New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-31
BEILA.mOILiTA-sOPT WAR.

When osric, the watcr-ay, called upon Hemlct
to arrange the tilt with LBeries, he did not for
get to speak in high terms Of the latter, q, " %
" absolute gentleman, full Of most excellent dil-
" ferences, OF very soft society aud great show
- ing-ihe card or calendar d gentry" There
are some men and some journal re who, having
all their lives been accustomed to speak Of slave
holders ard slayehOldDg IN their meHly -moutfed
way, caunct now, in the very tempest Of the na-
tional danger, change TO something Ike mascu-
line tone. The Northern corpses upon the fields
Of Virginia appeal to them IN vain. Men and
women driven from their Southern homes be.
cause of their Northern birth and blood,
appeal 10 them in vain. They shut
their eyes to things ylgarly disbcnest-to igroble
POPULATIONS aud gratuitous bankruptcies, aud to
an oflic al treacheTy almost without precedent
in history. Fight" they say to our noble
Volunteers" but fight with ios Fire, but
I" fire with blank cartridges Lay on, Macduf
"but lay on softly" How many times already
have We been reminded that Rebel SOuherners
are our brethren This may be, according to
certain codes, reason for not lighting with them
at all; but contest once concluded urOn, we
respectfully submit that they have ceased 10 be
brethren and have become simply enemies
Brothers who depatCh the wounded aud mutilale
the slain are not Of that intensely fraternal
pattern which is worthy of tho highest reverence.
They are entitled to whatever consideration the
laws Of war pernit-not ore jot or little more.
But there is one particular Of tender soicitude
which we confess we do not well understand; ard
that is the hot haste with which some Of our
Generals return fugitive slaves. Why il this spe-
eies of properly to be given up more than NUM-
lions of war; black man who can dig cook,
and assist in general camp work is certainly quite
as valuable to keep for ones self and from ones
enemy as a gun, cask OF powder, or horse.
Slaves in all ages have always been among tho
spells of war; and il we can obtain them with
out fighting for them in fact by their running to
us 80 much tie better II, by the fortune OF
war; Vreinian rebel has his house burned, is
il the intention Of Congress to sOOths his grief
by building him another domici Why not, il
you are also bound to restore to him lis runa-
way negroes There may be difference, but
we do not zee it.
The truth is, the fppant gentlemen who UNDER
take 10 assure the South that this war, at its
honorable conclusion, will leave slave property
in stata qao, exceed their commissions. They
are promising utter impossibilitie'. They are
what no human power can ac-
complish. Under any circumstances-the South
ern Confederacy established or overthrown-
the strength of the institution Of Slavery can
never again be what it has been. The South
is utterly bankrupt now; but in what a condi
ton will it be when il has lest the advantage
perhaps of half dozen crops; aud 10 crushed
under an enormous public debt, which must be
paid by taxes on negroes, OF NOT paid Mt oil
On the other hand, admitting the Slave States
which have seeded to have been reduced to
wholesome obedience to the Constitution, Slavery
can never again BIO the autocralic, dominceriDg,
and impudent power which it has been. SO far
from this, it will understand-lor this is tho les
son which reyerses will teach tit viii under
stand that it hUido its very eSistence by the
tenure of good behavior. In one OF these ways
or the other, Slavery must be affected BY the
war.