Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-07
The Secretary of War on the Slave
Question. ~ 80. L.

EkatEar - f
The following is the conclusion of Secretar.
CAxERoN's report, in which he discusses th'
question as 20 how the Government should des
with the slaves of rebels; II
1t has become grave question for determi
nation, what shall be done with the slaves
abandoned by their owners on the advance o.
our troops into Southern territory, as in The
Beauh,rt distriot Of South Carolina. The
whole white population is six thousand, while
the number of negroes exceeds thirty.tWC
thousand. The panic which drove their mas.
ters in wild confusion from their homes leaves
them in undisputed possession Of the SOIL Shall
they, armed by their masters, be placed in the
held TO fight against us, or shall their labor be
continually employed in reproducing the meani
for supporting the armies OF rebellion?
The war into which this Government he
been forced by rebellious traitors, is carried OF
for the purpose of repossessing the pEopert!
violently and treacherously seized upon by tht
enemies of TIE Government, and TO re.establist
the authority ard laws of the United States II
the places where ii is opposed or overthrown By
armed insurrectioa and rebellion. Its purpose
is TO recover and defend what is Justly its own
War, even between Independent nations, il
made 70 subdue the enemy, by occupying the
hostile country, and exercising dominion over
sll the men and things Within its territory
This being true in respect to independent na.
tions at war with each other, il follows that
rebels who are iaboring by force of arms to
overthrow government, Justly bring upon them.
selves all the consequences Of war, and pro.
woke the destruction merited By the worst OF
crimes That government would be false to
national trust, and would Justly excite the ridi.
L. 20 hn aiuflt1ad Vu0rld that uwQ0ld ahata In
from the use of any efficient means to preserve
its own existence, or TO overcome q rebellious
and traitorous enemy By spsring or protecting
the property of those who are Waging war
against IL.
The principal wealth and power OF The rebel
States 10 peculiar species OF property, consist
ing Of the service or labor Of African slaves,
or the descendants of Africans. This property
has been vationsly estimated OF the value of
from $T00, 600, 600 to s., ,006 ,000. 600.
Why should this property be exempt from the
hazards and consequence of q rebellious war7
It was the boast Of the leader Of the rebel
lion, while he yet had a seat in the Senate Of
the United States, that the Southern States
would be comparatively safe and free from the
burdens Of war, II 1t should be brought on by
the contemplated rebellion, and that boast was
accompanied by the savage threat that "North
ern towns aud cities would become the victims
of rspine and military spoil" !" and that "North.
ern men ahonld smell Southern guDpoWder and
feel Southern steel"
No one doubts The dispoaition Of the rebels
to carry that threat into execution. The wealth
Of Northern towns aud cities. the produce Of
Northern farms, Northern workshops and man.
ufactories, would certainly be seized, destroyed,
or appropriated as military spoil. No property
in the North would be spared from the hands Of
the rebels, and the rapine would be defended
upon the laws Of war. While the loyal States
thus have all their prope W and possessions at
stake, are the insurgent rebels to carry on war
fare egai1st the government In peace and &c.
curity 70 their own property7
Reason and justice and self-preserYation for.
bid that such should be the policy Of this gov
eminent, but demand, on the contrary, that, be
ing forced By traitors and rebels 70 the extFemi
ty Of war, all the rights and powers of wal
should be exercised to bring it TO speedy
close. i gs-k srey-f ses &.
Those who make war against the government
justly forfeit all rights of property, privilege
or security, derived from the Constitution and
laws, against which they are 10 armed rebel
lion; and az the labor and service of their
slaves constitute the chief property of the reb'
els, such property should share the common fats
VI war " WuASu tooy AANf 2 peSfceSN-s,'S fhefoasy
Of loyal citizens.
While II Is plain that the slave properly Of
the South isjustly subjected to all the conse
quences Of this rebeliious war, and that the
GoVeFnment would be unWise TO Its trust In not
employing ell the rights and powers of war 70
bring it 70 speedy close, the details or the
plan for doing 90, Like als. other military meas
ures, must, 10 great degree, be left TO be de-
termined by paTticular exigencles. The dispo.
sition OF other property belonging to the rebels
that becomes subject TO our arms is governed by
the circumstances Of the case. The Govern
ment has no power TO hold slaves, none 70 re
strain slave Of bis liberty or exact his ser
vice. - 4s
Il has right, however, n use the folunts
~ service Of elaYes liberated By war from rebel
masters, like any other property Of the rebels
in whatever mode may be most efficient for the
defense Of he Governmspt, the prosecution Of
the war, and tie euppFeesi0n Of the rebellion
Il IL as clearly 3 tiebs 0f the Government %
arm slaves, whn ltmay became necessary, as