Year: 1862




a synopsis of President Lincoln's proc
lamation abolishing slavery in the States or
parts of States that shall be found to be in
rebellion after the first day of January next,
mas been published 1t provides that the
status of the different States shall then be
determined by the President, but that any
State having majority representation in
the Federal Congress shall be deemed loyal
to the Government 1t is difficult to pre-
dict with certainty the effect of this meas
ure upon the great struggle now pending
but judging it in all IS bearings, we can
not but regard its PRONUNCIATION at this time
as grossly impolitic, and highly injurious
to the cause which we suppose the Pres-
dent is laboring to subserve-the mainten-
ance and preservation of the Union. The
object and entire force of the proclamation
finds its compass in the idea Of intimidating
the rebel States into subection to the Fed
eral authorities by the simple enunciation
that after a certain date their slaves will be
set at liberty Whether intended as such
by the Administration, it will be so regard
ed by the people of the South and the
confidence which has been hitherto reposed
in the Administration by the loyal men of
the border States is not only destroyed, but
the determination throughout the South to
oppose the authorities of the Government
will be greatly strengthened, while their
resistance to the Federal army will be rem
dered in the highest degree intense and
desperate. In every feature, its effect upon
the South cannot be otherwise than urfa-
vorable, because it will be evidence incon-
trovertible to their minds that the rebel
leaders asserted the truth when they pro-
claimed the object of the war to be the abb
oliVion of slavery. Up to the issuance of
this proclamation, the people of the South
had no reason to believe that the war was
waged against them for any other purpose
than the maintenance of the Union and
the conservatism of the South-of the bor-
der States essentially-sprung from and
rests upon this principle alone. The ad-
dress to the President of the loyal members
of Congress from the border States, at the
assembling of the last session, asserted this
principle as the one upon which alone the
people of their respective States could main
tain their allegiance to the Union and
there is no Disgusting the fact that their
firm adherence to the Union through all
their trying reverses, has been sustained by
the belief that the only object of the Ad
ministration was to preserve the authority
of the Federal Government 1t is evident
from the declarations of leading loyal men
in the border States, that they do not be-
lieve a proclamation of this character was
necessary to preserve the Union, or that it
would in any manner aid in doing so; and
therefore they must regard it as departure
from the principle above alluded to and the
Inauguration of an abolition policy.


To what degree the loss of these hitherto
loyal States and the conservative element
of the South, may affect the efforts of the
Government to suppress the rebellion and
restore the Union, is perhaps matter of
conjecture but it is certainly the true pol
icy of the Government rather to accumulate
strength if possible for the performance Of
the gigantic task before it, than throw it
away upon the introduction of measures
calculated to drive powerful element from
its support.


The effect of the proclamation in the
Northern States will probably be to enlist
in the war the sympathies and possibly the
services of the abolition crew, who have
been impatiently waiting and praying for
the Inauguration Of policy by the Admin
istration which would strike vitality at the
whole system of slavery, and leave no pos
sible chance for even a remnant of the ''pe-
culiar institution" to survive the war. The
abolitionists of the North-the great mass
of whom the records of enlistments have
proved would not fight for the preservation
of the Union-will be expected to volun-
teer their services and means now that an
opportunity is afforded, in their estimation,
to compass their darling scheme We
doubt whether they will fight much, or
give to any purpose. They are eminently
of the clustering order, and although blat-
ant and boisteroas, when it comes to Fl ght-
ing they are proverbial for their peace pro-
clivities. In the matter of furnishing the
,sinews of war, we think the Administration
y has over-estimated the force of the abolition
element; and that in yielding to its unrea-
sonable and impelious demands, it has
made miserably poor exchange of the
conservatism of the country for all the good
that this fanatical horde may be expected
to conserve. The President will have to
draft them after all.


MAILS FOR THE UPPER CoUNrRY.-
We announce with pleasure the fact that
proposals have been advertised for carry
ing the mails over the new routes in Wash
ington Territory, established at the last
session Of Congress, and congratulate the
people that we are at last to have the BEN
eft of Uncle Sans mails. Bids are to be
/ closad b,, tho 10Th NOy ,,ov+ o-d 80