The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-01-03
WHAT CAMERON WANTED TO SAY.

The New York Tribune of the 4lh inst gave
The whole Report Of the Secretary of War, as
org inally drafted oy him and sent TO portion
of the press. The following is the portion
which was stricken out by the Presidents or
der:
"It has become grave question for determi-
nation, what shall be done with the slaves aban-
donpd by their owners on the advance of our
troops into Southern territory, as in the Beau
fort district of South Carolina The whole
white population therein Is 5000, while the
number of negroes exceeds $4,000 The panic
which drove their masters in wild confusion
from their homes, leaves them IN undsputed
possession of the sell. Shall they, armed by
their masters, be placed IN the field to fight a.
ganst us, or shall their labor be continually EN-
ployed in reproducing the means for supporting
the armies of rebellion
The war into which this Government has
been forced by rebellous traitors has been car
ried on for the purpose of repossessing the prop
erty violently and treacherously seized upon by
the enemies of the Government, and TO re-es-
labllsh the authority and laws of the United
States IN the places where it IS opposed or over
thrown by armed insurreclion and rebellion.
Its 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 tina, enemy, by occupying the hostile coun-
try, and exercising dominion over all the men
and things within its territory. This being true
IN respect to independent nations at war with
one another, it follows that rebels who are la
boring by force OF arms to overthrow 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 woald be false to national trust, and would
Justly excite ridicule of the civilized world,
that would abstain from the use of any ethclent
means to preserve It's own existence, or 10 over
come a rebelious and trailorous enemy, by spa
ring or protecting the property of those who
are waging war against If.
The principal wealth and power of the Rebel
States is peculiar species of property, consist
ing of the service or labor of African slaves, or
the descendants of Africans. Thisproperty has
been variously estimated at the value OF from
$700,000,000 to 81 100000 900.
Why should this property be exempt from
the hazards and consequences of rebellous
ware
II was the boast of the leader of the rebel-
ION, while he yet had seat in the Senate OF the
United States, that the Southern States would
be comparatively safe and free from the burdens
of war, il it should be brought on by the con-
templated rebellion, and that boast was accom-
panied oy the savage threat that "Northern
towns and cities would become the victims OF
1&piqse aaa military 'apoiii, n aid hat" Northern
men should smell Southern gunpowder and feel
Southern steel % No one doubts the disposition
OF the rebels to carry that threat into execution.
The wealth O! Northern towns and cities, the
produce of Norl ern farms, Northern work.
shops and manufactures, would certainly be
seized, destroyed, or appropriated as military
spoil. No property IN the North would be spa
red from the hands of the rebels, and their ra-
pine would be defended under the laws OF war.