Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-12-13

1t has become d grave question for determi-
mutton what shall be done with the slaves aban-
dOncd by their owners on the advance Of our
troops into southern territory, as in the Beau
| fort district of South Carolina The whole
white Popul1tion therein is 5000, while the
number Of negroes exceeds 80 900. The pan
c which drove their masters in wild confusion
/ from tIieir homes, leaves tlIem in Gndfsputed
possession of the soil. Shall they, armed by
their masters, be placed in the field to fight a.
gainst US. or shall their labor be continually
employed in reproducing the means for support
ing the armies of rebellion?
The war into which this government has
been forced by rehelIioas traitors, is catfied on
for the purpose OF repossessiOng the property
violently and treacllerously seized upOih by tho
eEenes of the Government and to te-establish
the a authority and laws or the United States in
the pl;ices whcrc II is opposed or ovOrthrOwn
by armed insurrection anil rebellion. It's pur-
pose is TO recover and defend what is justly its
own.
War, even between independent nations, is
male to subdue the enemy and all that belongs
to that enemy, by occupying the hostile eouhn-
try, and exercising Clominion over all the men
and things within lis territory: This being
true in respect TO independent nations at war
with each other it follows that rebels who are
laboring Gy fotce Of arms to overthrow gov
ernment, Justly bring upon themselves all the
Consequences OF war, and provoke the dcstruc-
ton lherited by the woFst 0f crimes. That
Government would be flse 70 national trust,
anil 5ould Justly excite the ridicule Of the civ
iizel world that would abstain from the use of
any efficient means to preserve its own exis-
tence or TO overcome rebellOus and traitor
ous enemy by sparing or protecting the pro-
pefty of those who are waging war against
it,
The principal wealth and power Of the reb-
e States is peculiar species OF property, con-
sisting of the service or labor OF African
slaves, OF the descendants of Africans. This
property has been variOusly estimated at the
value of fiom S70O,O00,aOO to 81 100000
600.
Why should this property be exempt from
the Iazard and consequences Of rebellious
wafY
1t was the boast of the leader Of the rebel
lion, while he yet had seat in the Senate Of
the United States, that the SodtheFn States
would be comparatively safe and free from tho
burdens of war, if it should be brought on by
tie contemplated rebellion, ana that boast was
accompanied by the savage threat thdt @horth-
erfi towns and cities would become the victims
OF rapiue and military 81 irii, and that @nofth
trn men should she. s5utlern gunpowder and
feel south IN steel" No one doubts the dis
position of the rebels to carry that threat into
execution The wealth Of Northern towns and
cities, tho produce Of northern workshops and
manufactures, would certainly be sci zea; de-
st4oved. or appropriate q as Military Spoil
No property III the North would be spared
from the hands Of the rebels, aud their tapine
would be defended under the laws Of war
While the loyal States thus have all iheh pro-
tertS and Possessions at slaltc, are the insGr-
gent rebels to carry on warfare ngaiEst the
government in peace and security to their own
properly.
Reason and Justice and selEpreservation for
BID tEArt such shotrd bo the policy Of this,
government, but demand, on the contrary, that
being forced by traitors and rebels to the ex-
tremi;y of war, all the rights and powers Of
war should be exercised TO bring it to a speedy
end.
Those who make war agai0s the government
Justly forkit all rights Of properly, privilege
or security derived from the constitution and
laws against which they are in armed rebellion
and Al Tie labor and service Of their slaves con-
anute the chief property of the rebels, such
property shbuld share the common fate Of war
10 which rhey hh1e devoted the property of
loyal citizens,
While it is plain that the slave property of
tho South is justly subjected TO all the cOuse-
quences of this 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 a speedy close, the details Of the
pan for doing so, like all other military meas
ures, must, in a great degree, be left to be de-
termined by particular exigenocs. The d'spe
sitiou Of other property belonging TO tbe ren
els that becomes subject to our arms isgpveru
ed by the circumstances Of the case. The Coz
ernment has no power to hold slaves, noa5 L.
restrain slave Of his liberty, or % exsej hH
service Il heS light, however tc use tue