Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-09


such that there will be no base passions and
upsound ambitions to prevent the free ex-
ercise of her coolest Judgment.
[Correspondenes of the New York Timesl
Slavery and the Rebellion Conservative
Attitude Of the GOvePument-RReets Of
the Rebellion on Slavery.
WASHINGTON, May 2, 1861.
There has been good deal of speculation
in the Northern press upon the consequences
of the Southern rebellion, as it regards sla-
very and while many have suggested aboli-
tion as q probable result of the civil war now
raging, it seems generally supposed that the
radical policy will be resorted to by the Fed
eral Government, as the most effectual
remedy for Southern disaffection. Thus far
tie conduct of the Government gives no
warrant for the supposition that it will resort
to such extreme measures; and, on the con-
t1ary, it is not impossible that the South will
be indebted to the Government for its pre-
servation from the horrors of instruction,
or the ill-etfects of immediate abolition The
South has far more to fear on this head from
the desperation of the conspirators than from
the State necessities of the regular Govern.
ment. Mr.. Lincoln in his proclamation call
ing for seventy.ive Thousand militia to en-
force the laws, stated distinctly that pri-
conformity with this proclamation, General
Butler, and also Colonel Lefferts, if l am not
misinformed, actually returned slaves, who
appealed to them for protection, to their
owners. The effect of these acts, which,
however repugnant to the prevalent seuti-
ment OF the North, were in strict accordance
with positive law, has been to inspire conf
dence in the people of Maryland, and to
greatly strengthen the cause of Union.
In ha SnT1th Ofafa Nha
we have seen several accounts, of the en-
ployment of black men, free and slaves, by
the rebel Government not merely to dig
trenches and throw up breastworks, but to
bear arms. If such things are found in the
green tree, what may we not expect in the
dry2 If there is already found dearth of
white men to defend the cause of Secession,
in the first spRsm of patriotic ardor, what are
we look for after two or three campaigns
shall have worn down and exhausted the
flower Of the Southern youth Undoubtedly
black efpnts will be called into service
by the seo4b; they will be drilled, disci-
plined, and armed, and on them the main re-
lance will be placed. In the meantime,
slaves are constantly depreciating in value,
and the rebel Government will be glad to
purchase their fidelity at the price Of their
liberation from slavery.
1t must not be forgotten that when the
for separate independence, the fate of the
ruling class, the Secessionists, will be staked
on the issue, and success in achieving this
result will become the paramount good,
compared with which all other things will
be regarded as of no account. Slavery will
thus be subordinated to the question of
Southern independence and the continued
rule of the oligarchs who commenced the
rebellion for the sake of slavery. The in-
otitutinu will ha found ipnou, not;hla NTH n
state of war; it will lose value in conse-
quence of the general prostration of credit
and business enterprises; and the liberation
of the slaves, while removing the danger,
will give three-fold strength to the Southern
Government.
The slave. holders have for these reasons
far more to fear from their pretended friends
than from those whom they regard as ene-
mics. believe that the Administration has
no disposition to interfere with slavery; its
obvious policy is to respect the local laws of
the States, and to leave to the people of the
South the management of their domestic
affairs. State necessities may compel de-
parture from this principle; but nothing
short of necessity should. 1t is a singular
spectacle we now behold, in the scrupulous
respect paid to Southern laws and usages by
the Federal Government while the Seces-
sionists, in making war upon the Govern
openly disregarding Southern laws, preju-
diees and usages, by arming the slaves and
free people of color. This contrast can not
fail to impress itself upon the Southern
friends of the Union, and they will not fail
to use it, when the reign of terror shall be
broken by the Federal Government, for the
overthrow of the rebels.
Next in importance to the defense of the
Capital, by keeping open the communica-
IrHc Nu1fh hn RHfh nvaA srn Id
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and Poto-
mac River, is the reeonquest of the Missis-
sippi River TO the Gulf. This duty will de-
Volve upon the troops of the North west,
which is deeply interested in maintaining
the free navigation of that river, and whose
honor is compromised by the imprudent at
tempt of the rebels TO close it against the
peaceful commerce of the up river steamers.
There is strong Union sentiment among
the large planters of Mississippi, who clearly
foresee the ruin which awaits them, and
they will hail with delight the presence of
Federal army in the vicinity of Vieksburg,
capable of protecting them against the in
suTrections of their slaves, and the forced
loans of the rebel Government.
1t is pretended by the Southern news
papers that the price of negroes has not
given way under the crushing weight of
civil commotion and rebellion. Prime field
hands are still quoted at high prices, aud the
fact is addueed in proof of the strength of
the peculiar institution. But the aforesaid
papers fail to mention that the value of
Southern bank notes has been reduced fifty
per cent, and that all sales are made in this
deprecated currency. The truth is that
slaves are worth less than half what was
freely paid for them year ago; and if the
war last six months they will be reduced TO
one-fourth that value.
Some alarm is produced in Union circles
by the rumor that the Virginians have hit
upon plan for taking Fort Monroe, which
has never yet been known to fail. 1t is said
that they propose TO smuggle Floyd into it,
who is expected to steal it.