Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-09-11

consistent with even your view, provided
that you are for the Union. i suggested
compensated emancipation TO which you
replied 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 taxation 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. l think
differently. I think the Constitution
invests its Commander-in-Chlef with the
law of war in time of war. The most
that can be said, if so much, is, that
slaves are property. Is there, has there
ever been, any question that by the law of
war, property, both Of enemies and friends,
may be taken when needed And is il not
needed whenever it helps US and hurts the
enemy? Armies, the world over, destroy
enemies property when they cannot 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
enemy, except few things regarded as
barbarous or cruel. Among the exceptions
are the massacre of vanquished foes and
non-combatants. male and female.
But the Proclamation. as law, either is
valid or is not valid. If it is not valid it
nee ds no retraction. If il is valid il cannot
be retracted, any more than the dead can
be brought to life. Some of you profess to
think its retrac;ion would operate favorably
for the Union. Why better after the re-
traction than before the issue? There was
more than year and half of trial to sup
was issued, the last one hundred days of
which passed under an explicit notice that
it was coming unless reverted by those in
revolt returning to their allegiance. The
war has certainly progressed as fa,orably
for US since the issue of the Proclamation as
before.
l know as fully as one can know the opin-
ions of others, that some Of the commanders
of our armies in the field who have given
us our most important victories, believe the
emancipation policy and the use of colored
troops constitute the heaviest blows yet
dealt to the rebellion, and that at least one
of those important successes could not have
been achieved when it was but for the aid
of black soldiers.
Among the commanders holding these
views are some who never had any affinity
with what is called, /" Aboirionsm or with
Republican party politics. but who hold
them purely as military opinions. ! submit
their opinions as being entitled TO some
weight against the objections often urged
that emancipation and armirg the blacks
are unwise as military measures, and were
not adopted as such in good faith.
You say that you will not fight to free
negroes. Some of them seem willing TO
fight for you-but no matter. Fight you
then, exclusively TO save the Union. is
sued the Proclamation on purpose to aid
you in saving the Union. Whenever you
shall have conquered all resistance to the
Union, if / shall urge you to continue fight
ing, it will be an apt time then for you TO
declare you will not fight TO free negroes.
thought that in your struggles for the
Union, to whatever extent the negroes
should cease helping the enemy, to that ex-
tent it weakened the enemy in his resist
ance TO you. Do you think differently
l thought tha. whatever negroes can be got
to do as soldiers leaves just SO much less for
white soldiers to do in saving the Union
Does it appear otherwise TO you? But ne
groes, like other people, act upon motives.
Why should they do anything for US if we
will do nothing for them? If they stake
their lives for us they must be prompted by
The strongest motive, even the promise Of
freedom And the promise, being made
must be kept.
The signs look better. The Father q
Waters again goes unvexed TO the sea.
Thanks 10 the great Northwest for it. Nor
yet wholly TO them. Three hundred miles
up they met New gland,ihe Empire and
keystone States, and Jersey, hewing their
way right and left. The sunny outh,too,in
more colors than one, also lent helping
hand. On the spot,their part of the history
was iotted down in black and white. The job
was great national one, and let none be
sighted who bore an honorable part in it