Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/239

 The Monument to General Robert E, Lee. 231

not be attained without successful war upon the States against which it was directed. In fact, we know that the attempt to attain these objects by the means proposed in the proclamation, resulted in the complete overthrow of those States as political organizations and their re-establishment as members of the present Union under condi- tions prescribed by the power acquired by successful war.

But the proclamation further declares that it is an effort ** to main- tain the honor, the integrity, and the existence of our national Union and the perpetuity of popular government, and to redress wrongs already long enough endured. '*

Under such vague specifications there could be no limitation upon the use the President might make of the army he called into the field except his own will.

What, for example, did the proclamation mean by popular govern- ment ? There were multitudes of people in the North who did not regard the governments of the slave States as popular governments.

THE president's POWER UNLIMITED.

And, above all, what did he mean by redressing wrongs already long enough endured ? What were the wrongs, and what the mode and measure of redress ?

You will see that within the scope of the proclamation the President could do anything he pleased with the force he called to his aid, by any means he might think best. The proclamation is silent as to the powers which would be exercised by the President to attain the vague and undefined objects in view ; but we are not left in doubt as to what those powers were. He enumerated some of them in his message to Congress on the 4th of July, 1 861, nearly three months after the war began. He says :

at first a call was made for seventy-five thousand militia, and rapidly following this a proclamation for closing the ports of the insurrec- tionary districts by proceedings in the nature of blockade. So far all was beUeved to be strictly legal. At this point the insurrectionists announced their purpose to enter upon the practice of privateering. Other calls were made for volunteers to serve for three years, unless sooner discharged, and also for large additions to the army and navy. * * * Soon after the first call for militia it was considered a duty to authorize the commanding general in proper cases, accord- ing to his discretion, to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas.
 * ' Recurring to the action of the government, it may be stated that