. The proclama-
tion has not done, nor is it probable that
it can do the thing proposed, therefore
its endorsement in the resolution is as
unsound in logic as it's PRONUNCIATION
was unwise, illegal and iniudcious in
fact.
in this connection we reproduce q
portion of an able article from the
Providence Post, which lets in ray of
the light of history upon this emanci
patton business: .r
This experiment, so revolving to the
civilization of the present age, ha, been
twice tried, on small scale, in our own
country; that in both instances the sen
timent of, our country revoted at so
barbarous a measure; aud that in both
the influence was favorable to the cause
it was intended 10 iniure. Both in the
war Of the Revolution, aud in the war
ofIsl2, proclamations were issued offer
ing freedom to all slaves who might
Join the British cause or come within
their lines, and were responded to by
very few of the most degraded of our
colored population. Yet such was the
effect of this proof of barbarism and
madness upon our own people that the
cause of our country was actually pro.
NOTED by it. e.. .rf .a'r.''.,.
We have referred to the controversy
which grew out Of this measure by OF.
fcers Of the British government in the
war Of 1912 Is and have quoted the
language Of John Quincy Adams then
Secretary Of State, and speaking for the
government, as follows: "They (the
Britsh) had no right to make any such
emancipation promises to the negroes.
The principle is, that the emancipation
of an enemy's slaves is not among tie
acts of legitimate war; as relates to the
owners, il is destruction of private
property nowhere warranted by. the
usages Of war;, Again, FIVE years af.
forwards, Mr.. Adams most emphatic.
ally denies the right of belligercnt to
emancipate slaves. Hesays. mo such
right is acknowledged as law Of war
by writer's who admit any imilation-
The right of putting to death all persons
in cold blood, and without special cause,
might as well be pretended 10 be a law
Of war, or the right to use poisoned
weapons, or to rassassinaie," This IS
john Quincy Adams in 1916 and SIC.
But we are not, TO day, dealing with
what transpred during or subsequent
to the war Of 1912. We wish to can
the readers attention 70 the war OF the
Revolution. Tn i775. Lord Dunmore,
The British Governor Of Virginia, hav.
ing been expelled from that colony 10y
the people, alter playing the part OF spy
and tyrant, undertook to regain his au.
shorty and promote the interests Of the
British government, by Offering freedom
10 all slaves who would rise and Assist
him. How well he succeeded, let bis
tory decide. We quote from that ex.
cellcnt authority. eStolled by Jefferson
and the elder Adams, Botta's History
1.-The war of the Independence Of the
States Of Ametica," edition of
Nc lst, page $50: "
>~ce proclaimed marital
a.. >~hicb would have
N sso authority in
w'>--sq o., N'sbe lpyal