Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-05-29
ConRsca,ien nna Abolition.

ConGscation and Abolition.
"Let Congress pass a confscation law, and the
civil authorities can then set the slaves of rebel
masters at liberty, and appropriate the effects OF
all rebels to defraying the expenses Of the war;"
Holmes County Republican.
The people of the North are unanimous
in the desire to see the leaders in the re-
bellon severely punished, but at the same
time they are satisfied that the masses of
those now in arms against the govern
ment, have, by deception, fraud and
force been induced to take that position.
At the time of the breaking out Of the
rebellion, the people Of the South hon
estly believed that the policy of The par
ty in power would be to rob them of
their property and their rights, and act
ing on this supposition, it is not unnatu
raj that they arraycd themselves under
the leadership of the aspiring demagogues
who learned them this hcrosy. They
supposed that their all was at stake, and
in taking up arms they thought they were
only fighting for their rights. Our faith
in the honor and uprightness Of the hu-
man race, will not permit us to suppose
that all this mighty host Of our fellow
men, gathered under the flag Of treason,
have full consciousness Of the wicked
ness of the act. We cannot believe
that all ncn are dishonest, simply b cause
they have taken up arms against us. They
look upon their treason in a different
light from what we do, but they are Just
as firm in the belief that they arc right,
as we are in the belief that they are wrong.
We will subdue them, but will our SUI
perior power make it right to punish the
misguided, but honest man, by taking
from him all he has, and leaving him a
pauper and his wife and children without
the means Of sustaining life ? Confsca-
tion in one broad sweep carries with il
poverty and desoation, starvation ant
death to the homes of twelve millions o
our fellow citizens. 1t reaches not only
the mighty and strong, but the frail and
the weak, the widow and the orphan, the
innocent and the gully. 1t would put
to shame our boastcd humanity and brand
us with monster cruelty which has no
parallel in history.
The men who are fighting the battles
of the country, volunteered to honestly
fight for the preservation of the Union o
our fathers, and bring the erring South
ern people back to their allegiance to the
government. They volunteered with the
understanding that when this was accom-
plished the war ought to cease. They
never designed, nor do they non des,gn
to make the South a barren waste anu
eXterminate from the face Of the earth it,
entire population, old and young, male
aud female, innocent and guilty.
No act passed by Congress for the con
fiscation Of rebel properly can be car
ricd into effect as the banciul results OF
its application would come to light, our
government from consideration Of its
monstrous evils, would be compelled tc
repeal the law. The only consequences
then Of such a measure, would be simply
to eXaspcratc those in the South, who
remain loyal to the Union, and prolong
the existing conflict, We would have
the satisfaction Of paying a big price for
all air castle, only to see it tumble down
because of its inherent weakness.
But, the darling object of our neighbor
is to set the slaves at liberty, lie does
not propose to sell them to pay the eX-
penscs OF the war. No, that would not
be humane. The abolition of slavery is
his cherished idea To accomplish that
he would obliterate all hopes OF restoring
the Union to its former glory, and com
pei our gallant soldiers to fight in cause
in which they never enlisted and which Il
large majority Of them believe to be trca
sonable and unjust.
His proposition is against the Consti-
tuition, if carried out it would forever de.
stroy the Union, is dishonest from begin
ming to end, is an insult to the brave men
who are fighting the battles Of the coun.
try, and is the lowest dregs from the