New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-01
SHALL THE PRECEDENT BREAK
HIS COVENANT WITH THE
sGAvRAe

SHALL THE PRESIDENT BREAK
HIS COVENANT WITH THE
sLAvEss
To ii. Editor Of TMK T. Trburs
SIR. Will you hear me once more I Your oft.re'
pesssd idea (which gives many Of your friends daily reso
that the President In making terms with tho Rebellion, may
recall his Proclamation Of Freedom. was illustrated In this
mornings editorial with ISsrRucrfsa PREcsDENr ous
Of which you drew (s think the wrong instruction
Your Argument In substance 10 this: That although the Brit
sh Gov Dunmors Of Virginia promised Freedom to the slaves
Of that colony yet the British Government In making peace
with fathers broke this plsdse aud thss In like manner
President Lincoln. having promised Freedom TO aoo"o
slaves may break this promise for the sake OF making peace
with their masters
reply in the fret place. the order Of Lord Duumors
vas never recalled or apnulsd In the second place, the
fact ofits Issue aud recall just you s.e STU your
Inference justyng the President would be invalid Tor the
simple reason that wrong, never make right snd In
IN. id Mace yoa altossher ms.s the facts Of history
!. You say;
Gov Dunmsrs q virgins proclaimed tho emancipation
No, nothing of the kind What he did .hs copy
his Proclamation;
And hereby further declare all indentured servants ne
sIf Or and S'a % ;pP S,a;
Tnooss "a ,oon a. may be-" diary Of the Rev, IT'S.
ia. Penn,yrani1 Journal, December 6. ITS, commenting
OH this proclsrs,ion ssid;
"To none thsn IL freedom promised but 10 sleh az are
able 10 d, Loyd Dgnmore seIrfce"-llbsd.
Now tho Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln 10 an altogether
dlaes.n. thing II sets free merely such slaves shall
desert from the enemy and Join side but sets free uncon
diousy all slaves In certain States and parts oil STATES
whether they join the army stay q. home-msny OF whom
are women aud children, the old and tie inhfm The pre-
cleo words
"ssslI bs then. rnEScHyoawARp. and FOREVER Free"
r.. D.. a.ntI had ssSua
.msion which could be withdrawn ths caprice Of our
enemies. but which could be Withdrawn nerer-irrs-
vosbs the statutes of the Msdes and Persians what
rons. and words could tho Kings English have fur
nished to his pen than thoss which he has usedi
Q 70. say;
IF 4, were held at that day. either side Of the At
lsntie. that the British were bound 6y ths Emsae,pa.
Ing Pro.msoss Of their Governors or Gene' 70 o'nnu:
wH Ia. IL sos Se. who id not quit sr Rsbs
masters ioI tho British service wers lu.s Tue san,
those who a. then we are In dsrsus" on that poins
The reply IT, King George having never pledged himself
continue un,ii every negro were set ffseor
up any negro were froewa o: course not bound 70
tesp a covenant which he had made The bf1ish
procamsors beisg adaresssd Gully to slave. who quit
their matters the British Government neither made nor
broke any promise who did not qnii But ffedont
Lincoln other hand hsviuy pledged himself to main
within pesh-d oeatiss the freedom OF al slaves Win
on, exception and without condition IL bound By HE pledge
.ef Ar undying name the lat Of January. 1899.
Az YOU h.ve given On "In,sructvs Precedent" let me
yo one ret instructive. In South America when Dol
war fought sgins the spsrish invaders ne freed tho slaves
add.d them to hts army, aud won an immortal triumph
Afor bsa. hs OF hs county he bSo iuie its
Lexa,or Thsp Jssr having crePt upon him in the public
service he resigned hs Of office and 10 farewell al
dre.. made the following appeal to the RePublic
81 leave sovereign authority TO repss al my ordt
you q. would beg foi my III. would beg for the .l
vstion OF the Republic cosSihs AND COMPLETES the kS
ciPATioS op THs sLAvks"
North American Presid4n. may learn somshlng from
South American!
T. appeal now from TIE TRiBrss to TaE TsIBusn! Az
ter the Proclamation Of Sep. a. TAG TRBusx said on the
g.th Ia 10 editorial leader:
eff they Ihs Rsbs ou,ln her day. q grace ,h, three
tie authority Of tho Rspube nsang ita nag embstsd to
ay dcsnderhey will havr .e.sd the doom Of Slavery
RxvoxED. TIE ryh' ptih Il Great" can ntvEH DE- Az.
sCLLsp IA. Lbsrsy whiea it eons,' c,SSor rs TAKEN
AWAY
K.eems ,hst the editorial opinions Of THs TRIBUNE like
pppln, souuder in the Fall than in the Spring
In counter statement THE Tsipvszs present position
anlat that tho Presidents Proclamation 10 an teverst
bic pledge Of tbs public faith not be bro
ken solemn law Of the land not to be notwithstanding
Ike sbsnsd.On upon the head, Of o.oooooo slaves to lit
them up lovnes and bonds In presence Of the
heaven. sni tho earth the Pre,den. has made coven,nt
with this dusky multitude saying 81 have written the de-
cree OF your freedom have SGT 70 1t the seal Of the State
and now with tho army my right hand aud the navy Ia
my left vii make peace upon broken oath " Other
wIse n the Pe.dea dishonor h' pledge aud to
sscce the public faith lot him be warned in time of the
shsdOwy so which Hits iato history 10 dsrksn false mems
names,
G. THE TRIBUNE says. innocently:
mo one Of tho Opposition journals far a. ws are aware
has questioned thr soundnrss Of our exposition"
Do you suspect tn, rsa.oe The Opposition journals are
too we'll pleased with TaR TRIDuSzs position to dad
fault with IT, Iget that at present. the chief opposition
to TuH Tgsusx 1. FROM its hiend,-among whom count
always, Yours, faithfully. THEODORE TILrON.
Nep York Msrch 3d. 1859.