The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-12-11
The DIFFICULTY and the Remedy.

" 4a
The Difficulty and the Remedy.
1t has become too apparent that n differ
cnce ofopinion exists among the loyal men
of the country. in reference to what policy
in relation TO slavery, should control the war
for the onion. As our armies advance into
seccssia, they encounter slaves and the
question, what disposition to make Of them.
at once arises. 1t is an embarrassing qucs-
tio,. On the enc hand, it is said that the
war biting for the Union and not to abolish
slavery, tho fugiircs found in our ranks,
should be excluded, end sent back This is
also contcnded for on the ground Of expcdi-
cncy, as likely to produce a, soothing and
conciliatory effect upon the Union men Of
the South, whose hostility will he. likely to
be excited by an opposite course. On the
other hand it is commended that slaves being
property in enc sense and their services
being Of immense benefit in all Of the re-
bellon, it is tight and jnstfiable by the
laws Of war. to retain, confscate, employ,
and free such Of them as belong to rebel
owners
The Secretary Of War, Mr.. Cameron, in
his report, took the ground ofextreme north
ern sentiment on that subject, as indeed he
had previously taken in instructions for the
guidance Of commanders in the field. This re-
port vas modified by the President, and this
factshowing an apparent disagreement among
the prominet members Of the administration,
has produced good deal Of excitement, not
80 much because diversity Of views upon so
vital matter is strange or unnatural, but
those who direct the war, viii he likely to
produce divided and less efficient courcil
and action in the ca inet and in the field
In our opinion, the question is one rather
Of ways and means than of principle. Few
loyal men. we imagine, really doubt or deny
the right and expediency Of cripling the
rebels in every way sanctioned by the laws
of war The Slaves are the main prop OF
the rebellion They are its bone and sinew.
They work while .heir masters fight. They
dig entertainments and do the druggery oil
the camp. Besides. they arc property so Ear
as the rebels are concerned, and subject as
all property is, to the fate Of war Shall the
rebels be permitted to enjoy this advantage
nndisturbed and unquestioned9 The rebels
have risked their slaves as all their property,
upon the chances of war Shall the war
then, be wased merely to protect their slaves:
Shall the Federal Army be used merely as a
grand negro hunting machine To this
there is but one answer The shareholders
negro rights must give way to the interests
Of the nation. The Un.oa is gilmore impor-
lance than the preservation Of slavery, and
the negro mist succumb ea
But it does not follow that there is but
enc way to deal with this matter that the
object can be attained only by the immediate
and direct emancipation Of the slaves, even
on the superstition that the ultimate result
Of the war will be emancipation. The thing
will work its'.lf out in the natural course oil
events without much assistance. Keeping
in view the fact that the preservation Of the
Union by the suppression of the rebellion,
is the end to be attained, AMI that where the
slaves stand in The way Of success, they must
be made tac,ntribatc to that success, there
will DC no serious or at least inSurmountable
difficulty.
The course Of the President upon this
delicate subject, has been such as ought, and
We believe does, meet with the approval OF
loyal citizens every where. While keeping
strictly within the limits prescribed by law,
he has inf1exbly and fcarlessly enforced all
of its requirements, as We have abundant
confidence he will continue to do He GER
tainly has no sympathy with slavery, and
would rejoice if there was not slave in the
world; but he does not think that arbitrary
emancipation by military power, would be
either right or expedient, and consequently
has modified procamations and secretaric' s
reports, calling, at the same time, the atten.
ton Of Congress to such legislation rs is
needed. When that legi ,ation is had,
the President will see that it is carried into
effect. What that legislation will he we will
not surmisc. 1t ought to provide for the
confiscation of every slave Of every rebel,
their freedom, and colonization. That would
he right, and il must come to that, and the
sooner the better