Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-12-19
SLAVERY AND THE WAR.


"In what relation is the government
to stand to the system Of slavery while
It proseeutes this war for the support OF
the Union, the Constitution and the
lsws?"
To US the question is simple, and the
course for the government to take is
plain. It on the right track now. and
we trust will not be thrown of by any
seditious enemies, under the guise Of
friends.
The army OF the United States is not
the Congress Of the United States; and
il il were clothed with all the power Of
Congress, it must be remembered that
on the l1th of February, 1861, Mr..
Sherman, of Ohio, offered the following
resolution:
Resolved, That neither Congress,
nor the people or governments of the
nou-slaveholding States, have q consti-
tutional right to legislate upon or inter
fere with slavery in any slsvehOlding
State Of the Union.
Upon this the yeas and nays were
taken, and the result was its unanimous
adoption-there being 16l; no nays.
The unanimous declaration IS the
sense Of the people Of the United States.
But what will you do with slavery as
the army advances in the South? We
repeat that the army has nothing to do
with the relations OF master and slave.
1t is to treat all honest and loyal men
alike. II is not to catch fugitive ne
groes, nor to send them to those who
claim to be their owners, nor to inquire
whether a colored man is slave or a
free man, nor to meddle with the instI-
stitutions Of the State in any way. The
army is to know no distinction except
that of enemies and friends. 1t will
employ white men and black men in its
service, when they can be so employed,
and use them in the most efficient man.
ner to crush out the rebellion. 1T the
entrance of our armies into South Caro-
lima is the occasion Of the exodus of the
entire colored population. it is no part oil
the duty of the army to arrest the
fight, or to help it. Whoever stands in
the way of the establishment of the
government over the whole Union must
get out of the way or be crushed. The
relation OF one class of the community
to another is not to be regarded as an
obstacle in the progress of our armies,
but all men, whatever may be their
condition under the laws of the State,
are to be treated as friends or enemies Of
tie Union. We would welcome the
colored men Of the South to the protec-
ton OF the flag which the white men oil
the South have deserted and defiled.-
In Missouri and Kentucky, in Maryland
and Delaware, and in every State where
the laws and authorities Of the State
are on the side of the general Govern
ment, there the Government is bound
to lend its strength TO support the State
and 10 enforce its laws. There the
loyal people are to see how good and
strong the government is, to shield anc
save them from the anarchy and ruin
that are coming on the secession. But
in the reyolted States, the armies Of the
Union 60 to enforce submission to
righteous government and wholesome
law, by putting down rebellion, taking
away arms and power from the enemies
Of the Union, and whoever will join in
the assertion of this right, and the en-
forcement Of this power, is a friend,
whether his skin is white or black.
The Congress of the United States
has no right to psss any laws TO inter-
fere with slavery in the States; and its
legislation would be just as futile as to
proclaim emancipation in Cuba or Brazil.
But if this war, in the resistless march
Of events, and the inevitable develop
ments OF the future, leads to the total
subversion of the structure Of society in
the rebellious States, while all good men
will deplore the destruction Of human
life and property, and the unspeakable
social evils that war brings in its train,
they will nevertheless be constrained to
believe that these calamities were plucked
down upon the rebellious States, by
their own madness and folly, while the
highest of all obligations required them
to remain faithful to their allegiance
under the arms Of government that
never did them harm. Rebellion
against good government is the highest
crime, because it is committed against
the highest good Of society and produ-
ces the greatest misery. And it is
therefore but a just retribution when
the authors of such crime experience in
their persons, their families and their
property, the woes that God has made
inseparabIe from the violation OF his
laws. Treason against good govern
ment is rebellion against God. And as
there is no future life for nations, they
must suffer as nations, for their crimes
while here, unless they repent and re-
turn before judgment overtakes them.
40 that they were wise, that they under
stood this" Every day makes it more
and more certain that the war will be
bloody and awful, beyond precedent.
unless it is arrested by returning reason
on the part of those who have revolted.
Let US therefore be increasingly earnest
in our prayers that the war may be
short, and i; we would have God on
our side, let US be faithful to our con-