The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-01-16

furnishes the Rebel Aramy with food and cloth
ing and indirectly with all other supples-leav-
ing the white population with trihing exceptions
free TO enlist as soldiers. Any policy which
can detach the slaves from the Rebels and make
them source Of weakness rather than OF
strength will prove vital and decisive gain to
the loyal side. It is with this view, as militia
ry measure clearly derived from the war power
Of the Constitution. That the President rs
Commander.in in Chief of the army and navy
issued on the first Of the present month Proc
lamaton declaring all the slaves in insurgent
districts to be free.
The object OF the war ever has been. still is,
and Of right ought to be, rs the President has
well declared, the "restoraiion Of the constitu-
tional relations beftceen the United States and
each of The States" II is for this that the
loyal States contend and with nothing less will
they be satisfied The nature or severity OF the
means necessary to accomplish this end must g OF
course be determined by the extent and the
character Of the resistance offered By the rebels.
It was hoped at the beginning of the war that
the national authority might be reasserted
within brief period and with little disturbance
to the mass of society in the reyolved States.
The conspiracy however was to formidable to
ADMIT this result, and the contest has steadily
waxed moro desperate. II Is now deemed ne
cessary, as means of speedily andpermanently
regaining the ascendcncy ofnational authority,
to detach the slaves from the service OF those
who use them to promote rebellion. whoever
disputes the right of the Government to do this
raises to the extent Of his influence potent de-
fence for the rebels. The allcdged unconstitu-
tionality of the proceedings implies the gross
absurdity that the rebels In arms, trying to
destroy our whole Government, are yet entitled
to tho most precious immunties OF persons and
the most perfect rights Of property which our
constitution can guarantee.-Such an assuinp-
ton as this need only be mentioned to be retu.
ted. The rebels are entitled ut our hands du-
ring the war to nothing less than the treatment
prescribed by the laws Of war, and we can, ana
ought and will seize every legitimate weapon
to conquer their military power and reduce
them to obedience to the Constitutions OF the
United States.
It is on the ground that loyal men can rally
with enthusiasm to the support OF the Presi-
dent. And II will not abate the force Of the new
policy that its result Is to give freedom to
race long oppressed, and to abolish an institu-
tiOn which has been the source of evil dissen:
sion ut home and the cause Of shame and
reproach to us abroad. II will be clearly within
of oppression which violates the natural rights |
of man, and which was the direct cause Of our
present troubles, should withcr and perish in
the wrathtul storm which in its rage 1t dared to
provoke.
The enlistment of the negroes for armed SER
vice in holding Southern "forts, positions and
stations" will be an immeasurable relief to the
population of the North, rs II will remove the
necessity in any contingency of a farther call for
troops to serve In the malarious climate OF the
Gulf States. To oppose this policy Is to wan
tonly sacrifice the precious lives of our young
men by exposing them to an extra hazardous
service which negroes can perform without any
risk. The testimony Of our Revolutionary Gem
erals, and of Jackson and Harrison In the last
war with Great Britain, conclusively establish
es the fact that under. good discipline negroes
make good soldiers. let as CIV. them gpner-
Gus opportunity to prove themselves. The war
Is one which In Its Incidents Is to result In their
eniranchisement, and they will DO far better
prepared to enjoy their freedom nationally and
pro6tably by having participated In the con.
test which results In its requirement. No other
nation would have hesitated 80 long to use this
potential weapon, and we have endangered our
cause abroad, II not at home, by the inexplica-
bic timdity which has marked our course in
regard to II. Let us now give II vigorous tri-
al. Those among us who have no sympathy
with the result which this policy brings to the
slave, may Mt least congratulate themselves that
It's firm enforcement will save the lives Of thou.
sands OF white men who might otherwise be ex-
posed to disease. destitution and death.
As loyal man, anxious only to do my duty
rs citizen and magistrate, can see no line
Of patriotism or of safety except in cordial,
support of the policy cnuncated By
The President. To resist or combine against 1t
Is to run all the hazards of anarchy. II, asa
people, we stand firmly by that policy, we shall
and the nation will come forth from
The fiery ordeal through which We are passing
purified, strengthened, inyinciblc. But II we
iyidc into hostile factions and spend our encr.
gcs In fruitless, petty contests with each other,
i needs no prophet to forctell the result Of the
pending issue, or to write the deep humiliation
md disgrace to be forever associated with de.
generate people who had neither the spirit nor
lhe patriotism to maintain the nationality be-
lueathed to them by heroic ancestry.
We enter upon public duty, gentlemen. at
lime of unusual responsibility, when human
wisdom alone may well be distrustcd. But re-
ying upon the guidance Of that Gracious Being
who hath so bountifully blessed Us rs nation
md who chastiseth but in mercy, let us, In hui
initiation and yet in confidence, address our.
selves to the conscientious discharge Of the
trusts committed to us by the people of our be.
loved State. ABNEE COBURN.
NOVEL METHOD OF cooKiSG.-That necess.