Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-12-13


of 100000 men. They have been reduced to
the lowest possible amount consistent with
the public interests, and are based upon a
strictly economical administration of ti1 va
rious branches Of this department.
The appropriations to cover deficiencies are
rendered necessary by the excess OF the force
in the field over that upon which the esti-
mates were founded, and by extraordinary ex-
penditures connected with the employment
and discharge of the Three Months Contin-
gent.
An item Of very heavy expense IS the large
mounted force which has been organized,
equipped and made available since the called
session of Congress, and which was not COM
puted for in the estimate. While an increase
Of cavalry was undoubtedly necessary, it has
reached numerical strength more than ade-
quate to the wants of the service. AS 1t can
only be maintained at great cost, measures
will be taken for its gradual reduction.
It has become grave question tor deter
minaton, what shall be done with the slaves
Abandoned by their owners on the advance OF
our troops into the Southern territory, as IN
the Beaufort district of South Ga rolina. The
whole white population therein is six thous-
and while the number of negroes exceeds
thirty-two thousand. The panic which drove
their masters in wild confusion from their
homes, leaves them in undisputed possession
of the soil. Shall they, armed by their mas
tiers, be placed in the field to fight against us,
or shall their labors be continually employed
in reproducing the means for supporting the
armies of the rebellion?
The war into which this government has
been forced by rebellous traitors, is carried
on for the purpose of repossessing the prop
ertv violently and treacherously seized upon
by the enemies of tine Government, and to re-
establish the authority and laws Of the Uni
ted States in places where it is opposed or
oyerthrown by armed insurrection and re-
bellon. Its purpose IS to recover and de-
fend what is justly its own.
War. even between independent nations, is
made to subdue the enemy, and all that be-
long to that enemy, by occupying the hostile
country, and exercising dominion over all the
men and things within it's territory. This
being true in respect to independent nations
at war with each other, it follows that rebels
who are laboring by force of arms to over
throw a government, justly bring upon them
selves all the consequences of war, and pro-
woke tae destruction merited by the worst OF
crimes. That Government would be false to
national trust and would justly excite the rid
icule of the civilized world, that would alb
stain from the use of any efficient means to
preserve its own existence, or to overcome
rebellous and traitorous enemy, by sparing
or protecting the property of those who are
waging war against it.
The principal wealth and power of the reb-
el States is peculiar species of property, con-
sisting of the service or labor of African slaves
or the descendants of Africans. This proper
ty has been variously estimated at the value
Of 800. 100000 to 81, 600. 100000.
Why should this property be exempt from
the hazards and consequences of rebellious
war
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 iron
the burdens of war, if it should be brough
on by the contemplated rebellion, and tina
boast was accompanied by the savage threa
that northern cities and towns would becom
the victims of rapine and military spoils,
and that s'Northern men should smell South
ern o,,npowder and feel Southern steel" N
one doubts the disposition of the rebels
carry that threat into execution. The wealt
of Northern towns and cities, the produce
Northern farms, Northern workshops an
manufactures, would certainly be seized, de:
troyed, or appropriated as military spoil. y
property in the North would be spared fror
the hands of the rebels, and their rapl
would be defended under the laws OF war
While the loyal States thus have all the
property and possession at stake, are the II
surgent rebels to carry on warfare aga'n'
the Government in peace and security
their own property .5.t ea...
Reason and justice and selfpreservatio
forbid that such should be the policy of tn
Government, but demand, on the contrar.
that. being forced by traitors and rebels to Il
extremity Of war, all the rights and powe
of war should be exercised to bring it to
speedy end. ~, s.e
Those who make var against the Cover
ment Justly forfeit all rights Of property, pr
ilege, or security. derived from the Constit
tion and laws, against which they are
armed rebellion and as the labor and serv
Of their slaves constitute the chief proper
Of the rebels, such property should share
common fate Of war to which they have
voted the property of loyal citizens.
While it is plain that the Slave proper
Of the South is justly subjected to all the ct