Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1862-01-08
Sctrettry CGmGrun'S original Report.

The following are the closing para
graphs of the report of the United States
Secretary of War, aud is all that direct.
ly relates to the slaves in the first re-
port;
The principal wealth and power Of the
rebel States is peculiar species of pro-
perty, consisting of the service or labor
of African slaves or the descendants of
Africa. This property has been yari.
ously estimated at the value Of from
$7OOO,OOO,O0O to $1,OOO,O00,000.
Why should this property be exempt
from the hazards and consequences Of a
IetelIious war?
II was the boast of the leader Of the
rebellion, while lie yet had a seat in the
Senate of the United States, that the
Southern States would be comparatively
safe and free from the burdens Of var, If
it should be brought on by the coutom,
plated REBELLION, aud that boast was ao-
companied by the savage threat that
Northern towns aud cities would be.
come the victims of rapine and military
spoil" and that Northern men should
steal" No one doubts the disposition
of the rebels to carry that threat into
execution, The wealth ofthe Northern
towns and cities, the produce of North
trn farms. Northern workshops and
manufactures, wonld certainly BE- sciz,d.
destroyed, or appropriated as military
spoil. No property in the North would
be spared from the hands of the rebels,
and their rarino would be defended un.
der the laws If war. While the loyal
States thus have all their property and
possessions at stake, are the insergeu'
rebels to carry on warfare against the
Government in peace and security tc
their own property.
Reason aud justice and self prescrFo
ton forbid that such should be the poll
cy Of the Government, but demand, OF
the contrary, that, being forced by trai
tors and rebels to the extremity Of war
all the rights and powers of war shoult
be exercised to bring it to a speedy
end.
Those who make war against the Gov
erument justly forfeit all rights of pro
pcrty, privilege, or security, derived
from the Constitution and laws, agains
which they are in armed rebellion AM
as Che labor and service Of their slave
constitute the chief property of rebels
such property should share the common
fate of war to which they have devoted
the property Of loyal citizens.
f While it is plain that the slave pro
, pcrty Of the South is justly subjected
to all the consequences of this rebellion
war, aud that the Government woulC
, be untrue to its trust in not employing
all the rights and powers of war to brinl
q it to a speedy close. the details of thu
. plan for doing SO, like all other militar.
: measure, must, int great degree, be let
to be determined by particular e1igen
y cies. The disposition of other property
d belonging to the rebels that become
subject 70 our arms is governed by tn
: circumstances Of the case. The Govern
{ ment has no power to hold slaves, non'
!. to restrain slave of his liberty, or t.
}; extend his service. 1t has right, how
=! ever, to use the voluntary service o
j. slaves liberated by the war from thel
rebel masters, ike any other proport,
, of the rebels, in whatever mode may b
J most efficient for the defence Of tn
!. Government. the prosecution oftbe war
]. and the suppression Of the rebellion !
It is as clearly a right oftho Goverumeu
10 slaves, when it may become necessary
> as tits to use gunpowder taken from tn
enemy. Whether it IS expedient to d
SO is purely a military question. Th
right is unqucstlonable by the laws {
war. Expediency must be determine
g bv circumstances, keeping in view tn
! e great object Of overcoming the rebel
\. re.esablishing the laws, and restor'n
st peace to the nation,
;, It is vain and idle for the Cover
10 10 ment to carry on this war, or hope !
te maintain its existence against reb' 'l'o'
as force, without employing all the righ
., and movers Of war AS has been sal
!, y the right to dOpliyo,the rebels Of the
property 10 slaves and slave labor, is :
clear and absolute as the right to tax