The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-05
More Of the Irrepresslble Conflict.

Speculation was rife tor a few days before I'll
assembling of Congress in reference to rumol
cd difference between President Lincoln an
some members of his cabinet on the SLAYER
question. 1t now appears that these runo,
had a foundation, Secretary Cameron bein
much in advance of the PRESIDENT in his view
respecting what should b. done with the slave
Of rebels. An account Of this difference is thu
given by tho correspondent OF the New Yor
Tribune by letter to that paper, the government
censor having refused to permit it to 90 by tele
graph:
Tho history Of the difference between tn
President and the Secretary of War has at las
taken this shape. The Secretary presented hi
report to Mr. Lincoln ON Saturday. On Sun
day afternoon he mailed it 10 the principal "a
zoers OF the North and West, as is customary @,
The day preceding the reading of che Messa oe.-
On Sunday night the President, having found
time to read 1t, found it not in his heart 10 agree
with the Secretary S doctrine of the right and
She duty to make a military use of the Slaves OF
ltebeis~-to arm them, if necessary--and in all
ways TO use them as we would any other prop
erty OF the Rebels to suppress this Rebellion
RE sent lor Mr.. Cameron, and required him to
suppress this whole portion of his report, on the
GROUND thaC lis recommendation was prema ture
and Ill timed The Secretary promptly and
resooteiy refused to suppress u word OF it. The
discussion between them was protracted. 1t end
ed as it began, the President insisting upon the
alteratlon, and the Secretary respectfully but
hrmly refusing to change syllable Of hisrecom-
4 cuhs
ternoon had similar conclusion of debate. but
new and strange conclusion of Executive will
The President announced his purpose to strike
ont the entire passage about the Characterization
and armlng of the slaves before sending in the
report with his Message to Congress. Mr.. Cam.
eron declared he should not recall or sunnrcss
che document in the hands of Northern and
w estein editors. and that the printers were at
liberty to do with his report wha, thew pleased
Which Of the two copies will the pcop'e read
and the army prefer?
mat portion Of Secretary Cameron's repors
SO obnoxious to the President is as follows
1t has become grave question for DETERMINE
ton what shall be done with the slaves ahan-
doneo oy their owners on the advance OF our
troops INTO Southern territory, % in the Beau
lort district OF South Carolina. The whole
white population therein is 5000, while the
number OF negroes exceeds $4,000. The panic
which drove their masters in wild confusion
from their homes, leaves them in undispu,ed
possession OF the SOIL Shall they, armed by
she!r masters, DE placed in the field to frht
against us, or shall their labor be continually
employed IN reproducing the meana for SUP
3oTtlDg the armies of rebellion
The war into which this Government has been
orced by rebellious traitors is carried on for
he purpose Of repossessing the property vio-
entity and treacherousIy seized upon by the ene-
Mes OF the Government, and to re-establish the
authority and laws o. the United States in the
places where it is opposed or oyerthrown by
'rmed instruction and rebellion. LIS purpose
s TO recover and defend what is Justly its own.
war, even between independent nations, is
naae 10 suodue the enemy, and all that belongs
. ShaS enemy, by occupying the hostile country,
Hd exercising dominion over ali the men and
hlnss within Its territory. This being true
n respect TO independent nations at war with
aeh other, 1t follows that rebels who are labor
nS by force OF arms to overthrow q Govern
aeat. justly bring upon themselves all the con-
equences OF war, and provoke the destruction
lerlted by the worst of crimes. That Govern
len5 would be false to national trust, and would
Justly excite the rdicule Of the civilized world.
hat would abstain from the use Of any efficient
lcans to preserve its own existence, or to over
ONE rebeilious and traltorous enemy, by spar
NJ Or protecting the property of those who are
aging war against it.
The principal wealth and power of the Rebel
tates Is peculiar species OF property. consist
,g OF the service Or labor Of African slaves, or
he descendants OF Africans. This property haa
cen varlonsly estimated at the value of from
1000, 900 600 to 81 900 600 900.
Why should this property be exempt from
lie hazards and consequences of rebellious
ar?
1t Was the boast Of the leader of the rebellion,
nile yet he had u seat in the Senate of the
nited S;a'cs, that the Southern States would
, com paratigely safe and free from the burdens
War, 1t should be brought on Ivy the con-
IN plated rebellion, aud that boast was accom-
sned by the savage threat that " Northern
'wns and cities would become the victims Of
pine and military spoil" and that - Narlhcrn
en- should smell southern gunpowder and feel
,uthern steel No one doubts the disposition
the rebels to carry that threat irto execution.
he wea, tn Of Northern towns and cities, tho
roduce of Northern farms, Northern workshops
I'd manufactures, would certainly be seized,
or appropriated as military spoil
0 property in the MOI th would be spared from
e hands Of the rebels, and their rapne would
, defended under the laws of war While the