The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-12-13

tend 10 do II was a military, and not polit
cal order / am ready to carry out any lawful
instructions in regard to fugitive slaves which
my superior may give me, and 70 enforce any
Law which Congress may pass, but | cannot
make law and will not violate ii. You know
my private opinion on the policy Of confsciting
n dave property Of rebels in arms. If Con-
gress shall pass il, you msy be certain that |
ehail enforce IL. Perhaps my policy as to the
treatH en' Of rebel. and their prnpsriv IL AZ well
set out in Order No. 10, issued the day before
your letter was written. as could now describe
it, Yours truly,
II. w. HALLEoK.
Mr.. Lovejoy. in explanation, said, in in'ro-
duoibR bis resolution, be. ofcoutse, did not do
Sire 20 revoke an order that General III Heck did
net near "a make. He would cay in regard to
bimself and others, that an attempt has been
made 10 convey the impress sion that he aud 9th
e's design TO support he war, not against tho
rebe lion, but against slavery. lie believed in
iakiug away all tho prop rty Of rebels, ard
cnancipating taeir slaves n the most eiIilett
means Of suppo ssing the rsbollon. Others
might differ from him IA 10 the policy but vhiIe
he va not in favor Of carrying on the war for
the specific and ultimate purpose Of libera'iog
the slaves, be Wa against carrying 1t on for
pro'' citg slavery.
lie was opposed 10 the army being employed
as slave catobcrs, and TO give orders to turn
back on their own masters those who desire to
etcape, whether free CT slave, black or white.
Coz ssquenrly he thought II any orders had teen
given &c drive slave, back into the hands Of tho
essonists, or into the hands OF shareholders
whether loyal or not, to he contrary 10 sound
policy in carry ing on the war ami supptessing
the rebellion.
In conclusion he said, ii any soldiers want TO
fight simply for the purpose ef returning fugi-
tive slaves, he hat Only toremark that the army
would lie strtnger without them.
Nj Blair MOI reported I'LL su,hori,ng
tlc ing Of volunteer force Of 20, 900 men
for the better defense Of Kentucky.
Mr. Wickllffe tK,) who several days ago in.
trOduCed the bill, pIoceeded TO show the import
anCs OF passing 1t. Kentucky, he said. was TO
be the great hattie ground of this war. The
people Of that siae hoped soon TO see the day
when the invaders foot would he expelled from
that territory, which is now invaded. Property
has been ruihlcssly destroyed or carried or
homestcads have Teen made desolate bridges
turned, &C. and IL il to protect the state while
the army is marched elsewhere that tho yolun-
teeI force is required.
Mr. Lovejty Inquired Why is it that the
regularly mustered force cam OF accomplish
tn, Sc otjectsi
Mr.. Wcklffe replied that they wanted the
volunteer force to protect the state from inroads
on the hOrder, as well ~ at any timo to render
aid TO the Union army.
Mr. LOvejoy wished 10 know whether il WAS
important to act on the bill today.
Mr. Wicklffe replied, he had received from
the Military Board of Kentucky an urgent ap-
plication TO call on the War Department and ask
for just such corps as the bill provides. lie
bad brought the SUBJECT to the attention Of the
President and Secretary Of War, and it had not
ouly met with their approval but that of all the
cabinet.
MIR MAYNARD spoke Of recent sojourn in the
part Of Ker lucky so much ravaged and laid
waste by the rebel troops and would allude at
a future time to the distressing condition of
affairs In Eastern Tennessee, which he had
alone the honor 20 represent His people, no
said had been left unprotected by the Govern
ment. notwithstanding their firm devotion to
the Union. He held IL TO lie a duty not only
10 protect loyal men in Tennessee and Ken
lucky, but in South Carolina and everywhere,
as much 80 as in Pennsylvania and the ad
joining states. The present war is against tho
Government on the part OF the South, and
should 10 promptly suppressed. We have
expended millions on the borders TO protec, the
whites agar II savages, and certainly we should
be prompt to protect all loyal men against tho
rebels.
The further consideration Of the bill was then
postponed until Monday.
The House proceeded to the consideration Of
the special order, namely:
The various propositions involving the ques-
ton Of ,emancipating the persons held as slaves
Mr.. Eliot Mass proceeded TO explain and
enforce his resolution, declaring that the war
lion, and the re-estabishment of the rghtful
authority Of the national Constitution and the
laws ever the entire extent Of our common
country, and advising that military orders TOR
the emancipation of the slaves be used whenever
the same shall avail to weaken the power of the
rebels in arms, or in sustaining the military
power of the loyal forces. Slavery, he argued,
was at the root Of the rebellion, and therefore is
an outlaw. There was no doubt loyal men
should be protected because 1t should be un-
dcrstoOd that the meR who stand up for
for the right should be held close to our hearts.
This war had been called an anti-slavery war
Il was no such thing. Though slavery caused
II, and though by II slavery may DO overthrow
or removed nevertheless, the object Of the war
is 10 recover the rightful authority of the gov
ernment and to put down treason. lie spoke of
the destrtion Of the country around about Port
Royal, and in reply TO his own question, What
ought TO be dene said Let our military COM
manders organize bureau Of sgriculture-let
the black hands gather the white staple-let
the shackes fall off the limbs thus employed.
His resolutions, he said, do not determine what
the future Is to be. Let us first do the work put
upon us, and after that the way will be opened
10 u.s. AS our army advances, the re-establish-
ment OF the former order of things would he
apparent Already Post office has been nut
In operation at Port Royal, soon the school house
ana church would follow, and even in the Pal
Ii1,lo su'e the banner OF our common country
Treason will be suppressed the rebellion over
come, and the righiful authority of the laws
ard Constitution maintained. In tho course of
his remarks he said Simon Cameron had done
more in three months TO raise bis name higher
among men and the lovers of freedom, and as
an Opposer of rebellion and treason than during
all his previous long career in public life. To-
wards the conclusion of his lengthy argument,
he said II was time there was definite policy
on this subject OF coniiscation, and he further
contonded that as slavery was at the root Of this
treason II should be eradicated, and quoted au-
thorities TO show that by the law Of nations il
was competent and right TO pursue the course
which his resolutions indicate.
Mr.. Steele New York; said that he would en-
deavor not TO exhibit bad taste by following in
the line 0f discussion pursued by the gentleman
from Massachusetts, (Eliot), who asserted, in
broad terms, that slavery Is the cause of this
war. This proposition he (Stcele) denied. He
asserted that II was caused by unnecessary agi-
tation OF the slavery question. Proposing TO test
the gentleman's (Eliot) argument by the Mes
sage Of the President, which had been quoted,
he insisted tt no sentence Their in contained
could lie construed to m, an that the President
desires any legislation on the subject
In further response TO Mr.. Eliot, Mr.. Steele
said = c' 1t he proclaimed that this war is Tor
the extinction Of slavery, and whether you be-
htveit or no., the power ofour army Ia pIralyzed
Mr.. Conway (Kansas) contended that the
conflict which has been progressing for nine
months has changed is original character.
From an attempt to put Gown an insurrectlon,
II has settled into deliberate war. We have not
encountered the enemy in any battle in which
we have won an unquestionable victory. With
the exception of the advantages gained by two
expeditions on the southern coast, our arms
have eyeTyWhere baen oyerhorna notwithstanJ