The Smoky Hill And Republican Union

GEN. HUNTER AND THE PRESIDENT.

In our telegraphic columns last week was a synopsis of a proclamation by Gen. Hunter, declaring the slaves in the States of Georgia, Florida and South Carolina forever free. His right to do this he bases upon the fact that, as those States are in rebellion against the Government and martial law has been declared over them, and slavery and martial law are incompatible and cannot exist together, the slaves are of a necessity free. Slavery cannot exist without local laws to protect it, and when those laws are supplanted by martial law the chains of the slave fall to the ground and he becomes free. But however right General Hunter may be in his views of the subject, the President does not seem prepared for such a movement, and in a proclamation pronounces General Hunter's action unauthorized and altogether void.

He says that such "supposed right" he reserves to himself and will not be entrusted to commanders in the field.

The President in his proclamation, calls attention to his former proclamation, urging emancipation upon the people of the border States, and appeals to them as follows:

"To the people of these States I now earnestly appeal. I do not argue, I beseech you to make the arguments for yourselves. You cannot if you would be blind to the signs of the times. I beg of you a calm and enlarged consideration of them, ranging, if it may be, far above personal and party politics. This proposal makes common cause for a common object, casting no reproaches on any. The change it contemplates would come as quietly as the dews of Heaven, not rending or wrecking anything. Will you not embrace it? So much good has not been done by one effort in all past time as, in the Providence of God, it is now your high privilege to do. May the vast future not have to lament that you have neglected it."