North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-08-17
VOL. 4 NO. 2

proclamation, another; the bill ascertains
voters by registering, the proclamation By
guess; the bill exacts adherence TO existing
territorial limits, the proclamation, admits of
others; the bill governs the rebel States by
dac, cquahzing ell before it ,the proclamation
commits them TO the lawless discretion Of
military Governors and provost marshals; the
bill forbds electors for President, the procla.
nation and defeat of the bill threaten ne with
civil warrf1r the admission or exclusion of
such votes; the bill exacted exclusion of dan
gerous enemies from power and the relief Of
the nation from the rebel debt, and tho pro-
hibit1n Of slavery forever, 50 that the sup
preston. Of the rebellion will double opr rev
sources to bear or pay the national debt, free
the masses from the old domination of the
rebel leaders, and eradicate the cause of the
war; the proclamation secures neither Of
these guarantees.
1t is silent respecting the rebel debt and
the political exclusion Of rebel leaders leav-
ing SLAVERY exactly where it was by law at
the ou break of the rebellion, and adds no
guaranty even of the freedom of the slaves he
undertook to manumit ard
1t is summed up in an illegal oath, without
a sanction and therefore void. -as z7gd
The oath is 10 support all proclAmations of
the President during the rebellion having ref
| erence to slaves. T Ta s..a rre-r- aal
ANY Government is to be accepted atathe
| hands Of oDa. tanth Of bo Dao,,la MT noptr~
venng that oath. r.is!
Now that oath neither secures the aboli-
ton OF Slavery nor adds security to the free-
dom of the slaves the President declared
free. ....al ...4.r
1t does not secure the abolition ofslavery
for the proclamation of freedom merely pro-
ftssed 10 free certain slaves while it reeog-
nized the institution. .-.,.,....- IL
Every Constitution of the rebel States at
| the outbreak of the rebellion raay be adopt
ed without the change of a letter for none
of them contravene that proclamation !; none
of them establish slavery. lid F.ge
1t adds no security to the freedom OF tha
slaves. -r.. ...s1t,
For their title is the proclamatio1l of free
| dom, "a za. ..-.s. r,..,..
1t it be unconstitutional, an oath 70 sup
port it is void. Whether constitu tionai or
not, the oath is without authority Of law,
and therefore, void. ....--...-- ....,-t
| If it be valid and observed, it exactsrno
enactment by the State, either in law, or
Constitution, to add State guaranty. 10. the
proclamation title and the right Of a slave
to freedom is an open question before the
State courts on the relative au thority of the
State law and the proclalnat ion. ,-rr
If the oath binds the one. tenth who take
it, it is not exacted eff the other nine tenths
who succeed to tho coutro Q the State Gov
ernment, SO that it is annullei instantly. by
the act of recognition.
What the State courts would say Of the
proclamation, who can doubt
But the master would not go into court
be would seize his slave. '''"o.
What the Supreme Court would cay, who
can tell7 '.- '''-'A '''.'
When and how is the question to get.
there? '4''' -----' ~ .--'
No habeas corpus lies for him in o United
States court, and tie President defeated
with this bill its extension Of that writ to
this case. -' 't" 2..-" -5 s't
Such are the fruits Of this rash and fatal
act OF The President-a blow at the friends of
his administration. at the rights of humanity,
and at the principles of republican govern
ment.
The President has greatly presumed on
the iorbearance which the supporters of bis
Administration have so long practiced, in
view of the arduous copfict in which We are
engaged, and the reckless teroclty of our po-
litIcal opponents.
But he must understand that our support
is Of cause and not of man that the au-
thority of Congress- is paramount and must
be respected; that the whole body Off
Union men of Congress will not subm IL
be Impeached by him of rash and unconi
tutional legislation and if he wishes '''5 81
support, he must coufine himself to hi'S' o
ecutive duues--to obey and execute 5s''e e!
make the laws-to suppress by arms -"al' no
rebellion, and leave political re.orgar .met
to Congress. t-@ r@'iol
If the supporters Of the Govern e..
to insist on this they become respc ,ns;I, .a"
the usurpation which they fail 20 80 80 TOT
and are justly liable to the indg aation ~ sAs'
people whose rights aud Security, cor ~. .us
to their keeping, they sa crifce. eu
Let them consider the remedy r for -. r..
usurpations, and, having und it. fe..Lr..,s
execute it. 7' 80 S9
- B. F..WADE,
Chairman Senate Committee.
'.. H.. WINTER DAVIS
Chairman Committee House ofoiRa.,n