The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1862-01-04
LOYALTY AND THE CONFISCA
TON OF SLAVES.

Il has all the time been my stery to
us which We could not fully under
stand. that loyal men should object to
the confisca.ion of the properly Of re-
bels. and especially TO The con6scaiion
or liberation Of The slaves owned by
traitors. 1t may he that truly loyal
citizens are exercised upon this subject:
but Tor tie life OF us, we cannot see
Why. The rebels have caused all our
national troubles-all the devastation
aud b!oolshed which resul, from The
uuholy war they are wsgins against
The government. ~hy. then should they
be spared ? Why should they be SO
tenderly dealt with when with arms in
their hanls and mur,ier in their hearts
they are thrusting at The viials of the
Union. ,ra.nplinS on tie Institution
and insulting the flag of the country?
And Il is quite as strange that there
are 10 be found those who seem 10 BE-
loyal. and doubtless are, who are Will
ing TO cOnfscaie all other kinds Of pro-
perry. but will finch and cry out in
alarm The moment slavery is touched.
l. il not the boast Of rlle rebels that
slavery is their strength Do they
NOT 'ciaim that they are stronger than
che north because their producing cias.
can always be depended upoa, AMI NOT
being of ,hs fighting par! Of commu-
nifty. their eertoin occupation at home
will allow all the white population
c,pable Of bearing arms to 20 10 war .
Aud On these assumptions DO they nc,
build their sironyes, hopes They
who read the 1Souil en- p ,pers know
that these thu .gs are SO. What. then
becomes the duty OF The government
II it is the intention Of the "powers
that be" TO put down the rebellion. and
put IL down will, the least possible loss
10 iLose who remain faiIhful in their
allegiance. then il follows that tie
government should strike treason ia it's
most vulnerable point. ~ sssd
II Slavery is the strength, as well as
the cause .oi the rebellion then the ar
sament for its destruction is increased
III force. We Of the North do not be.
heve that Slavery is AN elemen. of
strength, but OF weakness; but that
does not affect the hallacinatioa Of the
San.hern mind The people Of the re-
Oelllous States mast have tie scales
Knocked from their eyes. and be made
t0feet the weakness of ihs reed upon
which they lean before they can be
cured Of Their oily. aud it is money 10
them as val as justice AMI mercy 10
the whole coaatry. that this be done
with the least possible delay.
As Southern society is. now cons,ilu-
ted Slavery IS an element Of their
strength. In itself il is weakness, but
under existing circumstances, tie SoxsA
cannot get along Tittom Il. Let US look
at the matter calmly and ra,ionaIly.
Suppose the three millions of slaves
owned by rebels we're SET free to- NOR
row, where woald il,rrs be found auy
producers in the ra5el Safes? The
white population have grown up in idle
ness Or poverty. or both. aal ara unfit
{" iill the soil. The cultivation of the
ground mustat once cease. The South
must then starvs or lay de- wn their
arms. Bat one may say white men can
become agneulsuralists. l. is true
they could turn farmers. but they would
hare 70 learn tie occupation. which can
not be understood in day. ss s..s !
Besides, If the white element of ~. |
cisiy 4 ,asediu The field Of agricullars. |
il csnsot at the same time be employed |
on The hettle:6elJ.S H-nce. every ne |
gro takca from the rebels mast take /,
solder from the rebel army i Tais be-.
ing the fact. bow can the govera~sst-
be- tsue to itself or toithes loyal portion |
Of community u i hih to strike ssisis
most fatal Of all blows nj treason 2? II 1
any one can tell Us. We should be pleas
ed 70 have the problem solved. To us
It sesa-s like plain case. which will
not admit e doubt. g se's
There is. however. another difficulty I
in the way. arising from the. unfor-
tunate situation Of many loyal masters.
In those States where rebellion has full
rule. it costs man his possessions. ii
not his life to be loyal. Il follows that
the slaves OF many loyal masters will !,
be employed TO s:d the. cause Of tres
son. Now these loyal masters sI,sald q