The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-01-25

The victory over Zollicoher at Somerset is
egarded in military circles here Is an important
ne, but not having any particular bearing upon
he position of the enemy at Bowling Green
,ollicoffer was not in position to cooperate
nth Buckner, being for east
Mr.. Blair's scheme.
We have published brief abstract of the bill
into Congress by Mr.. Blair, of Mis-
ouri, for con6scating the property of rebels and
their slaves. This is one of the
most important matters to come before Congress,
Ind it is one upon which action of some kind
must be taken. Its adjustment properly be.
ongs to Congress, and the clamor against the
President that he has advanced no policy on the
subject is unreasonable and absurd. The Presi-
duties and will conscientiously adhere to the
xecution Of the Constitution and Laws, as they
are. 1t is for Congress to provide for the pres
ent emergency, which is not covered by any ex-
isting law, and to make the emancipation, which
state OF civil war necessarily involves, as safe
and as little destructive to the great interests of
the country as may be.
There Is no principle more universally admit
ted than the justice Of on6scating the property
Of rebels to the use of the government upon
which they have made war. With extraordina-
~ forbearance perhaps at the start. when
SO many thousands of the southern people were
hesitating between loyalty and treason-Con-
gress provided only for the confscation of such
property rs should be directly used in the ser.
vice of the instruction. This practically
amounts to very little, because no law was need
ed to authorize the capture of the military sup.
plies of the enemy. and beyond that the law
touches nothing. But the entire property of
oh ohol "a ~ ~
and strength Of the rebellion, and the act of
treason forfeits all right to the possession and
protection of property under the government
upon which reasonable war is made The bill
Of Mr.. Blair provides for the regular aud lega
con6scation of the property of rebels, just as
rapidly as the advance of the national armies
shall restore the power of the general Govern.
ment in the States now in Instruction. The
rights of loyal men are to be fully protected
upon proof of their loyalty, and there will be no
remorseless and indiscriminate vengeance upon
those whose fidelity has been overborne and
silenced by the reign of terror now prevailing in
Secessia. The lands and other property con-
iscated are to be sold for the benefit of the
Government. Thus two great objects will be Sc
cured. The rebels will be forced to pay the ex-
penses of the war which they have forced upon
the Government, and the property of the South
u
The emancipation Of the slaves of rebels is a
matter of course. The legal right Of the mas.
tiers in them is forfeited, with their other pro-
perty, as the Government cannot hold property
in men, and woulu not if it could, the negroes
necessarily become free. The provisions for
their care, by temporary apprenticeship and by
colonization, is duty imposed upon the Gov.
eminent by the nature OF the case and by con-
sderations of humanity. There will be some
difference OF opinion as to the project Of coloni.
cation, and very likely it will be stricken from
the bill. If retained the emigration of the
blacks should be made perfectly voluntary. The
Government has no right to exIatriate them
iorcioly, and We presume that long before the
time Tor the practical enforcement of such a
measure shall come, it will be evident that thew
are wanted as free laborers on the lands thew
now occupy, and that they will be retained, un.
der system OF protection and education by the
government which shall fit them eventually for
the more complete privileges of citizenship.
The extent to which tie provisions of Mr..
Blair's bill will be applied, if it becomes law,
and the transformation OF the social system Of
the South under its operation, depend upon the
course OF events. Ii the rebellion shall he
whipped out in the campaign now
opening, there will be general amnesty for all
who will return to loyalty-the chief traitors of
course excepted-and there will be no such gen.
sral confscation or emancipation as are contem.
plated by Ar. Biair's bill. In fact the extent
20 Whicn these great changes are made must
lepend altogether upon the obstinacy of the
rebels and the duration of the war. A long
war ensures the destruction Of slavery. root and
branch A short war intlicts upon il mortal
wounds, and leaves it to wear out praduallv
ne remnant OF painful and dishonored exist.
,nce. &'@
Mr.. BARS bill-the colonization scheme ex.
to satisfy the most earnest eman.
'ipationists. They can hardly fail to see that il
vii accomplish all that could by any possibility
,e accomplished by general act of emancipa-
ion, while it will be exposed to no constitution.
! objections tofmpair its moral effect, or excite
lstrust and division in any section. The most
ad'cai OF emancipationists now say that all they
SIX Is that the government shall proclaim that
u persons who escape from the rebels and
ONE within our lines, processing loyalty, shall
be free This is already the fact,
Tue actloh OF our military commanders, with |
ne consent OF the administration. Fugitive |
aEes are freely received and employed in camp
,rvce, and are placed under the instruction Of
orthern missionaries and teachers. And onr
commanders can use them as soldiers if thew
INK il wise to do so. II from motives of mill.
Try OF political prudence they judge otherwise
ooes not follow that they act from any special
itred OF the Africans or any tenderness towards
lie Oaroarous institution by which tbey are
scientifically embruted. Nor Is the govern.
ens required by any just considerations to re-.
ave ana feed and shelter all the negroes who
ny flock to our campo. The burger part of the
.groes must be left TO shift for themselves. "A
sy 90 In the region about Beaufort, S, G. IF
government should offer TO receive and suh.
y an tnat seek its protection the cost of main
'ning the negroes would very soon b, greater
an 'ne cost OF our armies, and We are on the
rye OF DeiDg swsmped by that. Mr.. Blair's
= poses sor TINS difficulty by an apprentice
= sySssm ior the negroes made free by the
f-support until the finai disposition In he msds
them shall be determined
emancipation 10 now coming unon ma
acucai question, requiring the w,sest and
m ~ craftsmanship 10 regulate il go that
l'ner tue negroes nor the whites shall sufJa,
necessarily by the great social re yolution
ght'ering generalities can take the place ne
'oon ~ ana iorethought in this important mat.
We AUNT the most radical general nr;n.
les as to the rights Of the negro as = MAJ
! ms claims upon our justice and hnman;,. :
We cennot fulfil these claims by setting ~.
yes Tree and leaving their future condi,;on ~
decided by chance circumstances and ~
onsc ignorance and i1capacity which centn. :,
!, o. ,, slavery have produced. We must deal 81
= 1n'ngs and circumstances q we find fher, "
We tnink we see In M. Blairs bin the - +
..sa features OF 2 prudent and statesmasliks
asstnen. OF this difficult matter. After Co., Q
= J, shah nave done the work Of most imma.
9 Necessity tnat presses upon 1.-THE est.h
~, en- sound and permanent financial