Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-04

in consideration of the large accession of territory
which Maryland would receive under the arrange
ment proposed, it would be necessary that that state
should consent to modify her constitution as to
limit the basis of her representation to her white
population.
In this connection, ii would be the part OF wisdom
to reanneN to the District of Columbia that portion
of its original limits which by act of congress was
retroceded to the state of Virginia,
THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
Ii has become grave question for determination,
what shall be done with the slaves abandoned by
their owners on the advance of our troops into
southern territory, as in the Beaufort district of
South Carolina. The whole white population there
i'll is six thousand, while the number Of negroes e-
ceeds thirty two thousand. The panic which drove
their masters in wild confusion from their homes
leaves them in undisputed possession of the soil
Shall they, armed by their masters be placed in the
field to fight against us, shall their labor be con.
unualy employed in reproducing the means for sup
porting the armies oi rebellion?
The war into which this government has been
forced by rebelliOus traitors, is carried for the
purpose of repoSsessing the property violently and
treacherousy seized upon by the enemies of the
government, and to re-ostablish the authority and
laws of the United States in the places where it is
opposed or oyerthTown by armed insurrection and
rebellion Its purpose is to recover and defend what
is justly its own
War, even between independent nations. is made
to subdue the enemy, and all that belongs to that
enemy, by occupying the hostile country and eXer-
csing dominion over all the men and things within
its territory. This being true in respect to ndeDen-
dent nations at war with each other, it follows that
rebels who are labOring by force of arms to over
all tle consequences OF war, and provoke the de-
structiOn merited by the worst OF crimes That gov
ernment would be false to national tust and would
justly excite the rdcule Of the civilized world that
would abstain from :he of any efficient means to
preserve its own existence or to overcome a rebel
lious and traitorous enemy by sparing or protect
ing the property of those who waging war
against it.
The principal wealth and power of the rebel states
is peculiar species of property, consisting of the
service or labor of African slaves, the descend
ants Of Africans This property has been variously
estimated at the value of from S7000O0,0O0- to ST.
O000O00U
Why should this property be exempt from the
hazards and consequences Of a rebelIious war?
1t was the boast of the leader of the rebellion
while he yet had seat in the senate of the United
States that the southern states would be compare
lively safe and free from the burdens of war if it
should be brought ON by the contemplated rebel
Hun and that boast was accompanied bv
the savage threat, that "nOrtlem toHns and
cities would become the victims of rapine and
military spoil,H and that ''northen men should
smell southern gunpowder and feel southern
steel" No one doubts the disposition of the rebels
to carry that threat into execution. The wealth of
northern towns and cities, the produce of northern
farms; northern workshops and manufactures,
would certainly be seized destroyed, or appropri-
ated as military spoil. No property in the north
would be spared from the hands OF the reb9ls, and
their rapine would be defended under the laws of
war While the loyal states thus have all their
property and possessions at stake are the insurgent
rebels to carry on warfare against the government
in peace and security to their own property?
Reason and justice and selfpreseyation forbid
tlat such should be tile policy OF this government,
but demand, on the contrary, that, being forced by
traitors and rebels to the extremity of war all the
rights and powers of war should he exercised to
bring 1t TO speedy end.
Those who make against the goyerSm ment
justly forfeit all rights of property, privilege, or
security. derived from the constitution aud laws,
against which they ate III armed rebellion; and
the labor and service of their slaves constitute The
Chief property of the rebels, such property should
share the common fate Of war TO which they have
devoted the property of loyal citizens.
n lp
south is justly subjected to all the Consequences of
this rebellious war, and that the government would
be untrue to its trust in not employing all the rights
ana powers of war 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 deter
mined by particular eNigences The disposition. of
other property belonging the rebels that becomes
subject to our arms is governed By the circum-
stances OF the case. The goYeinm has power
TO hod slaves none TO restrain slave of his liberty
or 10 exact his services. 1t has right, however, to
use the voluntary service OF slaves liberated by
from their rebel masters, ike any other property of
ilie rebels IN whatever mode ha NEST efficient
LOT tle ueieuce OF the government the prosecution
ol INC war anu the suppression OF me reDeiloh 1t
Is ascIeaiy llght OF the government 10 arm Saves
when 1t may become necessary, as il is to use gun
power taken from the enemy. " "hether II Is eN'
peCient TO 40 50 Is purely mllitary question 1he
right is unquesnonable by the laws OF war. The eX-
pedlency mast be determined by circumstances,
Keeping IN view the great object OF overcoming the
rebels, reesabishing the laws, and restoring peace
TO the nation.
IL is vain and idle for the government TO carry
this war, or hore TO maintain its existence against
rebelliOus force, without employing all the rights
aud powers OF war. AS has been said, the right TO
deprive the rebels of their property in slaves and
slave labor, is clear and absolute, the right to
take forage rom the field, cotton from the ware
house, or powder and arms from the magazine. To