Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-06-25

After showing that the Govern ment
had the right TO ''remoye every obstacle
10 the peace and integrity of the Union"
to abolish slavery if deemed necessary,
Mr.. HANcHErT said -
Dir. Speaker believe the time has
come to exercise this power, so far as the
leading rebels themselves are concerned,
because SO long as they can maintain
Their armies upon the borders of the in
surrectionary districts, and keep their
slaves at service in the interior, the latter
will continue to be the backbone of the
rebellion. 1t is admitted, that while our
own soldiers are subject to painful toll
upon burning sands, and in pestilent
marshes, the rebel troops are spared such
exposures, which are borne by the slaves
of rebels, often in sight of our own camps.
Will anv one say that these negroes, who
are performing such involuntary service
against us, are beyond the power of the
Government? Oh, no. we are told that
the slaves of all rebels, actually employed
in hostile force against the Government,
may be set free. Why limit it to s1ch
slaves as are directly employed in the
war service? Sir, what is the war ser
vice! Is not the slave performing inyol-
untary service on the rebel plantations,
raising and harvesting the wh7a and corn
that subsist the rebel army, as etfectually
aiding the rebellion, RS the slave who
loads the grain upon wagons and con-
VOWS it from camp to camp! Is he who
raises or produces subsistence or supplies
for the rebels, actually less in their SER
vice than he who carries it to, and for
them! Is he less employed in aiding the
rebellion, who furnishes q recruit for the
rebel army, than the recruit himself! Sir,
the distinction attempted to be made in
regard to the slaves directly engaged in
the war, and those of rebels at work on
their plantations at home, is utterly I'M
tenable. They are all alike, an efficient
source Of strength to the rebel cause
However much they may embarrass their
masters when disaster oyertakes them,
.hev constitute their chief reliance for the
means of sustaining their armies. Why,
then, this terrible dread of removing, 80
far as is i'll the power Of the Government,
the obligation of servitude, which they
feel resting upon them! What is there
so sacred about this relation of master
and slave that it should be reverenced,
even in the case of the most atrocious
rebel? Whence does it derive its mystic
authority for that defiant ukase: Islands
off; touch me not?" when every other
relation in society yields to the exigencies
of the times. The relation of husband
and wife, parent and child-all the ties
of society must yield to the terribly ext
gencies of this civil war, except that of
master and slave. Sir, it is foolish
prejudice, nay, sir, wicked perversion
Of Judgment of reason, of law, and justice.
While the so called confederate govern
ment has confiscated every particle of
the property of loyal men within their
reach3 nay, more, sir; when this same
self styled confederacv has commissioned
pratical rovers to capture on the high
seas, our unoffending, unarmed merchant
ships, to plumber their oargoes, imprison
their crews, and burn their vessels; when
the Heavens crimson, and the waves
blush at the glaring outrages OF these pi
ratical hell hounds, shall we sit here
deliberat NO in cool debate about the jus
tice of depriving them of their slave? No,
sir; if a blow can be struck in that direc-
ton, let it fall-the heavier the better
But we are told that this policy would be
violently opposed by, and would tend to
ALLEVIATE the hearts of the loyal slavehold-
ers. Shall we be told and required to
believe. that truly 10y al mcn-sIavehold-
ers or non shareholders, can stand indif
5ereatly by and see their rebel neighbors
turning their slave products against the
governnoent which they Tore SO deUotedy2
What, sir; loyal Shareholders witnessing
the slaves of rebels striking down the
Constitution, and crying out " Let the
Constitution fall, but spare the rebels
Sheir slaves! We love tue Union above
Ill things. The slaves of our rebel
neighbors, with their masters, have seized
upon its yitals, are tearing it limb from
iimb-are throttling it. But let the Un-
ION gasp-touch not single hair of
slavery. II you do, we fear for the fate
of the Union. You will ALLEVIATE the loyal
Union men of the South" Is this the
10y atty of Union slave owners? Do
they prefer the security and preservation
of the Save property of traitors to the
maintenance aud preservation of the
Government:
Sir, such Loyalty is not worth the
breath that gives II utterance. 1t is n foul
SANDER upon the word-it is a shame
upon the good Anglo-Saxon, our mother
tongue. 1t is treason disguised, crouch
ing under the despicable folds of selfish
ness and timidity.
Mr.. Speaker, in my judgment, Union
man, North or South, who prefers the al
legged rights of rebels to their slaves to
the preservation of our glorious frame
work of free government, is a monster Of
political and moral incongruities.
But, sir, while all along l have en-.
deavored TO abstain from all uiterances,
in substance or in form, that might be
calculated to iuhame passion, to check
recuberating patriotism, or disturb the
serenity of conservative loyalty, am
- 4. Al