Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-27
Slavery md the War.

What is to be, or ought to be, the policy
Of the Government toward slavery during
this war, and what is to be the effect Of the
war on that institution In regard to the
first, public sentiment as yet seems much di-
vided upon different views between the two
extremes of general emancipation on the
ole side, and sacred protection of the insti-
tuition on the other; while as to the latter,
the final effect the war is to have on slavery,
no one can tell. Truth will generally be
found between extremes. Neither general
emancipation, nor protection of slavery,
should be the policy of the war.
That slavery is the cause of this war, no
one, it seems to u.s. can doubt. We may
speculate and theorise and deny, and try to
deceive ourselves and others as much as we
please, still the stubborn, naked fact stands
out and stares us in the face-slavery is the
cause of the war Then it may be said that
the heresy of State sovereignty with its at
tendant heresis Of State Rights and State
Allegiance, is the prime cause of the war.
True, too; but what gave rise to the doctrine
of State Sovereignty? Slavery. For what
hss the doctrine of State Rights been main
tanned? What has kept up for the last six
years the senseless cry of State Equality all
pver the South2 What has caused all our
troubles about the territories? SLAVERY
Everybody knows this, and everybody knows
therefore that slavery is the cause of the war.
But though this is war caused by slavery,
and waged, on The part of the rebels, in be-
hut Of slavery, yet it must not be forgotten
that on the part of the Government it is not
a lCGT against sLaVery-is not a war of eman-
Cipation. AT the same time 1t must not be
a war for the maintenance of slavery. The
true policy, as we have said, lies between
these two extremes. Slavery should be per.
mitted, nay, compelled, to take care of ITSELF
in this war. 1t has sowed to the wind, and
it has no right to complain if it reaps the
whirlwind. That slavery will come out of
this conflict-if it comes out at all-greatly
bruised, crippled, it may be utterly crushed
ard broken down, few can doubt; and that
this may be the case, no friend of his couu-
try, of civilization and humanity, it seems to
us, can help but wish. Should the war COZ
tinue much longer, this will certainly be the
result. But then it were much better that
the injury to slavery, whatever it may be,
whether small or great, should be an Incl
dental result rather than a direct object of
the war. Let slavery take care of itself is
The true policy. 1t has let loose the demons
of strife let it look to it, and look for
Itself, that it does not fall the frat victim to
its own fury.
We want no proclamstions of general
emancipation. Neither do we want our
armies to carry out the Fugitive-slaYe Law.
Our advancing armies and our commanding
officers, from highest to lowest, should ignore
the relation Of master and SLAVE; they should
not so much as know there was such thing
as a slave on the continent of America
Let Slavery look out for itself, and take care
of ITSELF IL must take the consequences
If the property of active rebels is con6s-
Cated-and it ought to be, as fast as we have
the power--let their "slave property" go
with the rest. When it comes to "confscat-
ing" put slave property on par with other
property. Treat all alike. This is all, we
take it, that the loyal sentiment of the North
VIII hsk OF lhe government.
II slaves come within our lines, and they
are needed, use them; if not needed, keep
them in the rear, or within the lines. Do
not repel them, nor allow them, once inside
the lines, to recross again then there will
be no danger of their acting as spies or COM
municating important information to the
enemy. If their owners want them, lei them
come and take them, if they will. But let not
our soldiers be made to act the part of slave
eatchers, and our military commanders the
agents Of the Fugitive-slave Law. If you
would not drive public sentiment of the loyal
States to the extreme of general and uncon-
nitional emancipation, let this thing Of negro
catching and protecting slavery by our
armies be stopped. We may succeed in put
upg down this rebellion-I believe we will
but one thing is certain, we can never sue
ceed 80 long as we fight the slavehoIder
with one hand and protect slavery with the
other. Let slavery take the chances, and take
care OF itself-here, there. every. where, ant
All the time. Ifit survives, let it; if it per
kfes' let it and let all the people say, amen