Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-06


QuestIOn-HOw He would Employ the
Slaves
We make the following extract from the late
report Of the Secretary of War. 1t embodies
his views on the negro question;
War, even between independent nations, 10
made to subdue the enemy, and all that be-
longs to that enemy, by occupying the hostile
country, and exercising dominion over all the
men and things within It's territory. This be-
ing true in respect to independent nations at
war with each other, II follows that rebels who
are laboriDg by force Of arms to overthrow
Government, justly bring upon themselves all
the consequences Of war, and provoke the
destruction merited by the worst Of crimes.
That Government would be false to national
trust, and wQPld justly excite the ridicule Of
the civilized world, that would abstain from the
use Of any efficient means to preserve its own
existence, or to overcome q rebellious and
traitorous enemy, by sparing or protecting the
property Of those who are wsging war against
The principal wealth and power of the rebel
States is peculiar species of property, consist
ing Of the service or labor of African slaves, or
the descendants Of Africans. This property
has been vsriously estimated at the value Of
from 500, ,OOO, 900 to 81, 900, 900 900.
Why should this property be exempt from
bho hoAoANs bhN SOhh0duohSVS Va ANSSaANN"
war2
It was the boast of the leader Of the rebel
lion, while he had yet q seat in the Senate of
the United States, that the Southern States
would be comparatively safe and free from the
burdens Of war, if it should be brought on by
the contemplated rebellion, and that boast was
accompanied by the savage threat that "North
e1n towns ard cities would become the victims
of rapine and military spoil, and that "North-
eIn men should smell Southern guupowder and
feel Southern steel "
No one doubts the disposition of the rebels to
carry that threat into execution. The wealth
Of Northern towns and cities, the produce of
Northern farms, Northern workshops and man
ufactoIies, would certainly be seized destroy ed,
or appropriated as military spoil. No prop
erty in the North would be spared from the
| bands of the rebels, and their rapiDe would be
| defended under the laws of war. While the
loyal States thus have all their property and
| possessions at stake, are the insurgent rebels to
carry on warfare against the Government in
peace and security to their ewD propsrty2
Reason and justice and self preservation for
bid that such should be the policy of this Gov
eIpment, but demand on the contrary, that,
being forced by traitors and rebels to the ex
tremity Of war, all the rights and powers Of
war should be exercised to bring it to speedy
end.
Those who make war against the Government
justly lOII6lL HI OI .pIOp6TLyy pTlNli6Be
| or security derived from the Constitution and
laws, against which they are in armed rebel
lion; and as the labor and service Of their
slaves constitute the chief property of the reb-
els, such property should share the common
fate of war to which they have devoted the
properly Of loyal citizens.
While it is plain that the slave property oi
the South is justly subjected to all the conse
uuences of this rebellious war, and that the
| xpnu1H ha IN fta in al
employ ing all the rights aud powers Of war tc
bring it TO a speedy close, the details Of tht
plan for doing so, like all military measures
must, in great degree, be left TO be determined
by particular exigepcies. The disposition O
other property belonging to the rebels that be-
comes subject to our arms is governed by th'
circumstances of the case. The GOvernmen
bas no power to hold slaves, none to restraia
slave of his liberty, or to exact his service. L
has the right, however, to use the voluntary
service of slaves liberated by war from thei
rebel masters, like any other property of tn
rebels, in whatever mode may be most efficien
for the defense of the Government, the prose
cution IF the war and the suppression of the
rebellion. 1t is as clearly right of the Gov
eminent to arm slaves, when it may becom
ceatary, as it is to use guppowder taken from
the enemy. Whether it is expedient to do 9
is purely o military question. The right
upquestioDable by the laws Of war. The ex
peoieDcy must be determined by circumstances
keeping in view the great object of ovorcomiD
the rebels, re establishing the laws ana restor
ing peace to the nation.
1t is vain and idle for the Government I
carry on this war, or hope to maintain its ex
isteDce against the rebellious force, withou
employing all the rights and powers of wal
AS has been said, the right to deprive tb
rebels of their property in slaves and slave
labor, is as clear and absolute, as the right t
take forage from the field, or cotton from tn
warehouse, or powder and arms from the mag
, azine. To leave the enemy in the Possessie
of such property as forage and cotton, an
military stores, and the means of constant
reproducing them, would be madness. 1t il
therefore, equal madness to leave them |
peaceful and secure possession of slave prop
erty, more valuable and efficient to them fC
war than forage, cotton and military stOre
Such policy would be national suicide. WhG
; TO do with that species of property, is queI
tion that time and circumstance will solve, an
f need not be anticipated further than to repet
that they can not be held by the Government 6
slaves. 1t would be usele's to keep them 9
prisoners of war; and self preservation, til
highest duty of a government, or of individU
ais, demands that they should be disposed (
or employed in the most effective manner thi
will tend most speedily to suppress the insu
4 Iection, ,'and restore the authority of the Gov
l eminent. II it shall be found that the me
8 who have been held by the rebels as slaves
s capable of bearing arms and performing eff
e cient military service, it is the right, and ma
a become the duty, of the Government to ar
) and equip them, and employ their service
!, against the rebels, under proper military regl
' latiop, discipline and command.
But in whatever manner they may be use
; by the Government, it is plain that, once Iibe
ated by the Iebellious act of their masters, the
should never again be restored to bondage. Z
the masters treason and rebellion he forfeit
q all right to the labor and service of his sIav
and the slave Of the rebellious master, by
+ service to the Government, becomes justly el
# titled to freedom and protection.
The disposition to be made of the slaves
rebels, after the close Of the war, can be safe
n left to the wisdom and patriotism of Congres
y The representatives of the people will III
questioDabIy secure to the loyal sIaveholde
s every right to which they are entitled und
!, the Constitution of the country.
SIMON CAMERON,
4 Secretary of War.
To THE PRESIDENT.