Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-12-12

or appropriated as military spoil No property
in the North would be spared from the hands
of the rebels, and their rapine won d be defend,
ed under the laws of war. While the loyal
States thus have all their property and posses
Sions at stake, are the inSurgeut rebels to carry
Oh warfare against the government in peace
and security to their own property
Reason and justic and self preservation for
bid that such should be the policy of this
Government but demand, on the contrary,
that, being forced by traitors and rebels to
the extremity of war, all the rights and pow
er of war should be exercised TO bring it to
speedy end.
Those who make war against the Govern
ment justly forfeit all rights of property, priv
ilege, or security, derived from the Constitu,
tion and laws. against which they are in armed
rebellion and as the labor and service of
their slaves constitute the chief property of the
rebels, such property should share the common
fate of war to which they havs devoted the
property of loyal citizens.
While it is plain that the slave property of
the South is justly subjected to all the conse-
quenceS OF the rebellious war, and that the
Government would be untrue to its trust in
not employing all the rights and powers of
war to bring it to speedy close. the details
OF the plan for doing so, like all other military
measures, must, in great degree, be left to
be determined by particular exigencis. The
disposition of other property belonging to the
rebels that becomes subject to our arms is gov
ernd by the circumstances Of the ease The
Government has no power to hold slaves, none
TO restain slave of his liberty, or to exact
boC riobt m
the voluntary service of slaves liberated by
war from their rebel masters, like any other
property of the rebels in whatever mood may
be most efficient for the defense of the Gov
ernment, the prosecution of the war, and the
suppression of the rebellion. 1t as clearly
right of the Government to arms slaves when
it may become necessary as it is to use gun
powder taken from the enemy. Whether it Is
eXpedent to do so is purely military ques-
tiOn. The right is unqueStionable by the laws
Of war. The expedienCy must be determined
by circumstances, keeping in view, the great
object Of overcoming the rebels, re-eStabllSh-
ing the laws, and restoring peace to the ma
ton.
1t is vain and idle for the Government to
carry on this war, or hope to maintain its eX-
istence against rebelous force without en-
ploying all the rights and powers of war As
has been said, the right to deprive the rebels
of their property in slaves and slave labor, is
as clear and absolute, as the right to take
forage from the field or cotton from the ware
house, or powder and arms from he maga-
zine. To eaYe the enemy in the possession Of
such property as forage and cotton aud mill
tary stores, and the means of constantly re-
producing them, would be madness. 1t is,
therefore, equal madness to leave them in
peaceful and secure. possession of slave proper
ty more valuable and efficient to them for
war, than forage, cotton, aud military stores
Such policy would be national suicide. What
TO do with that species of property, is queS-
ton that time and circumstance will sOlV e. and
reed not be anticipated further than to repeat
that they cannot be held by the Govcrnmont
as slaves. 1t would be useless to keep them
as prisoners of war and Self-preservation,
the highest duty of Government, or Of indi-
ViduatS demands that they should be disposed
of or employed in the most effective manner
that will tend most speedily to suppress the
insurrecton and restore the authority of the
Government. If it shall be found that the
men who have been held by the rebels as slaves
are capable of bearing arms aud performing
may become the dCty, o, the Government to
arm and equip them, and employ their services
against the rebels, under proper military reg
ulation, discipline, and command.
But in whatever manner they may be used
hy the Government, it is plain that once lib
Grated by the rebelIiOus act of their masters
they should never again be restored to bond
age. By the masters treason and rebellion
he forfeitS 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 pro-
lection
The disposition TO be made of the slaves of
rebels, after the close of the war, can be safe
ly left to the wisdom and patriotism of Con-
gress. The Representatives of the People
will uDquestionaby secure to the loyal slave,
holders every right to which they are entitled
under the Constitution of the country.
SIMON CAMERON, Sec'y of War.
To the President.
After the Report of the Secretary of War
had been sent to the newspapers, modifcs-
tion was made it is said, by the President
The concluding portion of the original report
commencing at the words Z" 1t has become a
grave question for determination what shall be
done with the slaves" was erased and the fol-
lowing paragraph substituted -
" 1t is already grave question what shall
be done by the slaves who are abandoned bv
their owners on the advance of our troops in-
to southern territory, as at Beaufort District,
in South Carolina The number left within
our control at that point is very considerable,
and similar cases will probably occur. What
shall be done with them? Can we afford to
send them forward to their masters, to be by