The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-07-16
NUM3ER 917

strong for the shock of the battle field
The slaves of re bells should be con6scated
without compensation. Those of loyal cit-
izens should participate in the common BEN
efac!ion, their claimants being fairly com.
pensated, because, while this small remnant
of bondmen would be comparatively worth
less as slaves, they would be dangerous to
the general peace of the South, the source
of continued contention in all parts of the
country, aud an unseemly blemish upon
the fair face of a regenerated nation. In
this connection, sir, I-tnay give another,
though analogous reason why this whole
matter should be disposed of now.
By one or two acts of Congress, and by
numerous orders of military commanders,
many hundred thousand slaves, scattered
all through the South, have been declared
forever free. Though the war were to in
stantly csase, and the old order of things
be restored, the Sc persons can never be re-
duced to slavery. IChcevs.1 On the con-
trary, measures wou be Instituted to Sc
lect these freed men out of the mass of
'bondmen. This would fill every corner of
the South with an agitation thatsmight
drive the country TO the brink of another
civil war, wish the boys who are firing
crackers would change the base of their
operations, and get further of, culminat-
irg, perhaps, in a general iusurrection of
the slaves. Prudential reasons, therefore,
counsel us that it is qnte as safe to go
through to the end as TO attempt to retreat
or halt where we are. ! would sieze the
present auspicious moment for a final adj
Justment of our account with God and the
negro race for another reason. A change
in the framework of society, so radical and
sudden as the overthrow of slavery, might,
n Ln
country. But in the midst of this dread
war, when States clash against States,
when a million of armed men close in bat
tle-shock all over the land, when the thun-
ders of our martial marine echo along an
ocean and river line measured by thousands
of miles, when our people begin to look
upon startling events and radical changes,
and incessant agitations, as the ordinary
occurrences of the times, the overthrow of
slavery by act of Congress or the military
decree of the President, as a pure war
measure, would add scarcely ripple to the
cdrrent commotion. Sensation an cheers
As to its cost, when Congress, under the
operation of the previous question, votes to
raise two and three hundred millions of
money at dash, to carry on the war-the
public all the while looking on with COM
placency-the country will not be startled
loyal Shareholders for their negroes. | favor
this radical war measure, also, because it
will not only crush the present revolt, but
will forever prevent all future rebelliors of
the like nature. Let us, then dispose Of
this monster wrong while we have the
power. Let US not leave as q legacy to
pOsterty an evil that has afflicted US. Let
the Government inscribe upon our annals
an irrevocable decree of liberation, that
shall stand through all time as a warning
to rulers who plot iuiquity, and an encour-
agement to those who do well. CheeTs.l
Just here, Mr.. President, we are met with
three or four objections, which I can barely
glance at in passing. Constitutional obsta-
cles are interposed both ia the way of
emancipation and confscation. / will sug-
sbetr4 II 46t ithe5 81 men Sw are afways
thrusting the Constitution into the arena of
discussion, not to authorize some good, but
to protect some evil, and who are ever in
voking its provisions not to accomplish and
justify benign obi cts, but to perpetuate
aud consecrate cruelty and crime. No
mistake The Constitution came out of
the furnace heat of our revolutionary strug-
gle, declaring one of its prime objects 10 be
to establish justice, and secure the bles-
eings of liberty to ourselves and our pos
terity." We urge confiscatiOn and emanci-
patton, purely as military measures, essen
tial 10 our success in this war, aud as
aids in crushing the rebellion. Martial law
oyerrides all other law. 1t can take liberty
and life at will. Surely, it can seize prop
ersy aud deliver from slavery. 1t has Eeen
hinted that the Supreme Court may hereaE
ter pronounce these measures null and
void. l doubt sir, whether that tribunal
would thus intervene 10 behalf of treason
against the Government. If it should, the
reforming band of legislation must teach
it that courts are made for the people, and
not people for the courts, and that no order
of men must stand in the way of preserva-
ton Of the life of the Republic. Never
Il has also been urged that this policy will
exasperate the rebels, and protract The war.
But, no proposition can be clearer to my
mind than this If the rebels are given to
understand that il they return TO their allie
glance they will be paid for their negroes,
whereas if they continue in arms they will
be taken from them without compensation,
this will operate upon their selfish natures
as strong inducement TO the prompt abau-
donment of the rebellion oh, pshaw.l
CONC UDED TO MORROW.