Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-09-03
THE ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE

in-chief with the law Of war in the time OF
war. The most that can be sald--t SO much
lis that slaves are property. l5 there, mas
there ever been, any question that by the law
of war the property both Of enemies ana
friends NAV be taken when needed? And IS 1t
NOT needed whenever taken? 1t helps us, Or
hurts the enemy. Armies, the world over
DESTROY enemies property when they cannot
nae i and even destroy their own to keep 1t
from the enemy. Civilized beligerents do all
in their power to help themselves or hurt their
enemv, EXCEPT in few things regarded as bar
barous or cruel. Among the exceptions are
the massacre Of yanQuished foes and non,com-
batants, male and female. But the proclama-
ton, as law, is valid or is not valid II IL IS
not valid, it needs no retractlon. II IL Is Vai-
id, it cannot be retracted, any more tnan the
dead can be brought to lite. Some OF you
profess to think that its retractlon Woulo opo'
rate favorably for Union. Why better "a after
the retraction than before its issue? inere
was more than year and halt OF the t'1a! 70
suppress the rebellion before the proclama,uo,h
was issued the last one hundred days OF when
passed under explicit notice that IL was con1-
Ing, unless ayerted by those IN revolt returning
TO their allegiance. The war has certainly pro.
crossed as favorably for US since the issue OF
The probation as before. / know as fully Us
one can know the opinion Of others, that some
Of the commanders C our armies IN the neld,
who have given us our most Important veto
ries, believe the emancipation policy ana tne
aid of colored troops constitute the heaVlest
blows vet dealt to the rebellion, and that at
least one Of those important successes could not
have been achieved when it was but tor the AID
Of black soldiers. Among the commanders
holding these views are some who have never
had any affinity with what is called Abolition
ism, or with che Republican party pollucs, but
for the aid Of black soldiers. Among the COM
manders holding these views are some VINO
have never had any affinity with " hat is call
ed Abolitionism, or with the Republican poll
tics, but who hold them purely as military
opinions. [ submit their opinions as being en-
titled to some weight, against the objections
often urged that emancipation and the arm
ing of blacks are unwise, as military measures
and were not adopted as such IN good faith
You say that you will not fight to tree ne
groes. Some Of them seem willing to hhght
for YOU But no matter; fight you, then,
exclusively to save the Union. | issued
the proclamation on purpose to alo you
in saving the Union. Whenever you shall
have conquered all resistance to the Union,
if [ shall urge you to continue nght1ng' II
will be an apt time then tor you 60 declare
that YOU will not fight to free negroes. /
thought that in your struggle tor the Union,
to whatever extent the negroes should cease
helping the enemy, to that extent 1t YEA kened
the enemy in his resistance to you: DO you
think diferent2 ! thought that whatever. ne
groes can be got to do as soldiers, leaves just
SO much less for V hite soldiers to do IL saving
the Union. Does it appear otherwise to you
But negroes like other people, act upon mo,
tives. Why should they do anything tor as II
We will DO nothing for them? 1t they stake
their lives for ms, they must be prompted by
the strongest motives, even promise Of free
dom, and that promise being made, it must be