The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-12-09

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safe and free from the burdens of war, il
it should be brought on by the contem-
plated rebellion, and that boast was ac-
companied by the savage threat that
"Northern towns and cities would become
the victims of rapine and military spoil, -
and that "Northern men should smell
Southern gunpowder and feel Southern
steel" No one doubts the disposition of
the rebels to carry that threat into execu-
ton The wealth of Northern towns and
cities, the produce of Northern farms,
Northern workshops and manufactures,
would certainly be seized and destroyed,
or appropriated as military spoil. No
property in the North would be spared
from the hands Of the rebels, and their
rapine would be defended under the laws
of war. While the loyal Sfdies thus hare
all their property and possessions atstahe,
are the :nsurgenf rebels to carry on a rar
fare against the Government IN peace and
security to their ora property
Reason and justice and self-preserva
sion forbid that such should be the policy
of this Government, but demand, on the
contrary, that, being forced by the trai-
tors and rebels 10 the extremity of war,
al The rights and po,ocrs OF ,rdr should
be ererctsed IN order to bring il to speedy
end.
Those who make war against the Gov
eminent justly forfeit all rights of proper
ty, privilege, or security, derived from the
Constitution and laws against which they
are in armed rebellion; and as the service
of their SHARES constitutes tie chief proper
" Of the rebels, such property should share
hare depoted Ae property OF ioyai citi-
Gems.
ALL THE MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED.
While it is plain that all the slave
property of the South is Justly subjected
to all the consequences of this rebellious
war, and that the Government would be
untrue to its trust in not employing all
the rights and powers of war to bring it
| to a speedy close, the details OF the plan
for doing so, like all other military meas
ures, must, in a great degree, be left to
be determined by peculiar exigencies. The
disposition Of other property belonging
to the rebels that becomes subject to our
arms is governed by the circumstances Of
the case. The Government has no potcer
10 hold sianes, none 10 restrain a Stare OF
his liberty nor TO eract has service. III has
q right, horsrcr, TO use the voluntary SER
vice Of slaves liberated by war from their
rebel masters, like any other property of
the rebels, in whatever mode may be most
efficient for the defence of the Govern
ment, the prosecution of the war; and the
suppression of the rebellion. II is as
clearly right Of the Government 10 arm
sArres, when it may become necessary, as
it is to use gunpowder taken from the en-
envy. Whether it is expedient to do so
is purely a miittory question. The right
is objectionable " the lars Of tcar =
The expediency must be determined by
circumstances. keeping in view the great
object OF overcoming the rebels, re-estab-
fishing the laws, aud restoring peace to the
nation.
1T is vain and idle for the Government
to carry on this war, or hope to maintain
its existence against rebellious force, ruth
ont employing al tie rights and pomers
81 mar.
As has been said the right to deprive
the rebels Of their property in slaves and
slave labor, is as clear and absolute, as
the right to take forage from the field, or
cotton from the warehouse, or powder and
arms from the magazine. To leave the
enemy in the possession of such property
as forage and cotton and military stores,
and the means of constantly reproducing
them, would be madness. 1t is, therefore,
egaat madness 10 fenee them an peaceful
and secure possession If STARE property
mare osiuut7e and edicient to them for
ra,, than forage, cptton, and military
stores. Sub pottcy ,could be national
suicide.
What to do with that species Of proper
ty, is n question that time aud circum-
stances will solve, and need not be an
tlcipated further than to repeat that they
cannot b. held Nv the Gorernment as
siases. 1t would be useless to keep them
MS prisoners Of war; and self preservation,
the highest duty o. governments, or Of ir-
dividuals, demands that they should be
disposed Of or employed IN the most e.
Jtectirc manner that will tend most speedi-
~ to suppress the instruction and re-
store the authority Of the Government
Ii it shall be found that the men who
have been held by the rebels as slaves are
capable of bearing arms and performing
efficient military service, it is the right
and may become the duty Of Government
70 arm asd equip them, and employ their
services against The Rebels, under proper
miiitary regulations, discipline and con.-
m0ad.
But in whatever manner they may be
used by the Government, it is plain that,
once liberated BY the rebellious act Of their