Nebraska advertiser., 1864-01-28
: 7. E !. 55IaERi EDITOEs.

Struggling, as our country is, bravely
against the rebellion constantly narrow
ing its boundary. hemming it in on one
side, BY what has been termed by our
"beef eating" friends in the "fOgY isle"
of England, a "pupsr blockade" and on
the ether by the bayonets Of determined
freemen. the question of a final settle
meat, and how that is to be affected to
the best advantage and the eternal ex-
tinctisn of slavery, up with a force
hitherto unexpected. So eager has been
the public mind upon the vital point of
asserting the supremacy Of the COnstitu-
ton over ever foOt of Union territory,
that, should the rebellion cease tomorrow,
our government would be nearly in as
bad a predicamept as the boy that baught
an elephant, and after he got ii didn't
know what to do with L."
The most sanguine, upon the matter of
slavery, think that the Presidents Pro-
clamatiOn has settled that entirely, and
that slavery does not exist within that
territory in rebellion at the time specified
In it. And such was our opinion, but
late adviees from the South show that
such is not the view taken by the loyal
men Of Louisiana. The following is from
the ST. Louis Democrats special CORES
pendent from Washington
Gen. Banks had issued a proclamation
for a State election for Governor, Sc,
for Louisiana, on the 22d of February.
He declares that so much of the consti-
tuition and laws Of the State as relate TO
slavery, being Inconsistent with the pres
ent state Of affairs and plainly inapplica-
bic to any Class of persons now existing
within Its limits, are imperative and void.
The General also appoints a Conven-
ten for the revision of the Constitution,
to De held on the first Monday in May
next. Arrangements will be made for
an early election of members of Congress.
This we see styled by a ''p%rominent
leader in the free State movement in
Louisiana" a military dictation," and
Banks, for carrying out the orders of the
President, is called "another Sche6eld. I"
The following is what we allude to:
Washington, Jan. 2I.-The same
steamer which brought the account Of the
great meeting in New Orleans, in favor
Of holding a State Convention 10 do
away with slavery, brought the following
letter 10 leading Administration Congress.
men from one of the most prominent
leaders in the free State movement in
Louisiana, and a native of Louisiana. Of
its statements l know nothing, beyond
the fact that the writer is a man of un-
doubted character, v%eracity and position.
have no right to print his name, but ii
is the duty of those officially interested
to inquire into the facts.-Special Dis
patch Mo. Dem.
New Orleans, Jan. 9.-Dear Sir: Pres
ident Lincoln has started a Missouri case
in Louisiana, and has made Banks our
master and Banks is another Schofeld,
enlyworse ihan him. Our mass-meeting
last night was a complete success, but its
object will be defeated by Banks, who,
under the orders direct from the Presi.
dent, declares his purpose to order an
election for a convention, thus playing
int the hands of Coleman, Ruddle and
Field, and their crew. The Union men
the true Union men-are thunder
struck by the course Of the President in
this matter. We we're not informed of
the Presidents orders to Banks until the
hour of the meeting last night, and the
meeting was not informed at all. Gen.
Shepley, who Is generally liked, and who
has done all he could to promote the Free
State cause, and to organize a Free State
government, will resign, and the election
ordered by Banks will be purely a mill
tsry dictation, and will be so regarded. /
know not the secret spring of all these
acts of the President and General Banks.
The President has probably been de-
ceived by interested and base men. His
true friends and the friends of his meas
ures are much grieved by the course he
has authorized. 1t is certain that Gen.
Banks has the mistaken confidence of
Mr.. Lincoln. Here be is regarded as
another Schofeld, without the talent
of that officer. Is 1t not possible TO get
the President to countermand his orders
20 Banks Immediately, and let the people
manage matters as they have begun to
dO7
From this il would appear that the
question has two sides, and that the peo-
pie wish to settle . question which the
President thinks already settled. If the
carrying out of bus proclamation is look
ed upon by 1.-The free State" leaders in the
South as a military d~iCtatiOn," 1t will
make the final settlement a great deal
more difficult.
Our opinion is that the country in re-
beIliOn should be, as enoush was acquired
from time to time, held by government
the same as any unOccupied territory, and
set in working order under an organic
law, and then when the people in such
terrilory desire admission int the Union,
admit them only with a free State Con-
stitution.
L.