Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-07-18
THE SLAYER QUESTION.

t'' wv hHhe"y SeiNiCc VI tic UOVcrnlncnt.-
1t is said that the President will, in proc
lamation, give the future policy of the Ad
ministration on this subject at an early day
thus pointing to the fact that change o
policy in this respect is about to be inaugur
ated, and in proof of this we have a despatch
dated the 18th inst. which says: "The Pres
ident this morning sent for the Slave State
members of Congress, and had an importan,
interview with them. He urged upon then,
his plan Of gradual emancipation, and limited
strongly that if his plan was not adopted,
general emancipation would come under less
pleasant circumstances"
For some time past there has been a heavy
pressure from all parts of the North, earnest
ly demanding that there be more vigorous
measures adopted for the suppression Of the
rebellion, and now we have reason to believe
that the root of all our present troubles is to
be tapped. Further, bill has been intro
duccd in Congress, which will probably be-
come law, entitled, For the suppression
of the instruction and the punishment and
seizure of the property of the rebels and for
other purposes" 1t provides that:
Every person who shall commit the crime
of treason against the United States and shall
be adjudged guilty thereof, shall suffer death,
aid all his slaves, if he have any, shall be de-
clared and made free, or he shall be impris-
oncd for not less than five years, or fined not
less than $4,000, and all his estate, real and
personal, excluding slaves, shall be levied up
on--any sale or conveyance to- the contrary
Notwithstanding. ..
If any person should hereafter incite, set
on foot assistance, or engage in any rebellion
or insurrectien against the authority of the
United States or the laws thereof, and shall
give aid or comfort to any such existing re-
bellion and be convicted thereof, such person
shall be punished 10y the forfeiture of all his
personal property, or shall be punished by
Imprisonment 10 years, and fined not exceed
ing ten thousand dollars, and his slaves, if
he has any, be liberated at the discretion of
the court, and all such property excluding
slaves, shall be forfeited to the United States.
Every person guilty Of either of the often
ces described in this act, shall be forever in
capable and disqualified to hold any office of
trust under the United States.
The President is authorized to cause the
seizure of all property, real and personal of
all such persons, and apply and use the pro
ceeds OF the same for the support of the Uni
ted States.
The President is authorized to issue proc
lamation, if after 60 days all persons in re-
bellion do not return to their allegiance, that
their property shall be forfeited, &c.
All slaves of persons engaged in the re-
bcllion or who shall in any way give aid and
comfort thereto, escaping to and taking refuge
within the lines of our army, and all slaves
deserted by their masters and coming under
control OF the Government Of the United
States, and all slaves found at places occu-
pied by rebel forces and afterwards by United
States troops, shall be held captives of war
and be forever free.
No slave escaping from one State to anoth-
er shall be delivered up unless for crime, or
some offence against the laws of the United
States, until the claimant shall first make
oath as to his loyalty. No persons engaged
in military or naval service shall decide on
the validity Of the claim and surrender OF
such slaves on pain of being dismissed from
the service.
many persons of African descent, for the sup
preston Of the rebellion, and use them in
such manner as he may deem fit. He is au-
thorized to make provisions for colonizing the
blacks beyond inc limits of the United States.
The Presidr+S is authorized to extend to per-
sons in rebellion pardon and amnesty on such
conditions as he may deem expedient for the
public welfare
Heretofore the strength Of the Government
has been exertcd to protect slavery now let
it be cxcrtcd to destroy it. In arraying
themselves against the Government the PEG
pie Of the South have forfeited all the rights
they were entitled to under that Government
In voluntarily seeding from the Union they
relinquish all the rights and benefits they
enjoyed while they remained loyal part and
portion of it. Let it be proclaimed that this
war is to be prosecuted in manner that will
strike the heaviest and most prostrating blows
at the rebellion, and that every means known
to civilized warfare will be employed to crush
it out speedily. Let the policy be made
known that traitors have no Constitutional
right the Government is bound to respect,
and that the Union army is not to be used
to protect the damnable institution of African
Slavery, which is the cause Of all our present
troubles. Let all loyal men, whether white
or black, be accepted in the Union cause IF
a negro offers his services to the Government
why should he be refused? The rebels use
them in every department Of military service,
and if they can make them available why not
the North? If it is proper for them to be
employed by those engaged in the rebellion
why not for those engaged in suppressing it !?
If practicable to enlist the negroes of the
South in brigadcs, and put them into the
field as fighting men, do it. If not, let them
perform the drudgery of the armies, such as
throwing up Notifications, cooking, washing,
tending hospitals, taking care of horses, etc.
etc, thereby relieving Northern soldiers from
those facilitating and enervating duties
which are calculated to render them less ef-
fcient for the operations Of the battle field.
By the employing Of negroes to do the drudg-
cry of camps, thousands of precious lives
would be saved, and the loyal black be per-
nitted to work for the JTnion causc in . man