Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-01
THE PRESIDENTS MANIFESTO.
From the lNelo York Iimes

from the lNeD York Times
The National lntegencer persists in maintaining that
President Lncoln stands pledged only by the letter
to whom il may concern but also by his emancpation
proclamation TO receive consider any proposition for
peace with the rebels which does embrace the aban
donment of slavery well the restoration Of The Union
1t holds that he bound to prosecute the for the abo-
ton of slavery, after its prosecution to be
necessary for the restoration Of the Union. We al
ready given for not c0ncurrng 10 this opinion
We do not believe that Mr. Lincoln is pledged by his
1necedent or by his aatonsnor do We believe that
ns practical conduct Of the Government will be guided by
such theory III Jefferson Davis should Offer behalf
OF the men IN arms under him against tho Unon TO return
70 his allegiance to the Constitution aud GoVernmenr of
the United States believe that President Lincoln would
thertupon stop the We DO believe that would
continue it for an hour longer for the abolition Of slavery
or for any other purpose. The Union saved all other
questions at would be at emanded to the deci-
zion OF the proper trbunasand desired by the proper
authorities the Constitution itsef would be submitted to
the revision Of Convention
The Inteligeucer iabors with unwonted zeal to demon
strate that the President cannot with consistency with
honor pursue the policy we thus expect at his hands IL
appeals not only TO his declarations hs subject but TO
the hopes and pr udces hs radical pUter xouds
him from the pos Utility of such action Its earnestnssr
this matter much more OF the warmth parli
who apprehends evil to his party candidate
from the patriotic action of opponent than of zeal
for the safety of the nation, and eager TO have il
ernred by wise and patriotic policy the part Of it's
rulers.
We do not intend follow the Intelgencer in the de-
tails Of its argument II quotes from the Presidents proc
amaon the declaration that the saves in rebel States
the 1st Of January 1868, shall be- hencef raard fre
and that the Executive Cover nnent, including the milf
try and naval authority there Of will recognise and MAIN
taa their freedom" ltq1ts also his subseqie d c!a
ration that while he fic he will attempt
to retract modify the stiOn proclamation aud
chat to abandon the slaves freed er it would be a
cruel and astounding breach of faith" Aud it declares
hat these pledges compel him accept any peace
which emb less than the freedom Of all the slaves
covered by tine emancipation edct. We do concur in
hat Interpretation of these declarations In Judgment
them far wider scope than intended for
them by their author.
In the first place. the emancipation proclamatio WIS
issued as a means to an end. Ii was designed Co ba 4
styled it in bis last message TO Congress IL wa. Issued
according to it's termsnot denng the object Of
the war, fixing any aim which must be reached
before the cout end-but AS t aad necessary war
measure for SURPRISING the rebellion - aud was deemed
warranted by tho Constitution only " military ne
slty 1t would be evident that decree is .ued
for the purpose Of securing certain end would the
nent that end reached to have any other pr.c
teal vigor aud effect than such might have been given
to while operative in its proper character it
did free certain slaves while aiming suppress the
on those slaves would doubtless be free after the rebst
ion should be closed. But thai it continue to be
enforced by arms after the end for which it was issued
had been secured order to accomplish practically the
freedom OF all the slaves, seems to US pr pstrous We
nothing in any language President Lincoln bas ever
used to u believing that he regards it On
the contrary, every thing he has said Inc subject eoes
to show thai the proclamation regarded b. him a.
purely military measure-a means OF accomplishing n
mill ay end, and Unsuitable only the ground OF military
necessity. lu hs last annual message he soys Accord
ing to our political system matter of sdmulstra-
ton, the Government hal lawful power eff emau-
cIpaion in any State and for long tine bad hoped
bat The rebellion could be suppressed ioih0u resoriag 10
military Before the necessity for .uch
in order to suppress thu rebeloa arose
not competent for the Government to adoptt When
aecessty ceasesthe rebellion beiGg sed-it would
to beevdent that the must lose all actcai
force and effect We mine enemy's works capture
them would be idle and absurd to continue the mine
after the works should be surrendered
We do not what the Intege the coup ~ bss
to gain by throwing doubt upon President Line nos
ton this subject. III it should succeed "a convincing
the people that he tue war after tina re
oeon que-d and the Union saved for the of
forcing The abandonment OF slavery would only psrayzs
the Cove by destroying the public ese
ai TO lts support such conviction would pede the
draft check volunteering excite general discntent and
most seriously imperi the Union cause. We can UNDER
stand why hot headed, sesn party zealos pursue this
course reckless of these results but should hsve ex
Pected to ind the lnteEeRcer smoothing the oath of
patriotic duty for the President these days Of perprx
peril rather than hedging him about with fresh am
bsrrassments aud complications We eve him 81 bs
perfectly free from all commitments and oblgacos that
conflict with the supreme duty Of ng the ,Jnion Of
waging the with all possible vigor crush the rebel
on and of stopping the just that resp mas
been staned. In judgment he is perfectly tree not
only TO receive aud consider any propoon of peace
that embraces the integrity of the Union aud the cessation
Of the rebellion but he is also perfectly free to msse
formal pror of peace upon that sole niou whenever
ne my thDk 1t would Dc conducive to the public good
Add trust that ii sny occasion should arrive when
such prospect possibility of pc ehal come befo o
him from aoy quarter the Integenc~r at least will uot
seek b. drive HIM from its by parade of
pledges and commitments strained beyond their proper
scope