The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-12-17
Secretary Cameron's Report.

~ eulTc 10 TIE FeaueFS Vi the OHQTutUU
1t is most important document and
will occupy prominent and honorable
place in the history Of this war. There
was time Wien Secretary Cameron,
like some other members Of the Cabinet.
was suspected Of forming that disastrous
policy which would wage war with an
enemy ,cjthoRt hurting him He, at
la >, is free from that charge, and his
noble course and mastery report will
endear him 10 the hearts Of all who love
their country and liberty. To tie ex-
clusion Of other matter we shall present
synopsis and some extracts from this
admirable state paper.
The estimated strength of our army,
volun GERS and regulars amounts 10 $780,
97l. The Secretary gives succne,
history of the war and of what our patri-
otto volunteers have accomplished dur
ing the last seven months; he recon-
mends the establishment OF military
courts to enforce the collection Of debts
due TO loyal ere litors he gives an ac-
count OF the supply, the importation, and
the manufacture of arms he recon-
mends the reorganization Of the militia,
and the erection OF frontier notifications
In fact he makes a thorough exposition
OF the military state Of the country, and
presents the topics in peculiarly felici-
'ious manner, neglectng nothing which
sppsrtains to his department With the
devotion and holiness of a patriot and
the sagaci'y of statesman he takes up
The question Of slavery and treats it in a
manner which, We are confident, will
meet the hearty appreciation of the mass
of the republicans in this county. This
portion of the report we present in the
very words Of Mr. Cam ron himself:
'mHAT WILL HE DO WITH 1T 90
Ii has become grave question for de-
termination, what shall be done with tho
slaves abandoned by their owners on the
advance of our troops into Southern Ter
ritory, rs in the Beaufort district of South
Carolina. The whole white population
therein is six thousand, while the mum
Der Of negroes exceed thirty lwo-thous-
and. The panic which drove their mas
ters in wild confusion from their homes,
leaves them in undisturbed possession OF
the soil. Shut they. armed By their mas
t.rs, he placed in tie field to fight against
as. or shaH their labor be continually EN-
ployed IN reproducing the means for sup
porting tie armies Of rebellion?
The war into which this Government
has been forced by rebelious traitors, is
carried on for the purpose of reposessing
tbs property Violently and treachl eously
seized upon By the enemies of the Gov
trnment, and 20 reestabish the authority
and laws of the United s es in the fla
ces where it is opposed or overthrown by
AIMED instruction and rebellion. Its
purpose is TO recover and defend what is
justly its own.
War, even between independent ma
lions, is male 10 sublue the enemy, and
all th.t belongs TO that enemy, by occu-
plying the hostile country, and exercisin.
dominion over all the men and things
within its territory. This bein. true in
poet to independent nations at war
with each other, it follows that rebels
who are hboring by force of arm, to
overthrow Cove nment, justly bring up
on themselves all the destruction merit
ed by the worst Of crimes. That govern
ment would BE- false to national trust and
mouid justly ertite tie rtdicule ellie civil
izrd uo-h, Mot wouid abstain from tie ust
ofony cHc'em means to preseroe its oaUn
existence. or 10 overcome a reLellious ana
haitorous enemy, by &paring or protecting
Tie property Of those who are acoging ma,
against Il.
CONF .cATIJS OF SLAVES OF REBELS.
The principal wealth and power of the
rebel 5 ates is pecultar species Of prop
crty. Consisting Of the service or labor o
African slaves, Of the descendants of At
ricanS. This property has been various
~ eslimated III the value of from 500,
10000 % 81 900. 100000.
VIZ should tbs property he eremp
tron, huzarQS and consequences Of a retei
rms .curS
Il WAS the bo.st of the lea Ter Of the re
hrllion, while he yet had seat in the
S,.na'e of tho United States. that the
S,u hcr2 S,ales would be comparatively
safe ana free rom the burdens Of war, i
il sh,ulI BE- brought on by the con,em
pa ed rebellion, and that boast was &C
eompanicd by the savage threat thai
Northern towns and cities would be
come the victims of rapins and military
spill" and that Northern men should
smell 5 nlhern gunpowier and feel South
.rn steel" No one doubts the DISPOSE.
ion vf the rebels to carry that threat in
Ia exc ulipn. The wealth of Northern
towns and cities. the produce OF Northern
llrms. Northern workshops and manufac
tor les, would certainly be seized, destroy
ed. or Appropriated rs military spoil. No
properly in The North would be spared
from the lands Of the rebels. and their
rapine would be defended under the laws