New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-18
POLICY AND REsPONsIBHLITY.

In 10 this hour, we have heard Of no complaint
from the SlavehOlding Rebels who are lighting
to destroy the Republic that the commanders
of the great Union armies have not eyinced a
lively solicitude for the preservation OF tner
property in human flesh. Not one OF them
has ever accused Gen. Mcclellan or Gen. Hal
leck of nfdelity to what are strangely termed
the constitutional rights of these fighting
Rebels. That some of their slaves have avalled
themselves M the license and anarchy incident
TO the actual presence of war to escape from
their masters service is true: but no man has
yet charged either Of our great Generals with
melting or encouraging them to do so. On
tho contrary, Gen. Halecks "Order No.
stands unrevoked as an impressive warning 10
the slaves of Rebels not to leave their masters
with intent to find refuge within the Union
lines, calculating that the information OF
Rebel movements they can furnish VIII
insure them n welcome. since they are fairly
notified that they will be repelled and driven
off. Throughout the vast department Of the
Mississippi, that is the established rule, and
it has generally been enforced with rigor. Here
and there q Colonel or some subaltern may
have conniyed ct its evasion; but no bondman
has had any reason to presume that such would
be the case. st Memphis. we are exultinsly
told that the few slaves who fled from their
Rebel masters to that city upon the first
tidings of its falling into Union hands, we're
repulsed by our commander and returned TO
their claimants by the municipal authorities.
At New. Orleans Gen. Butler has been charged
by the present and circumi acent Rebels with
almost every conceivable enormity but tnat OF
countenancing negroes in escaping from or re-
sistinc the authority OF their masters. Not
even the most vituperative and INSCRIPTIONS
oracle Of Treason has insinuated aught to his
prejudice in that regard, though he has been
weeks in quiet possession OF the metropolis OF
Cottondom, backed by powerful army ard
inyucible feet.
If, then, the policy OF unfolding Slavery in be-
half OF Rebels is judicOus-if it Is calculated
TO win converts from Secession to Union, 1t
certainly ought by this time to have borne
fruit. Gen. Mcclellan has had chief command
10 the Eas. for fully ton months; Gen Halleck
has ruled in the West for SOME six months or
over. Not one STAKEHOLDER mas even pretended,
much less had reason to believe, tina: either OF
these generals deslgned or desired that Slavery
should be needlessly assaile1 under pretense OF
military necessity or the paramount importance
oil preserving the Union. II any one-as has
been alleged-was driven into rebellion from
apprshension that Unionism threatened to dis
possess him of his negroes the proclaimed and
consistent course Of Gems. Mcclellan, Haliecs
and Butler, commanding the three most I'm
porsant Union armies operating in the heart o.
the slavebolding region, ought to have dI'abu5ed
aud conciiate1 him.
What ia the fact There are Union neI
to-day il Ner-0rleans in Memphis, n Viz
gina, as there always have been but has even
one been converted or reclaimed from treason
by this scrupulous regard ior the integrity and
perpetuat.on Of Slavery We have not heard
OF one. On the contrary. oil we hear con-
yinces US that the slavehoidiDg, planting caste
IS to-day thoroughly and stubbornly disloyal
and that its hostility to the Union cause has
rather been strengthened than weakened by
this burning Of incense by Unionists a. the altar
OF their hldcous idol Individual shareholders
are Uuiouists; but they arc Shareholders Of the
school OF Washington. Jefferson, and Clay, con-
lemni1g .ne system in whose meshes they are
entangled, and hoping that its end is not far
oil. Those VINO profoundly believe in Slavery,
and mean to live and die in that faith. are oil
but universally and ipiplacably Secession.
We are unable to resist profound ond de-
pressing conviction that the Union cannot be
saved by ths course thus far pursued-that re.
peing the support. of TINT half Of the People
of the Cotton States who ask but permission
and invitation 10 serve the Union cause, in the
vain hope Of tbus alluigg TO tho hational
standard those who have renowned i forever,
$ m stake which, if much longer persisted
in, will prove iatal. We see no evidence that
Con. Butler has made a shadow Of progress
toward recoacng ~ the Union those who
we're ever really hostile to it, or that the Yir
gina Rebels hght our soldiers any less venom
ously because Gen. Mcclellan pckets their
houses to preserve their property from spola'
Ton and refuse, TO protect or employ their
,aves. We demur to this policy, NOT here and
now because il ia essentially unjust ana un-
reasonable but because We ID not $50 how II
can possibly win.
Ii i dies win nevertheless. let the credit Of
!. be gwen wholly " those who, devised aud
-. ...LofI - IL =, THAR .;mnla roht IL II