Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-11-01
The Employment of Fugitive slaves
an the War for the Onion.

The New York World, referring to Secretary
CAMERoNs late letter of instructions to the
commanders of the forces accompanying the
Naval Expedition, makes the following just and
sensible remarks;
We have been of opinion from the beginning
that little was to be gained by persistently etr-
ring the black pool whose fetid stencil has filed
the nostrils of the country for nearly twenty
years. It has seemed to as that this war ia too
earnest on both sides to be determined by eny
sort of political hocus pocus, and that the glori
Gus old Union is to be restored by dint Of sue
cessfuL fighting. There is nothing in the census
returns which ought to cast doubt on cur abil-
ity to confront the rebels with at least man for
man at any point where il may be good atrate-
gy to give them battle; and a head that thinks
a well-aimed riAed cannon-Which ia understood
to be General McClellan's favorite arm-will
not do just as good execution when touched off
by white soldier as by runaway slave, must
be under the influence of some of those strange
mephitic vspors described by Swift in that de.
lectable depression on inranity in the "Tale of
Tub" With the exception Of o little strip of
territory few miles. wide, on the south bank of
the Potomac, we are completely outside the
rebel territory, with the necessity of fighting
our way in, even for the purpose of making
reconnaissance Of its outer rim, while the slaves
are inside the rebel territory ard under the
equally hard necessity Of fighting their way out,
il they ehould get out in numbers considerable
enough to make emancipation o capital means
of weakening the South. We imagine it would
be even more difficult for them to get outside
the circumference of secessiondom than for loy
al troops to get inside, rs the slaves have neith
er arms, nor discipline, nor leaders. The few
scattered fugitiYes that succeed in finding their
wey within our lines, are not of sufficient i'm.
porIance to have any influence on tie sesris Of
the war.
In this stage of the contest, then, it would be
premature for the Government to proclaim, or
even to consider, the policy Of general emanci-
patton urged upon it by few over-Zeaious ne
grophilists. The adoption of that policy now
would divide and weaken the North without
making one hair white or black OF she head of
the rebellion, Mrs. CLASS excellent receipt
for cooking rabbit, which began, ''first, catch
q rabbit" would be a sensible direction for /
emancipating the Southern slaves. First, Hpht |
your way into the Southern States. When We
shall have struck such blow as will give ma
free access to the slaves, or enable Them to run
away en- mGSse to US, the question will have as |
sumed practical shape, and can be decided in |
iull view Of the then existing circumstances
1t is sufficient reply to those who urge eman-
cipntion as a means of prosecuting the war,
that important military successes must precede
emancipation in order to render It possible
When the success OF our arms shall have taken
this question out of the limbo of sentimental
distractions, and, by rendering emancipation
practicable, have made 1t possible instrument
OF weakening the enemy, IL will be sarly enongh
for the Government 70 consider its expediency.