St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-12-19


rebels who are laboring by force Of arms to
overthrow a go o.ernment, justly brings upon
themselves al the consequences Of war, and
provoke the destruction merited by the worst
Of crimes That government would be false to
national trust aud would justly excite the ridl
)cule of the civilized world, that would abstain
from the use of any official means to preserve
its own existence, Or to overcome q Iebellious
and traitorous enemy, by sparing or protecting
the property of those who are ,waging war
against it. ...,.
The principal wealth and power Of the rebel
States is peculiar species Of property. con-
sistinK of the service of labor Of African
slaves, OF. the descendants of Africans. This
property has been variously estimated at the
value Of from 500, 100000 to 81, l,O0),000,00
Why SHOULD this property be exempt from
the hazards and consequences of civil war;
It was the boast of the leader Of the rebel
lion, while he yet had q seat in the Senate of
the United States, that the Southern States
would be comparatively free frsm the burdens
Of war, if it should be brought on by the colt
templated rebellion and that boast was accom-
panied by the savage threat that ''Northern
towns and cities would become the victims of
rapine and military spoil" and "that Nor
thern men should smell Southern gunpowder
anu 1851 0UUCuSiu SCSSA' iANV OA0 OVAOtS
the disposition of the rebels to carry that
threat into execution. The wealth Of Northern
towns and cities, t e produce Of Northern
farms, Northern workshops and manufactures,
would certainly be scized, destroyed or appro-
priated as military spoil. No property in the
North would be spared from the hands of the
rebels, and their rapine would be defended un-
der the laws Of war. While tho loyal States
thus have all their property and possessions at
stake, ore the insurgent rebels to carry on
warfare against the government in peace and
security to their own property?
Treason and justice and representation
forbid that such should be the policy Of this
Government, but demand on the contrary,
that, being forced by traitors and rebels to
the extrenities of war, all the rights aud pow
ers of war should be exercised to bring it to
speedy end.
l.. Those who make war against the Govern
mcnt justly forfeit ell rights Of property, priv
ilege or security, derived from the Constitu
tion and laws against which they are in armed
Irebellion; and As the service Of their slaves
constitute the chief property of the rebels, such
property should fare the common fate Of war
TO- which they have devoted the property of
| loyal citizens.A. - 49, =
While it is plain that the slave property Of
the South is justly subjected to all the conse-
quences of this rebellious war; and that the
Government wonld be untrue to its trust in
not employing all the rights and powers Of
war to bring it 70 speedy close. the details
of the plan for doing 50, like all other military
measures, must III great degree be left to be
determined BY particular exigencies.i The dis
position Of other property belonging to the
I rebels that becomes subject to our arms is
}'eoverned w Hthe circumstances Of the case
The GOVERNMENT hss no power to hold slaves,
mono to restrain slave Of his liberty, or to ex-
act service It has q right, however, to use
the voluntary service 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 tho war, and the sup
preston Of the rebellion. 1t is as clearly q
| light Of the Government to arm slaves, wheu
it may become necessary, Is it is to use gun
powder taken from the enemv. Whether it is
expediest to do 60 is purely military ques-
ton. The right is unquestionable by the laws
|jof war. y The expediency must be determined
BY circumstances, keeping in view the great
| object of overcoming tho rebels, Ie-establish-
ing the laws. and restoring peace to the ma
tion: ... -; ,u,.: ..~
tits vain and lille for the Government to car
ry on this war. or hope to maintain its exis-
| tence against rebellious force, without employ
ing all the rights and powers of war. Al has
been said, the right to deprive the rebels Of
their property in slaves and slave labor, is a.
clear and absolute as the right to take forage
/ from the field or cotton from the warehouse, or
powsler and arms from the magazine. To
leave the enemy in the possession of such
property AZ forage and cotton and military
stores,, and the means Of constantly reprodu'
cling them, would be madness 1t is,I there
fore, equal maduess to leave them in peaceful
and secure possession of slave property more
valuable and efficient to them for war, than
forage, cotton, and military stores. Such pol
icy would be national suicide. What to do
with that species Of property, is . question,
that time snd circumstance, will solve, and
need not be anticipated further than to repeat
thai they cannot be held by che Government Is
slaves. I 1t would be useless to keep them ~
prisoners of war; and self7preservation, tho
highest duty Of : government, or OF mdi vid1-
als, demands that they should be disposed Of or
employed in ths most; effective manner that
viii tend most 1speedily; to suppress the insur-
rect:on and restore the authority Of the Gov
ernment If It shall be found that the: men
who have been held by the rebels Is slaves
are capable Of bearing arms and performing
efficient military service it is the right and
may become the duty Of the Government to
arm and equip them, aud employ their servi-
ces against the rebels, under proper military
regulation, discipline and command.
But in whatever manuer they may be used
by the Government, it is plain that, once liber.
ated by tho rebcllious act Of their masters,
they should never again be restored to bon.
dage. BY the masters treason and rebellion
he forfeits all right to the labor and servioeof
his slave; aud the slave of,hs rebellious mas
ter; by his service tothe Government, becomes
justly entitlsd to freedom and protection. .>.l
The disposition to be made Of the slaves Of
rebels, after tho close Of the war can be safely
left to the visdom and patriotism Of Congress-.
The representatives OF tho people will unques-
|tionabty secure the slavekdldsrs every right