The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-08
The Vital Point or the Rcbellion-~Esfe CT
OF Our Advancing Army on Slavery.


growing out Of the present war, is impending
in the tenure of slave property in the Southern
States, which may entirely overthrow the re-
lations now existing between owners and their
bondsmen, and transfer the latter into hands
which will employ them with faithfulncss to
the general interests of the country, and loyalty
to the constitution, and the established authori-
ties Of the land. According to the recent as
sertions of Major Gen. Mcclellan the Secretary
Of War, and Adjutant General Thomas, an early
advance Of the federal army may be looked for
in Kentucky and on The Potomac, and the sol
dicrs conveyed by our gallant feet have effect
cd ore this a successful landing in the very
heart of the enemy's country. So soon, how
ever, rs our troops shall have obtained firm
ioothold in the secedingS.atcs, decided poll
cy must OF course be adopted with respect to
tie slave population, and it is not difficult to
predict that the inevitable conduct Of the adj
ministration concerning it, viii tend towards the
restoration, through it, Of the integrity Of the
Union, and The punishment Of those who shall
persistently endcayor to rend it asunder.
The abolitionists Of the North OF course adj
vocatc unconditional negro emancipation, and
would at once raise slaves to condition of
perfect equality with ther former owners, and
reduce the South to an economical and social
level with poor, impoverished Jamaica. No
sensible or loyal citizen can advocate so
absurd and suicidal measure. II
is true that the services of considerable
number of slaves have been and will continue
to be used by their masters in carrying on the
war; and, as contraband, these may properly
and lcgitimately be taken and made useful to
orr armies in many ways, as has been done at
Fortress Monroe, in Missouri, and elsewhere
But these constitute only small portion Of the
four millions Of blacks whom about four hum
dred thousand white men hold in bondage
They afford no precedent for the final DISPOSE
ton, at the close Of the war; of the entire real
and personal property Of those who shall have
pcrseyered III the guilt Of taking an open par
in the rebellion and it is with these latter that
government viii have to deal
The slavery question, in the border States, is
rapidly solving Itself Holders OF negroes are
either sending them into the cotton section of
the Southern conlederacy, or else they are
escaping to the North so that their numbers
have already seriously diminished and, it is
highly probable that, before hostilities have
ceased, emancipation will be comparatively
easy and within the wishes Of the majority of
tle voters of Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland,
Virginia, Delaware and Tennessee. This will,
nevertheless be their own business, to be de-
~, ,nl Il has, Al al 81, with
what they may conceive to lie their own inte-
rests. IN the cotton States, on the other hand,
slavery, after the exhaustion produced by the
war, will be more necessary than ever, and the
general prosperity, not only Of those States but
OF the whole Union, will make it eXpodient that
descendants of the African race should continue
to cultivate the soil, and produce the cotton,
rice, sugar and tobacco, which cause wealth
to flow so largely into the United States. 1t
should, therefore, be only SO far interiered
with, where its labor is productive. as the ext
gencies Of warfare may require, and as may best
contribute to the extinction OF the unnatural
rebellion that conyulscs the continent.
OF The million of voters in the slavcholding
States, every one knows that less than third
are actual possessors Of slave property, and
that, among this minority, are principally to be
found those who have been most active in
throwing off their allegiance to the Union, and
instigating destruction of our glorious nation
ality. The seven hundred thousand non-slave-
holders, on the contrary, would mainly incline,
If unincrfered with, or if favorable induce
mcnta were held out to them, to advocate a ces-
sation OF treason, and enrol themselves under
the time -honored banner they have so reckessly
iorsahcn. While most Of tic former, therefore
have rendered themselves liable to the confsca-
ton Of all they possess, 4 considerable portion
Of the latter have been forced to take arms, and
would be delighted at any preteXt for abandon
inc association with those by whom trey have
been either misled or compelled to participate
in The Instruction. The President may afford
them an opportunity Of returning to their ale.
glance, which they will eagerly grasp at. by
letting il be understood that the utmost penalty
Of the law will be inflicted upon those who
shall persist in opposing the advance OF our
federal forces. while the future prosperity Of the
slave States will be secured, by dividing the
land and negroes, taken away from rebels,
among those Southern citizens who shall
promptly cspouse the cause Of loyalty and the
Union.
Our armies, moving forward, with invincible
strength upon the very strongholds OF sedi-
tion and into the most densely settled por-
ton Of the slave States, should promptly and
openly make known that loyalty will be re
warded and treason punished, through the in
strumentality of the negroes themselves. Blacks
and real estate should be confscated from the
rebel planters, and equally divided among the
seven hundred thousand non-slayeholers
whose skirts may be free from the faint OF dis
loyalty, from the present time forward.
PURITAN THANKSGIVING PRocfAM.TIoN.-
In the contemptuous epithets which the
Southern chivalry apply to the people of
the Eastern States there is an aIfectation Of the
insolent swaggcr that distinguished the cavaliers