The national Republican., 1861-05-16
REPRISALS AND THE BLACKS.


opposition to what are called Abolition ideas,
and vet we find it recently using the following
language:
"The word property becomes exceedingly
significant now. The Southern Confederacy
have authorized their President to issue letters
of marque for prvateers to capture and destroy
the private property Of our people; and Of
course wherever our troops make landing,
they too will be instructed to capture and de.
stroy the property Of the traitors in the rebel
States. Are slaves propertyP' was asked Of
member of the Cabinet recently; and the on
swer was, so say the traitors in rebellion against
the Government Now, when this property
is captured, what are we to do with 1t? The
sole title Of the STAKEHOLDER to his property in
the slave, is derived from war and capture. The
negro is captured in Africa; and the prisoner
thus captured in war is sold into slavery, and
thus becomes the property Of his master and
title. By capture, then, in the pending war,
every slave becomes the property of the Gov.
ernment which makes the capture. We do not
deal in human chattels-we do not put blood.
money in the Treasury but it does not follow
that, because we will not sell the property Of
chattels thus captured, we are to return it to
the party from whom it is captured. Far from
it. What then? Why, of course, we shall be
compelled to give freedom to the captured
'chattels.' How2 Leave him to be recap.
tured2 Not willingly and therefore it will be
the duty Of our people thus capturing their
chattels, either to bring them off and give them
their freedom, or to free them on the spot,
giving them arms wherewith to protect their
freedom! Such is the proposition made to the
Government. Ifit be right to let loose pirates
to prey upon our commerce and destroy the
private property of our merchants, most as.
suredly it is right and proper for our Govern.
ment to make inroads all along the coast Of the
rebel States, capturing and destroying their
property; and as we do not propose to take
the lives of their chattels, it will be our duty to
give them their liberty. But, says justice, of
what use is bis liberty, unless you give him
sword to defend it, and prevent his recapture?
"Such is the punishment which JEFF. Davis
and his associate rebels are bringing upon the
mdrgue 10 pirates 10 prey upon our prirdte prop.
erty just so certainly zoe piU berate every slare
captured during the rar. Let them put this
in their pipes and smoke it." Let
the property of rebels be con6scated wherever
found, and without regard to its character. Its
being STARE property will certainly not make
US more chary in meddling with it; but, on the
contrary, cause US to require that the institu.
ton for the propagation Of which this war is
waged by the rebels, shall be made TO feel its
effects most severely"
We have made this extract from the Courier
and Enquirer, as q significant indication of the
tendency of public sentiment, and not because
We endorse the precise line of argument which
Is resorted to.
Right or wrong, there is a we'll settled dis.
tinction in the law Of nations between the cap
ture Of private property on the seas, and of
private property on land. The one is lawful,
and the other is unlawful, according to that
code. Upon the theory, that the Southern Con.
federacy is to be treated as an actually existing
foreign Power, its issue of letters Of marque
would not justify reprisals on land. That, Of
course, is the theory upon which it is itself pro-
ceeding, although the correctness Of that theory
is not admitted by this Government.
There can be no sort Of doubt, however, that
an army advancing into an enemy's country
may not only take advantage Of all disaffections
among the population, but may stimulate such
disafections by appeals Of every available de
scripton. In fact, the commanders of inva
ding armies almost invariably issue proclama
tons, suggesting considerations to particular
classes, to induce them to assist in the invasion
or not to oppose it. Such considerations may
be presented by the different nationalities, o,
different religious creeds, of the invaded popu
lations, or by other circumstances. When ou
revolutionary generals invaded Canada, the,
addressed proclamations to the French inhab
itsnts. Invasions Of Ireland have always beer
accompanied by appeals to the Catholics.
Whatever difficulty, then, if any, there ma,
be in respect to capturing slaves as property
there can be no difficulty, as respects lega
principles, treating them as persons, in detach
ing them from the enemy by promises Of libert
and protection. As a part of the population o
the States now proposed to be invaded, the
constitute, while in condition of allegiance t
the enemy, part of his resources, and really
most important part. 1t is they who carry o
the operations of agriculture, while their ma.
ters fight. And they are actually employed i
the armies Of their masters, as servants and ir
dispensable laborers. 1t is the slaves of tn
South, who have done the hard work, in all tn
Notifications at Norfolk, Charleston, Pensacola
and elsewhere. Deprived of their slaves, tn
conspirators would be absolutely deprived G
their means Of support.
Events are progressing with great rapidity
and if this war continues much longer, tn
slaves Of the South, now used as laborers a
tending Southern military operations, will b
employed as soldiers to fight us. That is nc
thought of to-day, because slaves have been to
costly and valuable to be used as soldiers, bu
when they cease to be saleable they will b