The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-03-14

the principal Shareholders in the south act as
| If thew were in earnest. Look at South Caro-
lima. In the violent portions Of the state the
planters to Il man fly on the approach Of the
union army, burning their cotton, and in
many places their buildings, and abandoning
their slaves. There are said to be now about
eight thousand slaves thus abandoned in the
vicinity of Port Royal, in South Carolina.
every one Of whom may be constitutIonally
set free by cOnfscation az punishment Of
their masters treason. As the union armies
advance into the interior other thousands will
be added TO the number by the desertion Of
their masters, aud finally there will be no re.
sIdent population in large portion Of the
state but deserted slaves
! In short, il the masters persist in their mad
and causeless rebellion against the constltu'
tuition the end will he negro community
! along a portion Of the southern coast, Wder
| the protection ofthe United States.
II the war il to be protracted by the oOsn'
macy Of the cotton planters, this ~ result
which the United States cannot avert if they
would.
By condscatou, the slaves will be set free,
and, through the same process, the land Of
their masters will be surrendered to them for
/ CULTIVATION h'tIi INV tH'.o - u N.Y." COZ
ony around FORT Royal nhler the protection
Of the hatIohAl forces, ana lts iuture eHpah-
son INTO an orSallZeu community dePehHH on
the ob'tIhacy Oh Tue planters ana Tue events
Of the war.
But TINS Is not all froDab!y ioAr'h''hs OF
an the slaves IN 'he ouiten states are no"
lawfully subjected 10 cobhscatoh on account
OF inc treason o. thelr masters 10" 'ar 'ho
"a. - 1 Il Il
forfeiture OF Their slaves Their other property,
OF thelf l'es ShalI De carried l." question: 0'
expectancy oh'y,ahn Involves no constitution
Al question Of power. four hfthS OF an the
slaves may be thus lawfully SET Tree, anu the
emancipation OF the other NTH would soon i2l-
low.
In tins view OF the subject what motive
have the aboIltlonls's OF me hor'h 70 press
Their government INTO an "ba"hoh'hrnt o. 'he
constitution by making general cnanc'patlon'
instead Of preservation ol that instrument
the direct object OF the war, thus giving col
or OF right To- the rebellion, ana, IN measure
/ pnrayzng the arms Of loyal men, especially
in the south?
Patriotic men may Will differ IL to the extent
to which the punishment OF treason shall be
carried. The extreme emancIpatonlsts may
It they choose, INSIST that 1t shall be carricl
to the extent OF coniscating and setting tree
all the slaves OF the rebels, why then shouIu
they abandon the constitution ana place
themselves on revolutionary ground! Why
, not act with cordality with those who are
striving to maintain the constitution as Il rs
and that being accomplished, seek the con
/ summation Of their ends by means Of cOntis
cation under ita authority?
0 They may rest assured that their object, i
attanable at all, can be more easily attained
in this mode than by any revolutionary pro
ceedings.
; The time for considering how Tar it is tn
r. interest Of the country to carry the punish
E. mcnt If treason by Conii4catiOn or death ha
&c not arrived. When it does arrive the ques
ton will doubtless be decided not so muc
&c by the guilt Of the traitors az by the interest
% Of the loyal citizens Of the republic.
L. Not all the wealth and all the blood Of tn
n leading rebels can atone for thOusandt
IS part OF the destruction If lives and property
sickness privatI0n, and misery which thel
probate ambition has brought upon thci