The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-24
THE PRESIDENT AND PEACE.

FrGRg he Times.
The National IHte,EgeRccr persists in maintain
ing that President Lincoln stands pledged not
only by the letter "to whom It may concern"
hut also by his Emancipation Proclamation, not
20 receive or consider any proposition for peace
with tho Rebels which does not embrace the
I abandonment of slavery as well as the restora-
ton Of the Union. IL holds that he is bound to
prosecute the war for the abolition Of slavery,
even after It's prosecution ceases 10 be necessary
for the restoration Of the Union. We have
already given our reasons for not Concurrng in
We do not believe that Mr.. Lincoln Is 20
pledged by his antocedents or by his dcclara-
tons nor do we believe that his practical conduct
of the Government viii be guided by such q
theory. If Jefferson Davis should ofier on he.
half Of the men in arms under him against the
Union, to return to his allegiance TO the Consti-
tuition and Government of the United States, wo
believe that President Lincoln would thorcup0n
stop tho war. We do net believe that he would
continue It for an hour longer, for the abolition
, of slavery or for any other purpose. The Union
saved, all other questions at issue would be at
once remanded to the decision of the proper tri-
bunals and, If desired by the proper authorities,
I the Constitution itself would be submitted TO the
revision of a Convention.
The Ia,teRigencer labors with unwonied zeal to
demonstrate that the President cannot, with con.
sistency or with honor, pursue the policy we thus
expect at his hands. IL appeals, not only to his
prejudces of his radical supporters, to exclude
him from the possibility Of such action. It's
earnestness in this matter savors much moro Of
the warmth OF partisan who apprehends evil to
his party cause or candidate from the patriotic
action of an opponent, than Of ono jealous for
the SAFETY of the nation and eager to have IL
secured by wise and patriotic policy on the part
OF its rulers.
We do not intend to follow the EntelRgencey in
the details of its argument. IL quotes from the
Presidents Proclamation the declaration that the
slaves In Rebel S Sa.cs on the LIST of January 1868,
shall be thenceiorward free, and that "the ENecu-
tive Government, including the military and
naval authority thereof, will recognize and main
tain their freedom 1t quotes also his subSe-
quent declaration that while he remains in office
he will "not attempt to retraet or modify the
Emancipation Proclamation" and that to abau-
don the slaves freed under II would be "Cruel
and astounding breach of faith" And 1t declares
that these pledges compel him not 20 accept any
peace which embraces less than the freedom OF
all the slaves covered by the Emancipation edct
We do not concur in that Interpretation of these
declarations. In our Judgment IL gives them q
far wider scope than was ever intended for them
by their author.
In the first place the Emancipation Protlama-
tion ives issued as O means 10 an end. II was
designed 10 be weapon OF war,-a clever Oi
power" as the President styled il in his last mes
sage 20 Congress II was issued, according to
its own terms,-Rot as defining the object Of the
war, or fixing any new aim which must bC
reached before the war could END, but "as III
and necessary war measure for SNpprcSsing N,
RebelEOa:"-and il was deemed "warTanted by
the Constitution" only "as O military nCces
sity." II would seem to be evident that
decree issued for the purpose Of securing
certain end would, the moment that end wa
reached, cease TO have any other practca
vigor and effect than such as might havt
been given to IL while il was operative in il.
proper character. II II did free certain slave
while aiming 10 suppress the Rebellion, tltost
slaves would doubtless be free after tho Rebel
lion should be closed. BIT that It must condnu,
70 he enforced 10y srms, after the end for whilh /
was issued had been secured, in order 20 accom-
plish practically the freedom OF all tho slaves
seems 20 rs prepoSteTous. We see nothing II
any language President Lincoln has ever uset
20 warrant Us in believing that he 80 regards It.
ON tho contrary, everything he has said on tl
subject goes " show thit the Proclamation Wa
regarded by him as purely a military measure
means Of accomplishing military end, RuI
justifiRble only on the ground of military ne
cessiiy. In his last annual message hC says g.
"AcoOrding u our political system, as a m tttc
of civil administration, the GovCrnmcn' had u
lawful power 70 etitc emancipation 10 any state
and for long time 10 bad been hoped that th
Rebelon could be suppressed without rcsortnl
10 II as ry measure Before the naCo5
sity for such measure, in order to suppress On
rebellion, arose. II was not competent for th
Government to adopt It. When that necossit,
ceases, the Rebailon being suppressed IL wOUlj
seem TO be evident that the measure must lose Al
practical force and ettc.. We mine an enemy
works TO capture them; it would be idle an
absurd to continue the mine after the worl,
We do not see what the IQtelligeNceror IA
country has To gain by throwing doul. upo
President Lincolns position on this subject. |
il shonld succeed IN convincing the people th7
he means 30 continue the war after the Rebali0
is quelled and tie Union saved for the purpos
of forcing the abandonment Of slavery, t woui
only paTalyze the Government by destroying til
public confidence essential TO is support. Sue
conviction would impede the draft, check vol
unteering, excite general discomfort and mo,
seriously mperii the Union cause. We can un
dersiand why hOt-headed, selfish party zealo.
pursue this conrse-reclless of these results. Bu
we should have expected TO find the IRtoDiges.a
smoothing the path Of patriotic duty for the res
dent in these days Of perpleXity and peril, rGlhs
than hedging him a6out Win fresh embaT!as,
ments and complications.
We believe him 70 be perfectly free from a
commitments and obligations that conflict Wild
the supreme duty OF saving the Union--0f wac
ing war with all possible vigor 10 crush the n
bellon-and Of stopping the war Just as SOON a
that result has been attained In our judgmeu
he is perfectly Tree, not only TO "receiye and con
slider" any proposition OF peace that embraces th
integrity of the Union and the cessation OF th
Rebellion, but he is also perfectly free 10 make