New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-04
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER A. 1861

would abstain from the of any efficient means Il
preserve It's OWE existence, or to overcome rebel
l0us and traitorOus enemy by spaling protecting
the property of those Who are waging waraQanst II
The principal wealth and power OF the Rebe
States Ii peculiar species Of property, consisting
tie service or labor Of African slaves the descend
ants of Africans THIS property has been variously
estimated at the value OF from S7OO,ODO,OOO to 81,
000, coo, 600.
Why should this property be exempt from th'
hazards and consequences OF ID ietellOus war
Ii was the boast Of the leader OF The rebellion
while ne yet had seat il the Senate Of the Unite,
States that the Southern States would be eomlara
lively safe and free from the burdens Of war, II y
should be brought on by the contemplated rebellion
ana tfat boast was accompanied by the sayag,
threat that Northern towns and cities would becomt
the victims Of rapine and military SPOIL and that
" Northern men should smell Southern eunpowfel
and feel Southern steel" No one doubts the dir
position of the rebels 10 carry that threat into exc
cution. The wealth of Northern towns and cities
the produce Of Northern farms, Northern workshops
and manufactures would certainly be seized, de-
stIoyed, or appropriated as military spoil. No prop
erty in the North would be spared from the hands
OF the rebels, aad their raoiue would be defended
under the laws of war. While the loyal States
thus have all their property and possessions at stake
the insurgent rebels to carry on warfare against
the government in peace and security TO their OWL
property
Reason and justice and self-preservation forbid
that such should be the policy OF this Government
but demand, on the contrary, that being forced by
traitors ana rebels to the extremity OF war, all the
rights and powers OF war should DO exercised tC
bring II 10 speedy end.
Those who make war against the Government
justly forfeit all rights of property, privilege or &C.
curity, derived from the Constitution and laws,
against which they are in armed rebellion; and AZ
the labor and service OF their slaves constitute the
,nfts a1,aIa
share the common fate Of war to which they have
devoted the property of loyal citizens.
| While il is plain that the slave property OF the
South justly subjected to all the consequences Of
this rebellious war, and that the Government wond
be untrue TO s trust in not employing all the rights
and powers of to bring it to speedy close. the
details of the plan for doing like all other military
measures, must, in great degree, be left to be de-
termined by particular exigeDCies. The disposition
Of other property belonging to the rebels that be-
comes subject TO our arms is governed by the cir
| cumstances of the case. The Government has no
power TO bold slaves none TO restrain slave Of his
liberty, TO exact his service 1t has right, how
ever 10 the voluntary service OF slaves liberated
by war from their rebel masters, like any other
property Of the rebels, in whatever mode may be
most efficient for the defense of the Government the
prosecution OF the war; and the suppression of the
rebellion. II is as clearly right OF the Govern
ment to arm slaves when 1t may become Necessary
ss it is to use gunpowder taken from the enemy.
Whether it is expedien 10 do 80 Is purely military
question. The right Ia unquesionable by the laws
Of war; The expediency must be determined by
circumstances, keeping in view the great object OF
overcoming the rebels, re-estsbsbing the laws and
restoring peace 10 the nation.
1t s vain and idle for the Government TO carry on
this war, or hope 10 MAINTAIN is existence against
rebellious force, without employing all the rights
and powers of war. AS has been said, the right to
deprive the rebels Of their property in slaves and
slave labor ia as clear and absolute, as the night TO
take forage from the field, or cotton from the ware
house or powder and arms from the magazine. To
leave the enemy in the possession OF such property
as forage and cotton and military stores, and tue
means Of constantly reproducing them, would be
madness. 1t If, therefore, equal madness TO leave
them in peaceful and secure possession Of slave
property more valuable and efficient to them for
war than forage, cotton, and military stores. Such
policy would be national suicide. What 10 do with
that species Of property, Is question that time and
circumstance will solve, and need not be anticipated
further than to repeat that they cannot be held by
the Government as slaves. IL would be useless 10
keep them as prisoners Of war; and self-pfeserva-
ton, the bighest duty OF Government, or OF indi-
viduss, demands that they should be disposed OF or
employed in the most effective manner that VIII tend
most speedily to suppress the nsurectiou and restore
the authority of the Government II it shall be
found that the who have been held by the rebels
as saves are capable OF bearing and performing
efficient military service il is the right aud may be-
come the duty, Of the Government to arm and equip
them and employ their services against 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 by the
rebelious act ofstheir masters. they should never
again be restored to bondage. BY the masters trea-
son and rebellion be forfeits all right to the labor and
service Of his elave and the slave Of the rebelious
master, by his service TO the Government, becomes
Justly entitled TO freedom and protection.
The disposition to be made of the slaves Of rebels,
after the close of the war can be safely left to the
wisdom and patriotism of Congress. The Represen-
tstves Of the People will unquestionably secure 10
the loyal shareholders every right to which they are
entitled under the Constitution of the country.
SIMON CAMERON, Secretary Of War.
To the President