Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-01-06
The working of the Leaven.

When the President issued his procla-
nation offering to allow the loyal citizens,
and those with certain exceptions who
had aided the rebellion, upon taking the
prescribed oath, to form State Govern
ment without slavery, no reasonable man
supposed that any sudden movement
would be made in compliance with the
suggestion that any State now known
as rebelious, or any considerable portion
Of the people of any one Of those States
would proceed at once to carry out the
plan proposed. We have not the slight
est idea that the President acted with such
an expectation. The very character and
tone of the document, and the magnitude
of the object to be accomplished, forbid
the possibility of such result. The plan
is evidently the result of long and serious
study, and is designed as far as possible
to meet the exigencies, not of day nor
of one locality, but of all that might
arise throughout all the rebellious terri
tory until the authority of the Federal
Government shall be established over
every foot of it, and loyal people, re-
cognizing and upholding that authority,
shall control its destinies. A considera-
bic time must necessarily elapse before
the scheme will penetrate the bcnighted
regions in which it is designed to operate;
its provisions must be carefully studied :
its intentions, bearings and probable con--
sequences understood, and an interchange
and comparison of views and opinions
among those interested, be had, before
public sentiment will commence to be
formed. Many old prejudices must be
dispelled by argument, or left to slow de-
cay and death at the touch of experience.
In many parts held or overrun constant
" by rebel armies, or under strong rebel
influences, no action could, by any possi-
bility, be taken until the difficulties were
removed. Yet there are not wanting
signs that the leayen is beginning to work.
The resolution reported to have been in
troduced in Congress by Mr.. Ashley, au-
thorizing the loyal citizens Of insurgent
States to organize Government, repub-
ican in form, and for other purposes,
probably intended as Congressional en-
dorsement of the Proclamation, and other
resolutions introduced of different char
acter, but relating to the same subject,
will elicit discussion and difuse light
among the people, whatever action may
be taken, or course resolved upon, by
Congress.
In parts most accessible, there are in
creasing indications that the class to which
the proclamation appeals is awake to the
subject. In Norfolk, some hundreds have
voluntarily come in and taken the pre-
scribed oath, for the express purpose of. .
availing themselves of the benefits of the
Presidents offered amnesty. Although
this is the only instance, Us yet, of which
we have any account where the people
have acted with that avowed object, there
can be no doubt that the same influence
is already remotely felt over considerable
portion of rebcldom. The movements Of
the Virginia Government, located a. Alex
andria, shows a strong disposition coupled
with the ability to restrict to still narrow
er limits, slavery on the "sacred soT' Of
the Old Dominion.
The element which welcomed the old
flag, with tears of JOY, to East Tennessee;
which volunteers to defend it in Texas;
which holds public meetings to discuss
the question of slavery, aye, even the abo-
ltion of slavery in Arkansas, hitherto
considered land of semi -barbarians and
"toothpick;"' which in North Carolina is
a thorn in the side of the Confederacy;
which in Louisiana consults and plans for
its own security and benefit, and which is
scattered everywhere throughout the Con-
federacy, crushed and bruised by the ty-
rants heel, and awaiting hoped-for res
direction, will eventually make some
response to the profered terms of the
President. 1t is nearly allied to uncon-
dilional Unionism, and only requires edu-
cation to become such.
Few may be willing to accept the terms
unqualified, at once. Some differences Of
opinion, some reservations in behalf of
selfish interests may intervene for time,
but little enlightenment, explanation
and persuasion will remove the difficulty.
The plan of the proclamation is so free
from objections, SO simple and effective,
that it commends itself to the approval Of
nearly all loyal men who have not some
preconceived pet schemes of their own to
forward, and to the practical common
sense and candid attention of every un-
preiudiced mind. The enemiesof the gov
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and copperheads-
of course, object to its interference with
slavery but that institution is fast losing
its pretended sanctity among the honest
meo of the South as well as the North,
whether shareholders or not. We believe
it will, before long, work itself into the
favor, and command the approval and
e,Innnrt of all classes hy the effects IL will