Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-06-07

The Nashville Union Of May 25th has an
article indicating the confscation of the
property of rebels, including their slaves 1t
was written in reply to the New York journal
Of Commerce, and shows a wide difference be-
tween the sentiments of the earnest Union
lists in Tennessee and those of our northern
defenders Of the peculiar institution who are
so fearful that the claim of rebels to their
slaves will be intertered with. This article in
the Nashville paper completely disposes of
their folly. Here it is, and we commend it to
the careful consideration of our readers =
"The New York Journal of Commerce of
the 10th inst. has very abored and not very
lucid article on martial lar, the whole argu-
ment Of which is designed to prove that the
government has no right to divest a rebel of
ms property, permanently. 1t says: There
Is war power under the constitution, but it
has no legal effect beyond or against the con-
stltutlon. 1t may be exercised for certain
purposes, but must be exercised constitution
ally. a man killed in war is killed constitu-
honally, and property destroyed in suppress
ing an instruction is destroyed constitution
ally But these are acts of war, accomplished
by the war, and the war power cannot DESTROY
nent legal disabilities to hold property"
1T says, again, that general may, for the
purposes Of war, have the power to take a slave
from his master, loyal or disloya and employ
him for government Or he may for war
purposes, prevent the master from exercising
authority over the slave. But the property of
the master in the slave is not affected: and
the instant that the physical and actual depri-
walton of the use Of the slave is discontinued
by the general, that instant the master resumes
his right
Without casting the slightest imputatior
upon the loyalty of The Journal of Commerce
we must acknowledge our inability to under
stand the object Of its efforts, with those o
some other northern journals, to prove tina
the government should scrupulously respec
the rights of rebel and traitor arraved il
arms against itself and seeking its overthrow
to the undlsturbed possession Of his property
Is the vigorous and successful prosecution q
this war a matter so trivial that the Iowa
people can afford to turn aside from til
blockade of the coast, from Richmond, fror
Corinth, and from the guerillas of Missouri
Tennessee, and southern Kentucky to retur
some rebel runaway horse or negro, or to pa
him for proyender or provisions taken froI
his farm? So far is this from being the case
that we make the assertion, which is sustaine
by the general voice Of history, that the ceyl
last question ichici ShoUld concern us. as TIL
protection Of the property Of traitors seekiat
The destruction Of tie gorernn,ent md the en-
|aremem Of loyal people. If as the Journa
OIL Commerce asserts, the instant that tht
General discontinues the actual deprivation O
lne slave that instant the master resumes hi,
flelit' will not this rule be as applicable TO M,
gun or the lead, or the powder. or the war.
IKE stores Of the rebel armiesg Tho Jo,,rrai
makes no discrimination between takinq, nv,
perry from loyalist and a dislovaist Pr
eoolly ignores the fact that treas1n ha. a.
ways been regarded by universal consent ~
outlawing the offender and stripping lin, ~
his civil rights and privileges. Il is !;
fact, political suicide--a civil fsIo ,Jc -
We hear far more about res1ectiny IL,
constitutional rights Of rebels, who are tr,im
to destroy the constitution, from some ouo,
tiers, than we do about quelling the rebeIEo,
We are told that we must carry on this W,
according 10 the constitution. Granted.
TAR as respects loyal men, but not as yespec
rebels in arms against The government. n
government was instituted TO protect the RICH
Of faithful citizens, not Of those who have di
iranchised themselves. The constitution is
Oond and covenant TO be observed betwee