Smyrna times., 1863-03-19
Written for the "Smyrna Times"
The Crisis mo. II.
THE EMANCIPATION.

The Crisis me. II.
THE EMANCIPATION.
The traitors of the North, are endeavoring
to incite mutiny and insubordination in the
Federal army, by representing that this is
/" a war to free the slaves" and to restore
the Constitution. The fact is, this is not
war at all in the proper significance of that
term. The army are not soldiers, but an
armed police to quell a riot, instruction,
or rebellion. will put an analogous case
Suppose a riot to break out in one of our
cities, which the civil authorities are unable
to quell. The military are called out, to
aid the civil power They find the rioters
have taken shelter in some of the best pri-
vate houses Of the citizens, from which it is
impossible, without an enormous sacrifice Of
life, to dislOdge them and subdue the trail
tors, which sacrifice shall be made? Every
right-mindcd man will answer the property
Now slaves are by local laws considered
property: Behind this property are en-
sconsed the rebels, bidding defiance to the
armed police Of the nation. Shall the
President say, | will sacrifice the lives of
my fellow-citizens, rather than this Stare
property? No. felow-citizens, were he to
do so, he would merit the Scorn and con-
tempt of every lover of his country. He
has wisely chosen, and none but the enemies.
their ailers or abettors will condemn him
Show me the man that shares slavery at the
expense Of the lives of his fellow citizens,
and | will show You traitor whose heart
Is as black as hell, but whose courage is not
sufficient to risk his life in aid of treason or
he would, in the language of Mr.. Adams,
have gone over to the enemies of his
country
Another declaration made by these rebel
sympathizers, is, that the 'Act to suppress
insurrection, to punish treason and rebellion,
to seize 'nd confscate the property of rebels
aud for other purposes" approved July
18th, 1862, is the same in substance and
effect, as this proclamation, so far as the
slaves of rebels are concerned. Let us ex-
anime this traitor fallacy for moment, that
the mischief thereby intended may be avert
ed What does the proclamtion declare
Is it not that all the slaves in the actually
rebellious States, are free, and that the
=" Executive Government Of the United
States, including the military and naval
power of the government" will recognize
and maintain their freedom ?" Therefore
the declaration that the confscation act,
declared the slaves of those in rebellion free.
and pledged the Executive, military and
naval power Of the government to maintain
that freedom is not true For the confuta-
ton of this garbled statement of treason
sympathizers | appeal to the act itself. The
act referred to does not {" confscate" slaves
at all. 1t confiscates the property other than
slaves, of certain specified persons, and it
also declares that certain slaves of certain
rebels shall be free. There are but three
sections of the act which refer to the eman-
cipatiOn of slaves. namely, the first, second
and ninth. The first section declares I" that
evry person who shall hereafter commit the
crime of treason against the United States,
and shall be ayuclged guilty thereof, shall suffer
death, and all his slaves, if any, shall be
declared and made free. Or at the discre-
ton of the Court, he shall be imprisoned for
not less than five years, and fined not less
than ten thousand dollars, and all his slaves
if any, shall be declared and made free.
The second section makes it crime TO
, incite rebellion, and declares that any per.
] son convicted of this offence shall be pun
7 shea by fine, or Imprisonment, and the
: liberation Of his slaves, if they have any
The ninth section provides: "That al
slaves of persons who shall hereafter be
engaged in rebellion against the Govern
ment of the United States, or who shall, in
2 any way, give aid or comfort thereto, ex
j cepting from sucn person, or persons anC
taking refuge within the lines of the army
I and all slaves captured from such persons
S or deserted by them, and coming under the
s control of the Government of the United
e States, and all slaves of such persons found
: or being within any place occupied by rebe
r forces, and afterwards occupied by the forces
d of the United States, shall be deemed cap
: tives of war; and shall be forever free O
e their servitude, and notagain held as slaves.
9 ! deny then that this act "asserts that tn,
! slaves of those in rebellion are confscate
J, Nor does it assert /" that the slaves of those
n in rebellion are free" 1t simply declare
It that the slaves Of such rebels and meters O
e rebellion as may be tried and con,scted IN {
e court of Justice shall be free. 1t also declare
u that such slaves of rebels as may escape int
|, our lines, or such as we may capture, shal
e be Free This is the toto of this act, and n,
loyal man can object to it, and none bu
r traitors will seek to prevent it, Infconclu
u sion let me ask the loyal men of Delawar
g for what are we contending2 Is it not th'
n restoration of our glorious Union? Tha
, boon handed down to us by our forefather
a The obtainment of which cost them mil
. lions Of treasure, and Oceans of blood, an.
d shall we sit tamely down and see this tai