Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-11

going into these | shall have to act accord !.
ing to my Judgment Of the ground before
me, as do on this occasion.
freferred to BE Publicly Censured. :.
If, upon reflection, your better Judgment
still decides that am wrong in the article
respecting the liberation Of slaves, have to
ask that you will openly direct me to make
the correction. Tho implied censure will be
received as soldier always should the rep
rimand of his chief III wore to retraot of
my own accord, it would imply that I my
self thought it wrong and that had acted
without the reflection which the gravity Of
the point demanded. But did not. acted
with full deliberation and upon the certain
conviction that it was q measure right and
necessary, and think 90 still.
In fegara re 70 the other points Of the proc
that 1 do not think the enemy can either
m1sconstrue or urge anything against 1t or
undertake to make unusual retaliation. The
| shooting OF men who shall rise in arms
against an army in the military occupation
or country Is merely . necessary measure OF
defense and entirely according to the usages
all refer to prisoners OF war, and certainly
our enemies have no ground for requiring
that we should waive in their benefits any
OF the ordinary advantages which the wages
OF war allow to US. As promptitude 10 itself
an advantage in war have also to ask that
you will permit me to carry out upon the
spot the provisions Of the proclamation in
point Of view, 1 am satisfied that strong and
vigorous measures have now become neces-
sary to the success Of our arms. an hoping
that my views may have the honor to meet
gard, very truly yours, j. @ FREMONT.
AQuestion as to Stewards Course.
The messenger left on the afternoon train,
taking with him General Fremont's answer
to the President, and made the return trip
in the schedule time of q little over two
days 1t would be interesting to know how
the messengers inexplicable delay was 40
counted for to President Lincoln. Was the
President told that the delay had been
caused by General Fremont
To the observer who knows the history of
those days the question that might be asked
is, Where was Seward, and how did he in.
fuence Lincoln at this juncture? His
previous and later opinions and actions give
small room to doubt his action when he
hastened to the President Immediately on
learning of Fremont's proclamation. It has
often been said that Linooln's action ct this
time was not prompted by his first impulse,
his advisers Indeed, the only reason urged
by the President, in his letter of September
2, 1861, is the fear of alarming Southern
friends and losing Kentucky to the Union.
That this fear was groundless history 10 wit
ness, for the rebels had already invaded
Kentucky and Fremont had in August com.
menced the movement on Paducah and
ordered General o. 8. Grant to take pos
session OF that town and occupy Kentucky.
Lincoln made no question of Fremont's un-
doubted right to make the proclamation,
and the first slaves ever freed by the Gov
ernment were emancipsted under this
proclamation of freedom, and It Is an inter-
esting question what would have been the
duration of the war had Lincoln nov con-
frmed and made of general application
Fremont's order Of emancipation for tho
State of Missouri instead of waiting q year.
An Old Parchment That Freed a Slave.
Before me lies an old parchment covered
and interlined with General Fremont's
writing, the origin al of the deed of manu-
mission which freed Frank Lewis, hereto
fore held to service or labor by said Thomas
L. Sneed," who had been taking ''active
part with the enemies Of the United States
in the present insurrectionary movement
against the Government of the United
States" and declares the said Frank Lewis
''to be free and forever discharged from the
bonds of servitude."
What must have been his thoughts as he
penned these lines that broke the invisible
bonds and let the first of the race in bondage
stand erect free mani The deed was done,
the word spoken, and henceforth the war
was no longer alone for the debatable ques-
tion of Union or no Union, but also for the
greater issue, the right of every man to be
free!
When the emancipation order was re-