Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-12-13

sequences of this rebellious war, and that tn
Government would be untrue to its trust il
not employing all its rights and powers Q
war to bring it to speedy close, the details
of the plan for doing so, like all other militar,
measures, must, in great degree, be left t.
be determined by particular exigencies. Tn
disposition of other property belonging to tn
rebels that become subjects to our arms i
governed by the circumstances Of the case
The Government has no power to hold slave.
none to restrain slave of his liberty, or tt
exact his service. 1t has a right, however, te
use the voluntary service of slaves liberated
by war from their rebel masters, like any
other property of the rebels, in whatever
mode may be most efficient for the defence o.
the Government, the prosecution of the war
and the suppression of the rebellion. 1t is
clearly right of the Government to arm
slaves, when it may become necessary, as il
is to use gunpowder taken from the eEemy.-
Whether it is expedent to do so is purely a
military question. The right is unGuestion-
able by laws of war. The expediency must
be determined by circumstances, keeping in
view the great object nf overcoming the reb-
els re-estabishing the laws, and restoring
peace to the nation. W -itJ'
1t is vain and idle for the Government to
carry on this war, or hope to maintain exist
ence against rebellious force, without employ
ing all the rights and powers of war. As has
been said, the right to deprive the rebels of
their property in slaves and sla5e labor, is as
clear and absolute, as the right to take for
age from the field, or cotton from the ware
house, or powder and arms from the maga-
zine. To leave the enemy in the possession
Of such property as forage and cotton and
military stores, and the means of constantly
reproducing them, would be madness. 1t is,
therefore, equal madness to leave them in
peaceful and secure possession of slave proper
", more valuable and efficient to them for
war, than forage, cotton, or military stores.-
Such policy would be national suicide. What
% do with that species of property, is a ques-
ion that time and circumstances must solve
md need not be anticipated further than to
repeat that they cannot be held by the Gov
as slaves. 1t would be useless to
keep them as prisoners of war, and self-pre-
scrvation, the highest duty of a Government
Dr. of individuals, demands that they should
De disposed of or employed in the most fleet
We manner that will tend most speedily to
suppress the insurrection and restore the
of the Government If it shall be
ound that the 1nen who have been held by
he rebels as slaves, are capable of bearing
rms and performing efficient military service,
t is the right, and may become the duty, of
he Government to arm and equip them, and
mploy their services against the rebels, un-
lcr proper military regulation, discipline and
But in whatever manner they may be used
" the Government, it is plain that, once lb-
rated by the rebelous acts Of their mas
ers, they should never again be restored to
bondage. By the masters treason and rebel
ion he forfeits all right to the labor and serv
ce of his slave; and the slave Of the rebel
ious aster, by his service to the Govern
nent. becomes justly entitled to freedom and
protection.
The disposition to be made of the slaves of
ebels, after the close of the war, can be
afely left to the wisdom and patriotism of
Congress. The Representatives of the Peo
lie will unquestionably secure to the loyal
lavehold RS every right to which'they are en-
tiled under the Constitution of the country.