Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-12-07
DECEMBER 4 1861

LUIS DeluR True III ESSpGCI
pendent nations at war with each other, it
follows that rebels who are laboring by
force of arms to overthrow government,
Justly bring upon themselves all the cou-
sequences of war, and provoke the de-
struCtion merited by the worst of crimes.
That government would be false TO nation-
al trust, aud would justly excite the ridi-
cule of the civilized world, that would alb
stain from the use of any efficient means to
preserve its own existence, or to overcome
Il rebellious and traitorous enemy by SPAR
ing or protecting the property of those who
are wagng war against it. ..-.
The principal wealth and power of the
rebel States is Il peculiar species. of prop
erty, consisting of the service or labor OF
African slaves, or the descendants of Atri-
cans. This property has been vsrio9sly
estimated at the value of from $500, ,0OO,-
900 to $1,000, 100000,
Why should this property be exempt
from the hazard and consequences of re-
bellious WARP
It was the boast of the leader of the re-
bellion, while he yet bad a seat in the Sen
nte of the United States, that the South
ern States would be comparatively safe
and free from tue burdens of war, if it
should be brought on by the contempla-
ted rebellion, and that boast was accom-
panied by the savage threat that "north-
ern towns and cities would become the
victims of rapine and military spoil, and
that ''northern men should smell southern
gunpowder aud feel southern steel" No
que 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 work.
shops aud manufactures, would certainly
ho nj SnStrDUa6 Or anDP0nriatn5
military spoil. No property in the North
would be spared from the hands of the
rebels, and their rapine would be defended
under the laws of the war. While the
loyal States thus have MI their property
and possessions ut stake, are the insur-
gent rebels to carry on warfare against
the government in peace and security to
their property?
Reason and justice aud self-preserva-
tion forbid that such should be the policy
of this government; but demand, on the
coatrary, that being forced by traitors and
rebels to the extremity of war, all the
rights and powers of war should be exer-
csed to bring it to speedy end
Those who make war against the gov
ernment justly forfeit all rights of prop
erty, privilege or security derived from the
constitution and laws against which they
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.
While it is plain that the slave property
of the South is justly subjected to all the
consequences of this rebeIlious war, and
that the government would be untrue to its
trust in not employing the rights and pow
crs of war to bring it TO a speedy close, the
details of the plan for doing so, like all
other military measures, must, in great
degree, be left to be determined by partic-
ular exigencies. The disposition of other
property belonging to the rebels that be-
comes subject to our arms is governed by
the circumstances of the case. The gov
ernment has no power to hold slaves, none
to restrain slave of this liberty, or to ex-
act his service. II has right, however,
to use the voluntary service of slaves libe-
rated bv war from their rebel masters, like
any other property of the rebels in what
ever mode may be most efficient for the de-
fence of the government, the prosecution
of the war and the suppression of the
Uellion. 1t is as clearly right of the gov
erument 70 arm slaves, when it may be-
come necessary, as it is eXpcdent to do
so is purely Il military question. The right
is unquestionabIe by the laws OF war. The
expedency must be determined by circum-
stances, keeping in view the great object
of overcoming the rebels, re-establishing
the laws aud restoring peace to the nation.
1t is vain and idle for the Government'to
carry on this war, o. hope to maintnin its
existence against rebellinus force, without
employing Nil the rights and powers of
war. AS has been said, the right to de-
prive the rebels of their property in slaves
and slave labor is rs clear aud absolute as
the right to take forage from the field or
cotton from the warehouse, or powder ard
arms from the magazine. To leave the
enemy in the possessi IN OF such property
as forage and cotton and military stores.
aud the means of constantly reproducing
them, would be madness. 1t is therefore
equal madness to leave them in peaceful
and secure possession of slave property,
more valuable aud efficient to them for war
than forage, cotton and military stores.
Such policy would be national suicide
What to do with that species of property
is q question that time and circumstances
will solve, and need not be anticipated fur
ther than to repeat that they cannot he
| held by the Government as slaves. It
would he useless to keep them as prisoners
of war; and self-preservation the highest
duty of a government or of individuals,
demands that they should be disposed of
or employed in the most effective manner
that will tend most speedily to suppress
the iusurrection aud restore the authority
of the Government. If it shall be found
that the men who have been held by the
rebels rs slaves are capable of bearing
arms and performing efficient military SER
vice, it is the right, and may become the
duty, of the Government to arm and equip
them, and employ their services against
the rebels, under proper military rcgula-
tion, discipline and command.