New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-14

Union on a frontier Of more than three thou-
SAID miles. stretching from Fortress Monroe 10
the East TO the wls OF Arizona ID the West.
AT Ha,tcras in North Carolina, Port Rol 81 in
South Carolina. Tybec bland in Georgia, Fort
Pickens aud Santa Rosa lsland in Florida. Ship
leland and on The delta of the Mississippi, and
perhaps at Galveston in Texas, the UnoI flag
floats over posts strongly held by our arms,
while tho entire rebel sea.const is under block
ade. Practically, therefore, tho Union forces
confront the rebels Oh both frontiers Of the re-
glon which owns the sway Of JEFF. Davis, and
all but surrouud it. Every foot OF rebel terri
tory is slavo territory; slaves grow the food on
which the rebel armies are subsisted, dg thelr
trenches, Construct their field-wOrks and mount
their guns. Aud not only are regiments OF nc-
groes embodied to fight for the rebel cause,
but our soldiers in the recent reconnaissance
from Newport News were fired on by req
ment of negro infantry olliccred by whites.
Everywhere, negroes, free and slave, are
pressed into tho service of the rebeiiioh anu
compelled to work aud fight for its success
These negroes are kept thus employed by Tue
aid of the grosScSt falsehoods with regard 10 Tue
object. and aims Of the detested " lankees'
They ara told that we want TO kill them, mann
Them sell them into distant and more cruei
bondope: and thousands who do not credi' Inns
are perplexed and staggered by II, OWING u
the fact we say nothing III reply fo"'
Millions of negroes are thus retained ms he"ers
of wood and drawers of water for this lnierndi
rebellion.
Now We insist that our rulers and command
ers have no moral right TO let THIS go ON un-
opposed-that in doing so they are concediDg
advantages to the rebels which the Nation can
NOT afford to give them. 1t is possible that the
Union could vaDquish its enemies with one
hand tied behind its back; but this is no time
for trying fool.hardy experiments. IL IS The
duty of our rulers and Generals not only 10
mt down tue rebellion, but 70 put 1t down
quickly and at the least possible cost OF lie
and treasure. If we were playing game OF
chess. We might perhaps afford 10 give our
antagonist n pawn aud move; but tins Is a
very earnest business 10 which We ere bound
TO use whatever strength We have.
As yet. tho slaves Of rebels have not even
been invited generally to iorsake the service o!
the rebellion aud come over TO that OF The Ma
ton. Ninety-nine in every hundred OF them
would gladly work and even fight for any
cause that promises them Freedom; only let
them know ,lat the downfall Of the rebels IN.
.ures their Liberation, and they become neces-
sarly, inevitably Unionists.
We do not here urge tie armirg OF either
free or slave blacks Let that matter stand
10y itself If Uuionists are 30 much mo fac
tidious than rebels that cannot fight Decide
negroes though our enemies eau and do, we
must bear the consequences Of Cur own FOLLY.
We do not urge a general net of emancipation.
What we do urge and insiit on Is, that the
Government shall ngthortatiyey proclaim that
IN persons ulGfcrer uho escap, JTom he Ttbos
and com. uiiLin hc hrcs of ne National .Jorces,
o6sring 10 s,rsar fd,iify 10 hf Union, and g'r-
ing All The Information hey hare Of he sHcmi's'
position, strength. and mortmtafs, shall hoce-
forth be FREE.
WY should there be any hesitation as to
this Who has n right to object 10 II WHO
does not see that such prefer would i'm
meuscly weaken the rebels aud strengthen The
cause of the Union The rebels could no
longer u,e slaves on or near Their exterior
lines-,hey would be in lie great fear Of losing
them. Every slave within two or three nights
Journey Of the front would need strict watch.
ing, and more but white nan could be
trusted 20 look after Lim. In short, tie
slaves Of rebels, instead OF being a source Of
strength aud sus,cnance to the rebellion, would
become its weakness aud ils terror. They
could not be lett behind ia relrrai for that
would insure their loss; they could not be
taken along, as that would soon collect them
ia masses and render them source Of constant
apprehension aud peril. Unless the rebels GA
their side offered them liberty, they would
prove an enemy in the rear hardly less iormi-
daSIe than the | mon armies IN their front.
Bear in mind that we speak only of the
slaves Of rebels aud Of such action with re-
gard to them IA Is required by ali obvious aud
urgent military necessity. Can thst necessity
be much longer dinegarded without virtual
treason
uETpENCaJ, VEVyxuyCgr,