Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-12-12

| privilege. or security, derived from the
Constitution and laws against which they
are in armed rebellion; and as the service of
their slopes constitutes The chief property of
Tie rebels. such property should share the
common fate Of sOar to Which they haze devo-
tea the property Of loyal citizens.
ALL THE MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED.
While it is plain that the slave property
of the South is Justly subjected to ell the
consequences of this rebelious war, and
that the Government would be untrue to its
trust III not employing all the rights and
powers of war to bring it to speedy
close. the details of the plan for doing so.
like all other military measures, must, in
a great degree. be left to be determined by.
particular exigcn,ies. Tn, disp si,ion of
other property belonging to the rebels that
becomes subject to our arms Is governed
by the circumstances ofthe case The Gov
eminent has no power TO hold SLAVES. none
TO restrain a SLAVE or his liberty nor TO exact
HE service. Il has a right, however, to use
the voluntary service of slaves liberated by
war from their rebel masters. like any 9TH
er property OF the rebels. in whatever mode
may be most efficient for the defense Of the
Govcinmen', Il Q prosecution ofthe war. and
the suppression of the rebellion. Il is as
teUiy rig ofthe gorernme 6 o arm Slaves.
when II may become necessary, as is to use
guppowder taken from the enemy
Whether it is exaedient TODD so is pur-
IL military question TIE right IS an
questionable b. the lars IF scar. Tie ex-
peliency must be determined by clrcum-
stances. keeping in view that great object
of overcoming the rebels, reestablshing
the laws. and restoring peace to the ma
ton.
1t is vain and idle for the Government
to carry on this war, or hope to maintain
its existence against rsbellious force with-
ont employing oil tie rights and po,cers Of
acar. AS has been said. the right to de-
prive the rebels Of their property in slaves
and slave labor. is as clear anil absolute,
as the right to take forage for the field, or
cotton from the warehouse. or powder and
arms from the magazine. To leave the
enemy in possession OF such property as
forage and cotton and military stores. and
means of constantly reproducing them.
would be madness. 1t is, therefore, eqeoi
madness 10 leave them in peaceful ond Sc
care possession Of slace property more cal
aobfe and Efficient TO them for ,rar than for
age. cotton and military stores Such pol
icy acoaid be national suicide. What to do
with that species Of property, is question
that time and circumstance will solve, and
need not be anticipated further than to re-
peat that they cannot be held By the Gopern-
Daent as sldves. 1t woull be useless to
keep them as prisoners of war; and self
preservation. the highest duty of govern
ment, or of individuals. demands that they
should be disposed of or employed in tie
most cfe tire manner that will tend most
speedily to suppress the instruction and
restore the authority Of the Government
1t 1t shall be found that the men who have
been held by the rebels as slaves are capa-
BILE OF bearing arms and performing eliici-
ent military service. it is the right and may
become the duty of the Government 10 arm
ana equip them. and employ their services
ogaiast the rebels. under proper military
regulation discipline and command.
But in whatever manner they may be
used by the Government. it is plain that,
once liberated bv the rebelious act of their
masters. they should never again be restor-
cd to bondage. BY the masters treason
and rebellion he forfei,s all right to the la
bor anil service Of his slave; and the slave
OF the rebellious master. by his service to
the Government. becomes justly entitled 10
freedom and protection
The disposition to be maize of the slaves
of rebels. after the close of the war. can be
safely left to the wisdom anil patriotism of
Congress. The Representative of the peo-
pie will unquestionably secure the loyal
Shareholders every right to which they are
emitted under the Constitution of the coun-
try.
SIMON CAMERON. Sec'y of War.
To the PRESIDENT.
The following is the substitute for the
above passages which wero erased by the
President, written. It is presumed. By him
self. From the words in the original. 1T
has become a grave question for determi-
nation what shall DO done with the slaves. :"
read:
1T is already grave question what
shall be done with the slaves who are a
bandonel by their owners on the advance
Of our troops into Southern territory. as
ut Beaufort District in South Carolina
The number left within our control at that
point is very considerable. and similar ca
SEES will probably occur. What shall be
done with them? Can we afford to send
them forward to their masters. to be by
them armed against us, or used in introdu-
cling supplies TO MAINTAIN the rebellion?-
Their labor may be useful to us; withheld
from the enemy it lessons his military re-
sources. and withholding them has no ten
dency to induce tho horrors of insnrrection
even in the rebel communities. They con-
stitute military resource. and. being such.
that they should not be turned over te the
enemy, is too plain to discuss. Why de-
prive him of supplies bya blockade. and
voluntarily give him men to produce sup
plies? The disposition to be made of the
slaves of rebels. after the close of the war,
can be safely left to the wisdom and pa
triotisini of Congress. The representatives
Of the people will unquestionally secure
the loyal Shareholders every right to which