The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-07-23

African Labor In the Army. IL
Daring the present week there has been an
Extraordinary Cabinet consultation or two at
the White House, including several generals,
and the first official result OF these consultations
appears in the important general order from
the War Office which we publish this morning
This order, framed in compliance with the
late Confscation and Militia acts Of Congress,
exhibits in strong light the wise and saga
cious ruling mind Of President Lincoln. A
large margin of discretion has been left to him
In the Confiscation and Militia acts In reference
to the appropriation of the property of rebels,
and the employment and emancipation of their
slaves, and in regard to the pains and penalties
otherwise decreed against traitors and rebels.
He is thus authorized to enforce these laws
with remorseless and sweeping severity, or to
soften them down in their practical application
to the last degree Of forbearance consistent with
a vigorous prosecution of the war; and this is
the policy which he has adopted.
He proclaims that private property, real
and personal, in the States Of Virginia, South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Missis-
sippi Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, so far as
may be necessary or convenient for the sub
sistence o. our army, or in aid of ts operations,
may be appropriated; but accounts are to be
kept Of all such appropriations Of private pro-
perty, in order to secure compensation to de
serving persons, and nothing is to be malicious
" seized or destroyed. This is o liberal appli-
cation Of the law, and, as we think. eminently
wise and proper. But mark the discrimination
between the Southez States named in the pre-
misses and those omitted. The exempted States
which might have been included under this
order are North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky
and Missouri. The first named is still over head
and ears involved in this rebellion; the second
although we occupy its capital and nearly all
its territory, and have Military Governor pre-
siding over 1t, is still infested with rebel mill
tary bands and conspiracies; and the third and
fourth are still harassed by predatory guerillas
in almost every direction.
Why, then, this discrimination exempting
these States from the pains and penalties
applied to those specified in this general orders
We think the proper explanation will at once
suggest itself to the intelligent reader. The
President desires to show to the people of Mis-
souri,, Kentucky and Tennessee, for example,
that he does not consider the stringent mea-
sures indicated necessary to restore them to the
side Of the Union. Kentucky and Missourihave
steadfastly adhered to the Union. He recog-
nizes this loyalty in their favor. Tennessee has
been substantially reconqucred, and he wishes
to show her erring people that he has Gen.
idence in their complete repentance. The
same consideration will, to some extent, apply
to North Carolina. The full force of these
war measures is applied only to those in
tractable rebellious States which can be
reached in no other way; and the effect will
doubtless be that decided and decisive stand
Of portion Of the South against this rebellion
which the President believes the only sure and
safe way for putting it down.
Next, with regard to the employment OF
blacks in the army. They are only to be on
gagged as laborers-another wise and human
discrimination against that disorganizing abe
lition idea Of a general arming of the slaves Of
Southern rebels. In word, throughout this
general order the President adheres to the
landmarks and the integrity of the Union. His
policy is 10 save it, and not TO destroy it; and
the army and the country will cheerfully CO.
operate to carry out this saving policy. With
the arrival Of General Halleck in Washington
we look for some additional army orders, and
are confident that they will be adopted to
meet the public expectation Of rigorous,
harmonious and successful prosecution Of the
war. President Lincoln is the man for the
crisis, and our abolition disorganizers may as
well give up their struggle to make the cause
Of the Union secondary to the cause OF negro
emancipation while Honest Abraham Lincoln
is at the helm.