The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-01-30

Tne tontrnband Qaest,on.

Tine COntrubanG @WsEtsVh
Nv the Introduction of bills Tor the con-
fscation of property owned by rebels, We
have opened up new phase in The slavery
controversy As a nut;on we have passed
from the abstract merits Of the slave system
to the practical questions How shall we
amcliorate the condition Of the oontrahand
elave9 By what means shall wo elevate him
to the blessings of moral and civilized free
dom? Twelve months ago. that man would
have been deemed mad who should have
affirmed that, Senators and Representatives
Ia Congress assembled would at this time
be deliberating on this question. Yet so 1t
ia. Tho force of circumstances or rather
the leadings Of an iuscrutallo Providence
has conduoed to these results Iurofercuce
thereto. we can most emrhaticaily says God
moves in mysterious way TO accomplish
tho purposes Of his supreme authority. lie
plants the footsteps of his justice ON The
sea Of civil discord, and, riding on the storm
of human passion directs il to the advance
mcnt of his bencdcont rmposcs toward his
intelligent creatures. Let us then take
courage and go forward strong in faith, and
confident in hope, and in the end all will hc
well.
The magnitude Of the slave question ie SO
great, and the issues it presents are of suoh
revolutionary character, that it's dctcrmin-
alton bewilders our most sagaclous states
men, and we may we'll understand the hcsi-
tstion under which Mr.. Lincoln and his Adj
ministration labor in graspng ils RESPONSE
blitics. 1t is necessary th0t the nation en-
mdSSe should express It's views on this
question, that the government may have the
cordial and hearty support Of Congress, in
accomplishing what the necessities of war,
and the convictions Of thcir own Judgment,
demonstrates to be true policy. Future his
torans will record that the consequences of
this war twhatcvcr they may bc) are the
result of wilful!ond deliberate treason on
the part of the slave power. Thereby they
have placed themselves, aud the institution
which prompted to rebellion beyond the
pale Of sympathy or endurance, and what
over Of dread or hesitation may have i'ilu.
cuccd the free cili2on4 Of the North in deal
ing with this question in lhc past, the mo-
tive toitieuow removed, Tho consequence
eB which that motive anticipated have been
contaminated
The slave power has violated it's compact
with the several States Of this Union hy
withdrawing thorclrom. i'y thc ogouts Of
slavery the torch Of civil war was Jrst light
ed; by their fratrioidal act blood was FIRST
shed The penalties attached to such olGou-
ces ought, of necessity, to ho the scycrcat
that human justice warrants, or human pow
er can nilict. Whatever of clcmcncy may
hereafter be extended to the lives of traitors,
thorc can be but one opinion as to the pro
priety of contiscating that property by
which means they first began and now CON
tmue the war Under that head the rebels
estimate the value of their slaves as aur-
passing the aggregate of their other possess
sions, That property which will, ikclC nro-
duce supplies for the subsistence and arma-
ment fits owners sthatproperty which VIII
build lortiieatons, perform the heavy labor
and cook vcituals for rehci aoliCrs-that
property which the rebels can teach the
art of wal, and employ nkiling our tatlcrs,
brothers aud our sons, now employed to
maintain this glorious Union we say, the
property that will accomplish all thttc acts
must be intriusically valuable, and deserves
the prompt and earnest attention Of the
military and the public that it may he no
longer used for the mcrconary and sangujn-
ary purpose its owners have hitherto en-.
ploye it in.
The term contrahand is applied to what
ever affords aid or comfort to the enemy
In this sense, gold taken from the enemy is
contrahand, because ii has furnished means
by which war has been prosecuted, sheep
and cattle aro contrahand, because they fur
nish food for the enemy, The horse is con-
trahand because il aids in forwarding mill
tary stores, and under the guidance Of its
rider destroys human life. 1t will be seen,
by comparing these classes Of coutrob0ud
property, that the slaves are the most vau-
able and most stpotent of all their possessions.
In order, therefore, to a speedy termination
of this war, in accordance with the opinion
of our military men, and as a measure of
justice to the men who, 10y human logic and
legislation have been rcnducod to the level
of chattels we trust that Congress and the
Government will act promptly and fcarlossly
in conliscating this kind of property, and by
prudential legislation, place it in the posi-.
tion in which its intellectual power may be
developed; it's moral sonsc perfected, and
it's self-reliance malured-that at the end OF
its probation, its manhood may stand forth
redeemed, rogencrated and djsenthralled
and become a bond of strength and of honor
TO this great and glorious Republic,
Reforms in the war Depart
mCnt.
Secretary Stanton is said to I've hard a
work reprraniyiue, tha War Dpra~tr.nnt