Year: 1864

N Military Governors and Provost
Marshals the bill iorhids clcctors for
J President, the proclamation and do
feat of tho bill threatens us with civil
war for the admission or exclusion Of
such votes the bill cxac.ed exclusion
OF danggous enemies from power and
tho relief of the nation from the rebel
dobt, and the prohibition slavery for
ever, SO that tho suppression Of the
rebellion viii double our resources TO
bear or pay tho national debt, free the
mass from the old domination Of tho
rebel leaders, and eradicate tho 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; leaving slavery exact
ly where it was by law at the out
break of tho rebellion, and adds no
guarantee even Of the freedom Of tho
slaves he undertook to manumit. ~
as summed up in an illegal oath with
out sanction and therefore void. The
oath is to support all proclamations Of
tho President, during tho rebellion,
having reference to slaves.


Anv ,goyprnrpcnt is IN ha aannia.nd-
at the hands of one-tenth Of the peo-
pie not contravening that oath. Now
that oath neither secures the abolition
of slavery nor adds any security to the
freedom of the slaves tho President
declares free.





1t does not secure the abolition Of
slavery for the proclamation Of free
dom merely professed to free certain
slaves while it recognized the institu-
| ton.


Every constitution Of the rebel
States at the outbreak Of the rebellion
may be adopted without the change
of letter; for none of them contra
vene that proclamation; none of them
establish slavery.


1t adds no security TO the freedom
of the slaves.


For their title is the proclamation of
freedom.


If it be unconstitutional, an oath TO
support it is void. Whether constitu-
tional or not, the oath is without au-
thority of law, and is therefore void.
- If - l----,al.1- -sAi,s@..-.-l.-:A
acts no enactment by the State, either
in law or constitution, to add State
guarantee to the proclamation title;
and the right Of slave to freedom is
an open question before the State
courts on the relative authority of the
State law and the proclamation.


If the oath binds the one tenth who
take it, it is not exacted Of tho other
nine-tenths who succeed to the control
of the State government; so that it is
annulled instantly by the act Of re-
cognition.


What the State courts would say OF
the proclamation, who can doubt?


But the master would not go into
court-ho would seize his slave.


What the Supreme Court would
say, who can tell? When and how is
the question to get there?


No habeas corpus lies for him in the
Unised States Court; and the Presi-
dent defeated with his bill its extern
sion of that writ to this case.


Such are tho fruits of this rush and
fatal act Of the Presidents blow at
the friends OF his administration, at
the rights Of humanity, and at tho
principles of a republican form of
government. The President has great.
ly presumed on the forbearance which
the supporters of his administration
have so long practiccd, in view Of the
arduous conflict in which we are en-
gagged and the reckless ferocity of our
political opponents.


But he must understand that our
support is Of q cause and not of
man that the authority of Congress
is paramount and must be respected f;
that the whole body of the Union men
of Congress viii not submit 10 be inn
peached by him of rash and unconsti-
tutional legislation, and If lie wishes
our support he must conine himself
to the executive duties-to obey and
execute, not make the laws---to sup~
press by arms armed rebellion, and
leave political reorganization to Con-
gress.


If the supporters of the govern
fail to insist ON this, they become re-
sponsible for the usurpations which
they rebuke andare justly liable to tho
Indignation of the people whose rights
and security, committed 70 their keep
ing, they sacrifice.


Let them consider tho remedy for
these usurpations, and having found
it, fearlessly execute it.


B. L. WADE,


Chairman Senate Cominitte.


ii. WINTER DAVIS,


Chairman Committee


House Of Representatives.


on the Rebellions St,stea.