Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-09-07

slaves in the Rebel States should be
manumitted But as the President had
already signed three bills manumitting
several classes of slaves in States, 1T is
not conceived possible that he entertain |
ed any scruples touching that provision
of the bill respecting which he is silent.
He had already himself assumed right
by proclamation to free much the larger
number of slaves in the Rebel States, un
der the authority given to him by Con-
gress to use military power to suppress
the rebellion; and it is quite inconceiv-
able that the President should think
Congress should vest in him discretion
| it could not exercise itself. i is the
more unintelligible from the fact that,
except in respect that small part of
Virginia and Louisiana, the bill covered
only what the Proclamation covered
added Congressional title and Judicial
remedies. by law to the disputed title un-
der the Proclamation, and perfected the
work the President professed to be SO
anxious to accomplish.
Slavery as an institution can be abolish
ed only by a change of the Constitution
of the United States or of the law of the
State; and this is the principle of the
bill. 1t required the new Constitution
of the State to provide for that prohibi-
ton; and the President, in the face of
his own proclamation, does not venture
to object to insisting on that condition
Nor will the country tolerate its abandon
ment-yet he defeated the only provision
Imposing it'll But when he describes
himself, in spite of this great blow at
Emancipation, as sincerely hoping and
texpecting that constitutional amend
ment abolishing slavery throughout the
nation may be adopted" We curiously
Inquire on what his expectation rests.
after the vote of the House of Represen-
tatiyes at the recent session, and in the
face of the political complexion of more
than enough of the States to prevent the
possibility of its adoption within any
reasonable time; and why he did not in
dulge his sincere hopes with so large an
installment of the blessing as his approx
al of the bill would have secured.
After this assignment of his reasons
for preventing the bill from becoming
Ilaw, the President proceeds to declare
his purpose to execute it as law by his
plenary dictatorial power.
He says:
Nevertheless, I am fully satisfied with
the system for restoration contained in
the bill as one very proper plan for the
loyal people of any State choosing to
adopt it; and that am. and at all times
shall be, prepared to give the Executive
aid and assistance to any such people so
soon as the military resistance to the
United States shall have been suppressed
/ in any such State, and the people there
| of shall have sufficiently returned to
their obedience to the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, in which
cases Military Governors will be appoint
ed, with directions to proceed according
to the bill" --... I'D.
A more studied outrage on the -legisla-
tive aut hority OF the people has never
been perpetrated. Congress passed a
bill; the President refused TO approve it.,
and then by proclamation puts as much
of it In force as he sees fit. and propose es
to execute those parts by officers un-
; known to the laws of the United States,
and not subject to the confirmation OF
the Senate! The bill directed the ap-
i pointment of Provisional Governors by
and with the advice and consent of the
! Senate. The President, after defeating
the law, proposes to appoint without law
and without the advice and consent of
4 the Senatel He has already exercised
this dictatorial usurpation in Louisiana,
and he defeated the bill to prevent its
limitation. Henceforth we must regard
the following precedent as the Presiden-
tial law of the Rebel States:
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
"WAsHINGToN March Is, 1864.
"His sreslleney MICHAEL HAHN, of LOuisi-
ana;
"Until further orders, you are hereby
invested with the powers exercised hith-
erto by the Military Governor of Louisi-
ana. .-
Yours, ABRAHAM LINCOLN"
This Michael Hahn is no officer of the
United States; the President, without
law, without the advice and consent OF
the Senate, by private note not even
countersigned by the Secretary of State,
makes him Dictator of Louisiana!
, The bill provided for the civil admins
tration of the laws of the State-till il
should be in fit tember to govern itself
: -repealing all laws recognizing Slavery,
and making all men equal before the law
: These benefcient provisions the Presi
, dent has annulled. People will die, and
marry and transfer property, and buy
t and sell; and 10 these acts of civil life
D courts and Officers Of the law are neces
D sary. Congress legislated for these nee
l essarv things, and the President deprive'
t them of the protection of the law! Th'
3 Presidents purpose to instruct his mill
: tsry Governors "to proceed according t.
9 the bill"-a makeshift to calm the disap
pointment its defeat has occasIoned-i
f not merely grave usurpation but trans
a parent delusion. He cannot proceed
according to the BILL" after preventing
!, it from beconing law.
!, Whatever is done, will be at his vii
' and pleasure, by persons responsible t.
3 ne law, and more interested to secure
: the interests and execute the will of thu
, President than of the people; and the
: will Of Congress is to be "held for naught,
,,oo-Ia Af ~kha raha