Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1863-09-09

AiI.that learn leads to directly opposite
belisf The strength of the rebellion is its
military, its army. This army dominates all
ahe country and all the people within its range.
Any,offer OF terms, made by Hanor men with
in that range, in opposition to that army, is
simply.nothiDg for the present, because such
man of.men have no power whatever to en-
force their side Of a compromise, if one were
made with them.
To illustrate; Suppose refugees from the
South and peace men Of the North meet to-
gether in Convention, and frame and proclaim
a compromise, embracing a restoration of the
Union, in what way can that compromise be
used to keep Gen. Lees army out of Penn
sylvania2 Gen, Meade's army can keep Gen.
Lees army out of Pennsylvania, and think
can ultimately drive it out of existence. But
no paper compromise, to which the controIl-
ers OF Gen. Lees army are not agreed, can at
all affect that army.
In an effort to make such compromise, we
would waste time, which the enemy would
improve to our disadvantage, and that would
be all. A compromise, to be effective, must
be made either with those who control the
rebel army, or with the people, first liberated
from the domination Of that army by the sue
cess Of our army.
Now, allow me to assure you that no word
or intimation from the rebel army or from
any of the men controlling it, in relation to
any peace compromise, has ever come to my
knowledge or belief All charges and intima-
tons to the contrary, are deceptive and
groundless, and I promise you that if any such
proposition shall hereafter come, it shall not
be rejected and kept secret from you Ifree-
ly acknowledge myself to be the servant of
the people, according to the bond of the SER
vice, the United States Constitution, and that
as such I am responsible to them. But to be
plain, you are dissatisfied with me about the
negro. Quite likely there is difference Of
opinion between you and myself upon that
subject. certainly wish that all men could
be free, while you, suppose, do not Yet 1
have neither adopted nor proposed any meas
ure which is not consistent with even your
views, provided that you are for the Union.
I suggested compensated emancipation, to
which you replied that you wished not to be
taxed to buy negroes. But had not asked
you to be taxed to buy negroes, except in
such way as to save you from greater taxa
ton, to save the Union exclusively by other
means.
You dislike the Emancipation Proclama-
ton, and, perhaps, would have it retracted,
You say it is unconstitutional I think diff
ferently, think that the Constitution vests
its Commander-in-chief with the law of war
in time of war. The most that can be said, if
so much, is, that slaves are property. Has
there ever been any question that by law OF
war property, both Of enemies and friends.
may be taken when needed, and is it not need
ed whenever taking It helps us or hurts the
enemy Armies, the world over, destroy the
enemy's property when they can not use it,
and even destroy their own to keep it from
the enemy. Civilized belligerents do all in
their power to help themselves or hurt the en-
emy, except few things, regarded as barbar-
Gus and cruel. Among the exceptions are tie
massacre Of vanquiShed foes and non-combat-
ants, male and female. But the Proclamation
law is valid or it is not valid If tits not val
i'd, it needs no retraetiou if it is valid, it can
not be retraeted, any more than the dead can
be brought to life Some of you profess to
thiuk thnt retraetips would operate favorabIy
to the Union. Why better after the retrac-
ton than before tie issue? A.? There was more
shan a year and half of trial to suppress the
rebellion, before the Proclamation was issued,
the last one hundred days of which passed
under an explicit notice that it was coming,
unless averted by those in rebellion returning
to their allegiance.
The war has certainly progressed as favora-
bic to US since the issue of the proclamation
as before. know, as fully as one can know
the opinion of others, that some of the COM
maders of our armies in the field, who have
given US our most important victories believe
the emancipation policy and the aid of colored
troops constituted the heaviest blows yet dealt
to the rebellion, and that at least one Of these
important successes could net have been
achieved but for the aid OF black soldiers
Among the commanders holding these view;
are some who have never had any affinity
with what is called Aboliionism, or with Re
publican party politics, but who hold then
purely as military opirions. I submit theil
opinion as being entitled to some weight
against the objections often urged that eman.
cipation and arming the blacks are unwise a;
military measures, and were not adopted in
good faith.
You say you will not fight to free negroes
Some of them seem to be willing enough tC
fight for you. But no matter. They fight
then, exclusively to save the Union. issued
the proclamation on purpose to aid you in saw
ing the Union. Whenever you shall have
conquered all resistance to the Union, if
shall urge upon you to continue fighting, il
will be an apt time then for you to declare
that you will not fight to free negroes.
thought that in your struggle for the UniOr
to whatever extent the negroes should ceasG
helping the enemy, to that extent it weaken
ed the enemy in their resistance to you.
Doyou think differently? thought tina
whatever negroes can be got to do as soldiers
leaves Just so much less for white soldiers Z