, 1864-08-05
THE WASHINGTON STATESMAN
A War Measure.

his Emancipation Proclamation, that the proc
lamation was necessary war measures" that
it would cripple the rebellion and thereby tend
to restore the Union. The measure was scarce
ly ever sactioned or justified upon any other
grounds, even by the radicals themselves The
extreme advocates of the proclamation, as war
measure, were sanguine in the belief that it
would give the Shareholders rebellion such a
vital stab in its mostvulnerable parts, to cause
its sudden collapse, and bring the rebels to
terms. But, instead of weakening the rebellion
as the radicals contended it would do, the proc
lamation, as time and experience has shown,
had contrary effect and gave it additional
strength. Instead of proving to be powerful
weapon in the hands of the Federal government,
it has proven to be powerful weapon in the
hands of the rebels. Instead of combining the
voice and strength of the North for the suppress
sion of the rebellion, it created division in
sentiment and measurably retarded the prose-
cution of the war. Instead of dividing senti-
ment in the South and causing depletion in
the armies of the rebels, it had the effect to
unite the people in the interests of the rebellion
and fill up their armies. The conservative
element in the North predicted this result long
before the Emancipation proclamation was is
sued, and denounced the Inauguration of such
a policy when the scheme was first broached.-
Even Mr.. Lincoln, himself when Fremont and
Hunter assumed the responsibility of issuing
their edicts of emancipation, appeared to con-
denim the policy and countermanded the eman-
cipation orders. He knew he had said in his
Inaugural Address that he had ''no purpose, di-
rectly or indirectly, to interfere with the insti-
tuition of slavery in States where it exists;' that
he had "no lawful right to do so" and that he
had ''no inclination to do So" Having de-
clared these sentiments it was his duty to re-
buke Fremont and Hunter for doing what he as
Commander-in-Chief, by Virtue of the Presiden-
tial office, had 'no lawful right to do" He did
rebuke Fremont and Hunter for their unlawful
emancipation edicts as military commanders,
and proud nation rejoiced to find that the
President, who had been proclaimed as "sec-
tional" and who it was said, was elected on a
sectional platform" held to the principles and
letter of the Constitution against all its enc
mics, and was in favor of rigidly adhering to
and enforcing the laws of the land. But how
a proud nation mourned when this same
President Lincoln recanted his former dec1ara-
tions and himself issued an emancipation proc
lamation. Those who had upheld him for his
Constitutional course and who had pointed with
pride to the patriotic sentiments contained in
his Inaugural Address, could no longer uphold
him as being either an honest man or states
man. They could not say now that he was not
sectional for by his own acts he had proved
the contrary. He had inaugurated policy to-
wards the rebellious States with respect to the
institution of slavery, which he had previously
ev-ressIv declared h Il lavrfnI = It H
inclination 10 do. 1t was not possible for
honest and conscientious people, who had u
held the President for his constitutional cours
to uphold him because he had renounced tn
course and pursued contrary and unlawf
one. However much they might be in favor
war as opposed to rebellion they could not san
ton unlawful decress of the President, eve
though urged upon the pretext ground of Hmil
nation a necessity of any kind, when not
slave could be reached or set at liberty exec
where the federal armies could penetrate an
capture them
But now we come down to a later period
this military necessity war measure. some pc
sons, claiming to be in the employ and to unde
stand the wishes of the rebel government, pr
sent propositions for a basis of terms of peac
having in view the restoration of the Union
Mr.. Lincoln, true to what seems to be his abb
lition instincts, makes no objections to any
the propositions laid down except the one r
ferring to the question of slavery; to this claus
he objects, and gives the rebel agents, an
through them the rebel government to under
stand that no peace commissioners will be col
ferred with by the Federal authorities exceI
they come with terms for the Abandonment
slavery. Mr.. Lincoln says to the rebels in e
feet, our terms are that you must abandon sl'
very before you can be recognized as belongin
to this Union your Peace Commissioners mus
bear that fact in mind-none others need apply
1t is in fact plain proposition for them to sta
out of the Union, for every man with his reaso
about him must see that they will not resum
their allegiance to the federal government
they cannot preserve their property and tn
"dignity and equality of the several States III
impaired" by so doing There is no reasonabl
alternative left but for them to still rebel-t
still fight on Now if the abolition policy wa
necessary in order to bring the rebels to terms
why is it, when they manifest disposition
make peace, that Abolition is still Haunted i
their faces a.? Let the Abolitionists answer.
In 1861 the President in his message to Con
gress said ''He desires to preserve the Gov
ernment that it may be administered as it wa
administered by the men who made it. Loya
citizens everywhere have right to claim this G
them, and the Government has no right to with
hold or neglect it," Unfortunately for the loya
citizens, unfortunately for the whole people
Mr. Lincoln did not keep his pledge and admin
lister the Government as it was administered b
the men who made it. Had he so administere
it our country would not have been weltern
in blood and draped in mourning as it now is
Had a concilatory policy-a principle that &C
corded with the views of the founders of tn
Republic-been adhered to this war would hav
been at an end long ago, with the Union re
stored ''as it was" Loyal citizens have RICH
to claim that the Government shall be admins
tered as it was administered by the Fathers, AM
if the President refuses so to administer it the,
bou riorbfH aIa rrI,o