Year: 1863

The efforts of the Red Bluff Beacon to
prove that the emancipation proclamation is
not constitutional, clearly shows the condi-
tional Unionism of that paper. 1t differs
with open secession papers, such as the Ex-
press and others, only on the question whether
the Union is to be maintained as whole or
not. The Express would follow the same
leaders the Beacon claims to follow, and
rejoices over the victory of the Wood Sey-
mour and Valandigham Democrats at the
November elections, claiming that "our err
ing sisters" should be permitted to depart
in peace ~ while the Beacon claims that the
Union must be maintained and the war go
on, bat adheres to the doctrine that slavery
must not be affected thereby. In other
words, the Beacon fixes its standard Of con-
stiIutional powers for conducting the war;
and pronounces all acts of the administra
ton that in any manner affects the main
support of the rebels, in their efforts to de-
stroy the Union, to be unconstitutional. The
Beacon of the 1th inst uses the following
language


We had hoped almost against hope that
the President would be influenced by the
wise counsels which were given, by the pop
ular admontions, BY regard to the earnest
wishes of the Border States, and particularly
by the large doubt which must exist in ev
cry mind as to the strict constitutionality
of the act. to revoke his intention of issuing
the proclamation, or at least greatly 10 mod
ify its scope and purpose.


What wise counsels have been given against
issuing the proclamation? Why, the coun-
sells of Vallandigham, John Van Buren, the
Woods, and men of like faith, are opposed to
the measure. New, who has the best oppor-
tunity to judge Of what the military neces-
sity Of the times demand? Admitting the
Beacon's doctrine that the war must go on
until rebellion is put down. it necessarily
follows that there must be some power or
head to conduct operations. That power
having been vested in the President by the
Constitution, it is his especial duty to use
all needful measures to suppress the rebel
lion. He has proclaimed to the world that
it is e . fit and necessary measure for sup
pressing said, rebellion to ''de-
clare that all persons held as slaves within
these designated States and parts of States,
are and heneeforth shall be free" He as
sumes the responsibility, as Commander in
Chief, as military necessity to provide in
this manner for obtaining great accessions
to the military power of the Government
and by taking this arm of power and strength
from the rebels, he therefore weakens the
enemy to the extent of all those persons who
shall come into the lines and under the CON
troll of the Union forces. The history of this
war has shown that these slaves. so recently
declared free, have been the main support
of the rebel armies, and have been the means
of enabling the conscription act to take near
ly the entire white population of the slave
States, and place arms in their hands to de-
stroy Union men, and we see nothing wrong
or unconstitutional in the measure. This
conditional Unionism Of a large class Of So
STYLED Democrats, has retarded and DELAYED
the successful conduct of the war quite as
much as the more open and ont spoken trail
tors throughout til, free States, and we trust
taey will soon see the error of their wavs.
and give TO the Government their hearty and
undivided support.