New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-06

the interest and for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
Slavery-the Republic shall look primarily and
mainly to its own safety, and let Slavery, the
fountain and impulse of this most unnatural
suicidal strife, take its chances in tho tornado
it has conjured up. Whatever obligations 70
Slavery are imposed on the Government BY the
Federal Constitution and Union, we insist, are
strictly confined to and operate in favor OF
loyal shareholders alone. To rebel Shareholders
and slaveholding, the Government and the
Union arc under no obligations whatever.
iii. There are Four Millions of Slaves in the
Union, nne-tenths of them in the Rebel States,
and nineteen. twentieths Of them owned by i'm
placabIe Rebels. These slaves fall distinctly
and unequivocally within the legal definition OF
" contraband of war;" They are habltually
and extensively used to construct forts, intrench
camps, drive teams, cook for and wait on
officers and soldiers, and in other ways, to pro-
mote the success of the Rebel arms. Those
who are not so employed are kept at work
growing and preparing the food OF the iusur-
gent armies. Practically, these slaves form the
second line of the Rebel forces, wherein their
exterior or fighting line securely rests. They
are probably doing quite as much to uphold
and strengthen the rebellion as any other -Four
Millions of the Southern people.
w. But these slaves are not mere brutes
nor dead matter: they are rational, thinking
beings, ,chiie their interests and sympathtes nat
uraliy incline them to the side Of the Nation.
As q mass, they serve the rebel cause only on
compusion, or because grossly deceived by the
White rebels with regard to the motive and
object Of the struggle on the side OF the Union.
For if there be on earth such being as
coptented slave, even he does not desire
Slavery Extension, with its necessary result
of stimulating the migration and diffusion OF
sloyeholders and the consequent expatration
and separation of slave families The contented
slaye-if there be such a white blackblrd-
strongly desires to stay where he is, and have
bis family retained around him.
V. Our armies cannot safely advance nor act
in q hostile country--especially ono SO broken
and wooded as is most Of Virginia-wlthOut
freouent and fresh information with regard to
the positions and defenses of the enemy, and
these must be obtained from persons coming
from the enemy to us. 1t is perilous under
taking to pass clandestinely from Beauregard's
lines TO ours; very few Whites ever attempt
il; but slaves, who thoroughly know the
country and are impelled by the hope of free
dom. hive done and will do it, Only such
orders as that lately issued BY Gen. Hhlleck
can utterly arrest this fitting; an open tender
If freedom md kind treatment TO all VINO
come would doubtless accelerate and augment It,
vi. If the slaves of rebels were generally
sware-(and, if it were the proclaimed
established fact, the most Of them very soon
could be aware Of it)-that they had only to
roach Union camp, fort, vessel or picket, to
be free aud welcome, many would come where
one now does; and The enemy eoaid not dare
10 use them in his camps and forts SO freely as
he nou does. On the contrary, great part OF
his time aud force must then be absorbed in
watching and guarding his negroes suspected
of seeking chance for escape to our side.
Instead Of being main source Of bis strength
as they have hitherto been, the slaves would
soon be to him source of positive weakness
aud peril.
VII. As TO any systematic and general arm
ing Of fugitive slaves and enlisting them to fight
for the National cause, We fully concur in the
remark of Gen. Lsne of Indiana, that it will
be quitS time to put arms into the hands OF ne
groes after We shall have been able to arm
effectively our White volunteers ready and eager
10 fight for the Union. We lack evidence that
the material exists for Black regiments Of
Unionists, any more than of Indians, that would
be- worth their cost. But all this lie matter Of
expcdiency; and we most vebemently deny that
there are true, hearty Unionlsts who will re-
fuse to fight for the Union if negroes are al
lowed and invited to do co. We deny it for
the honor Of our loyal fellow citizens, who are
not one whit less earnest than the traitors,
who enlist and arm oil the negroes they can
get, and then look around for more. Witness
the following dispatch to The Louisville Con.
rier:
"NKw-OxIKASs, Nov. 24.-2sO00 troops were reviewed
here day by Gov Moore and Gems, Lowell and Kussles
The line miles long. There regiment 81
400 free eoioysd In, military display grand One
company dispsy ed black fss"
"Gen. Lowell" is tho deputy Street Commits.
sioner who recently rau away from our city;
{" Gen. Rugges' is New.Hampshre man
with Virginia wife. If these Northern trail
tors can fight side by side with negroes in be-
half of the rebellion, as well as their less par
ticular Southern cOnfederates, we insist that
our brave soldiers can aud will do it, when
ever necessary, in behalf of loyalty and the