Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-07

ing may have been surprised TO find no allu-
sion TO the topic which excited most interest at
the Federal Metropolis-.namely, the reported
disagreement between the President and the
Secretary Of War with regard to that portion
Of the Report Of the latter which treats Of the
use to be made Of the slaves Of rebels. Other
journals had information on this subject; we
had none; simply because, while their Wash
ington dispatches respecting II were allowed to
come through in due Course, ours was sup
pressed by the Government censor in the Wash
ipgton telegraph office. Having received IL by
mail, we give it now as part of the history OF
the times, simply rsmaikipg that we do not un-
derstand that it was suppressed for lack OF
truth, but rather for excess of it.
THE SUPPRESSED DISPATCH.
WASHINGTON, December 2, 1861.
The call of the roll had scarcely ended in
the House when the temper Of the People was
sifikiDgly manifested by their Representatives
Fastening, without delaying moment for
Presidential or other message, to pass a resolu-
ton emancipating the slaves of rebels within
the military jurisdictions. Before the vote
upon it was recorded, painful rumor pervaded
the Hall that the President had taken open
issue upon this very question with Secretary
Cameron, and had recalled from the Philadel-
phia Post. office the undelvered copies of the
War Department Report, which the latter had
mailed yesterday for the use Of the Newspaper
press. The city was filled with rumors of q
breaking up of the Cabinet, and the influence
of the revolution we are passing through, in
attaching men to principles while weakening
their hold on laws and forms, was every where
strikiDgly and most suggestvely conspicuous,
The excitement occasioned by this Executive
opposition to the necessities of the war and to
the popular will, to- nj ghJ sways the hotels and
parlors Of the city. The history of the differ.
ence between the President and Secretary of
War has at last taken this shape. The Secre-
4.
Saturday. On Sunday afternoon he mailed it
TO The principal papers Of, the North and
West, as is customary on the day preced.
ing the reading of the message. On Sunday
night, the President, having found time to read
it, found IL not in his heart to agree with the
Secretsry's doctrine of the right and the duty to
make military use Of the slaves of rebsls-to
arm them, if necessary-and in all ways to use
them as We would any other property of the rebels
| to suppress this rebellion. He sent for Mr.. Cam
eron, and required bin to suppress this whole
portion OF his report, on the ground that its rec
ommendation was premature and i'll. timed. The
Secretary promptly and resolutely refused to sup
press a word of it. The discussion between
them was protracted. 1t ended as il began,
the President insisting upon the alteration, and
the Secretary respectfully buF firmly refusing
to change a syllable Of bis recommendations.
A subsequent interview in the afternoon had a
similar conclusion of debate, but new and
strspge conclusion of Executive will. The
President announced his purpose to strike
out The entire passage about the emancipation
and arming Of the slaves before sending in the
report with bis message to Congress. Mr.
Cameron declared he should not recall or sup.
press the document in the bands of the North
ern and Western editors, and that the printers
were at liberty to do with his report what they
pleased. Which of the two co pies will the peo.
pie read and the army preferP
As SECRETARY CAMERON wrote his Report or
the Slavery question, it stood thus:
What to do witbsstha species of property is q
question that time and circumstances will solve
and need Lot be anticipated further than to re
peat thatthey can not be held by the Govern.
ment as slaves. 1t would be useless to kes[
them as prisoners OF war; and self preserva.
iioD, the highest duty of government or o
individuals, demands that they should be dis
posed of or employed in the most effective man
ner that will tend most speedily to suppress;
the insurrectioD, and restore the authority o.
the Government. If it shall be found tn at the
men who bave been held by the rebels as slave:
are capable of bearing arms and performing eff
iciept military service, it is the right, and
may become the duty of the Government to
arm and equip them, and employ theif services
against the rebels, under proper military regu
: lation, discipline and command.
But in whatever manner they may be used BY
the Government, it is plain that, oDce liberated
by the rebelliOus act of their mSsters, they
should never again be restored to bondage
By the masters treason and rebellion be for.
feits all right TO the labor and service of his
slave; and the slave of the rebellious master
by his service to the Government, becomes
justly entitled to freedom and proteci cion.
The disposition to be made of the slaves Of
rebels, after the close Of the war, can be safely
left to the wisdom and patriotism of Congress
The Representatives of the people will unques
ticnably secure to the loyal Shareholders every
right to which they are entitled under the Con
stitution of the country.
, SIMON CAMERON, sec'y of War.
To the President.
The President ordered it to read as fol
: lows:
PORT.
Afer the original report had been printed
the following modification was made: The con
cludiDg portion, commencing a. the words, "I
has become grave question for determination
what shall be done with the slaves" wa
erased, and the subjoined passage substituted
| 1T is already grave question, what sba
be done with the slaves who are abandoned b
) their owners on the advance of our troops int
Southern territory, as at Beaufort district, i
South Caroline? The number left within ou
, control at that point is very considerable, an
similar cases will probably occur. What shsl
be dobe with them? Can we afford to sen
=. them forward to their masters, TO be by thet
/ armed against us, or used in introducing sup
| plies to maintain the rebellion2 Their labo
r may be useful to as; withheld from the ensm
9 it lessons his military resources, and withhold
l ing them has no tendency to induce the horror
e of insuneciion even in the rebel communiie;
4 They constitute military resource, and, bsiD
such, thai they should not be turned over I
the enemy is too plain to discuss. Why de
prive him of supplies by a blockade, aud vol
unfairly give him men to produce supplies
The disposition to be made of the slaves {
= rebels after the close of the war can be safel
left to the wisdom and patriotism of Congress
/ The RepreseD tatiVes OF the people will, un
questionabIy, secure to the loyal sIaveholder
every right TO which they are entitled unde
the Constitution Of the country.
, "SIM0N CAMERON,
3 "Seoretary Of War,
"To the President of the United States"
e From the New York Journal OF Commerce.l
; The South Carolina Negroes Not Solicit
II Ahnnf GGEnro