The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-01-03
WHsT ClnEa0S WaslED 20 saY.

W nAh EAME4sSVs W Nv zlD u pGE.
The New York Tribune Of the Eth inst. gave
the whole Report of the Secretary of War, as
originally drafted oy him and sent to a Poriioa
Of the press. The following is the portion
which was stricken out Jy The Presidents or
der:
al has become q grave question for determi
nation, what shall be done with the slaves aban-
doned bv their owners Oh the advance OF onc
troops nto Southern territory, as in the Beau
fort district OF South Carolina. The whole
white population therein Is 5000, while toe
number OF negroes exceeds 80, 900. The panic
which drove their masters in wild confusion
from their homes, leaves them IN undisputed
possession Of the sell Shall they, armed by
their masters, be placed 10 the field 10 fight a.
gainst US, or shall! their labor be continually en-
ploved in reproducing the means tor supporting
the armies Of rebellion
The war into which this Government has
been forced by rebpIhous traitors bas been car
ret on for the rurpose Of repossessing the prop
e!ty violently and treacherousy seized upon by
the enemies Of the Government, and 70 re-eS-
tabIlsh the authority and laws of the United
States IN the places where il Is opposed or over
thrown bv armed inSurrectiou and rebellion.
It's purpose is to recover and defend what is
justly its own.
War, even between independent nations, Is
made TO subdue the enemy, and all that belongs
to that enemy, by occupying the hostile coun-
try, and exercising dominion over all the men
and things within its territory. This beIng true
~ respect 20 independent nations at war with
one another, it follows that rebels who are Ia
boring by force OF arms to overthrow a Govern
ment, Justly bring upon themselves all the con-
| sequences Of war, and provoke the destruction
merited by the worst of crimes. That Govern
ment wouid be false to national trust, and would
Justly excite ridicule Of the civilized world,
that would abstain from the use Of any efficient
means to preserve It's own existence, or 10 over
come a Iebellous and iraltorous enemy, by spa
ring or protecting the property Of those wh2
are wagng war against II.
The principal wealth and power OF the Rebel
States is peculiar species Of property, consist
inc of the service or labor of African slaves, or
the descendants of Africans. This property has
been variously estimated at the value CT IRON
| 800, 100000 to 81 900, 900 900.
Why should this property De exempt from
the hazards and consequences OF re5ellIons
war?
Il was the boast of the leader of the rebell'
ION, while he yet had seat in the Senate OF the
United States that the Southern States woulo
| be comparatively safe and free from the burden:
of war, if il should be brought on by the con-
lempated rebellion, and that boast was accom-
panied oy the savage threat that "Northern
! towEs and cities would become the victims oi
/ rapine and military spoil" and that "Northern
/ men should smell Southern gunpowder and ieel
Southern steel - No one doubts the disposition
OF the rebels to carry that threat into execution
/ The wealth o! Nolthern towns and cities, the
produce Of Northern farms, Northern work
shops and manufactures, would certainly be
seized, destroyed, or appropriated as military
spoil. No property m the North would be spa
red from the hands of the rebels, and their ra'
pine would be defended under the laws OF war