Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-09-10
Peace without Emancipation

A prodiglous Influence is being exefted to
establlah the conviction In the popular mind
,hat,it is impossih' to restore the Union while
the institutional slavery remains intact. The
idea 10 based on the assumption that. slavery
already ceases TO exist, because slave owners
Unfortunately, loyal and disloyal alike, are
despoiled of this species Of property by virtue
Of the President proclamation. The Nation
al Intelligenesr publishes very able and dis
passionate letter on this subject from gentle
man Of ttas city, native Of Northern State.
The following is an extract:
A sovereig4 has not the power to ALLEVIATE a
part Of the State. He caLnot demise the prop.
erty Of his subjects. His power is limited to
the appropriation, under certain circumstances,
lof portion Of mems estates by way Of taxes
without impoverishment, except In cases where
the necessities Of the State require the use of
the property of the subject. But the severe; On
has no right to dsStToy the property of anv
number Of the citizens, except In self defense
and for ar equivalent.
I conceive il the duty of the sovereign TO pro.
tect his s1bjecta in all their property, and con.
ceive It tle privilege Of the subjects, when the
9tate refuses or is unable to defend or protect
them, "tn resume their original right Of taking
care Of themselves, independently of the State,
In the manner they think most proper" And,
in my opinion, inability Of this Government to
protect ita good and loyal subjects In their lives
aud property, as againstthe wicked and rebel
lious men who assumed the direction Of affairs,
and left them powerless to resist treason, where.
by they we're compelled to recognize, however
unwllliDgly, the authority assumed over them,
renders all srch comparatively, If not altogether,
innocent, and as such entitled to the fullest am
nesty on returning to their alleglar 90, when
they can do 20 with sufficient guarantee for
the preservation Of their liberty, lives, and prop
erty; and, 10 my opinion, until such guarantee
be afforded, they are neither criminal by the
law Of nations nor that Of God. And If this
be 10, II 10 the duty of the sovereign not only
, TO receive them as good and loyal subjects, en-.
titled to all the rights and immunitles had and
4 enjoyed prior 10 the existence of rebellion In
. the conception of which they took no part, bui
d TO use all proper mesns to encourage their re-
turn. The sovereign authority may for the
common veal abandon apart Of its subjects and
their possessions, leaving them to take care Of
themselves 90 best they may, or to become vic.
Tins Of stronger power, but has not the right
under any law or example to despoil its eubjecsu
: when abandoned, any more than when they re-.
turn 70 their allegiance. If the necessities oi
!, the State require the possession of their prop.
erty, their loss must be borne equally by others
which involves the principle Of compensation
l without which the seizure becomes an act oi
tyranny. r..s s..t I..-. .
ii States or nations, where the power exists to
= enforce Is, may be made to repair Whatever In.
ljuriea they may have committed by revolt or ne.
lbellion, and individuals are amensble to pun
ishment for their crimes, but It will not do 70
al IN ah "A In In H6n
with the guilty. It is laid down as principle
by the best auihors, that that is Just war In
auguFated "elther to defend ourselves and our
property against those who endeavor to ipjure
us BY ssseulting our persons end by taking away
d and ruining our estates;" and If the sovereigu
}. attempts unsuocessfully thus to trespass upon
the rights Of his subjects he justifes their re-
bellion-and no justlfies the rebellion Of such
subjects % are, BY the Impotence of the Lawful
Government, compelled for the preservation Of
their liberty and estates to unite with them In
,l revolt, especially where the rebellion assumes
:. the form Of government. II such be true, 10 4
not obligatory upon the sovereign to asenre tht
Ileyal Of heart Of the earliest possible exercls.
iof all his power for the restoration of tiei
rights and privileges, not only to detract from
the force Of the enemy, but TO preserve loys
land reliable people to be entrusted with th,
management Of public sfairs7
If / am correct, and contend that the grea
authors on natione law sustain the positions
- OCCUPY, it seema difficult 10 make good the par
lallel between the institution Of slavery and tn
house OF your friend IL 10 not necessary Il
Question the act of the President 90 command.
"A or and chief Of the army and navy enupciste
for public reasons; and am quite free to admi
: that where freedom has been attained through
the proclamation, orby the progress Of our arms
those enjoying II cannot with pFopriety be re-en
!" slsved. Buti such case Justice requires tha
lipjusIes done 10 all loyal citizens must be 70
. Ipsired % soon as the return Of peace, and th,
Il ability OF the State will warrant IL. II sIaver,
hperisheg from the exercise Of the neceesar,
fmeans to put down the rebellion, no one cai
tcomplaip but those who, affected thereby, tool
no willing part in the rebellion, and they shoul
~ mot be precluded remune,ation any more tha
those good citizens whose crops and cattle or
- taken for The support OF our army, or to preven
their conversion 70 he support and maintenance
Of the enemy or whose houses ere demolished
- las that of your friend, 10 accommodate our or
tillery, We required Of Great Britain com
q, pensation for the owners Of slaves msnum!t
n ted; and thersprincipls, If good then, Is goo
W iuoW. -ailioq9h ,oaJsG ..' ,ere.a4 = 81
~ ~ My doctrine receives itself into .bls: Th,
rE whatever of slavery may remain on the restors
q sion OF harmony must commune Wibnln tne oor
troll of tho 8 ltes where itexists untll they pr
,s sids for its extinction, and the United Stat,
~ has no right to prosecute 9 war for Its abate
sfqIment any more than they have right to IN
: augurAte war against U.ah for polygamy. :
Lava may be made to punish polygsmists
II fne and imprisonment, or We can refuse TO re
ag lcgnise the community encouraging y, becauI
al Of its tenisncy to overthrow al the moral II
,es lstraints Ct, civilized nations and uproot q
.ss common lEwsgto the descent of property. b
10 with slavery the question 10 different. The ]
-. Islitution was recognized and promised prote'
~ lion nntlt the several States saw ft to reno,
Iit by thel, own acts; and In no case where the
at has been hsglnlature 70 oct on behalf Of q
y.isI people hasthe General Governments interfere
y And j contend that tho loyal men at the Sou
- tate now asmuch entitled TO tho epjoyment
ta,r EightsIst one tine universal throughout q
rsa Hand, a. ,thay were before the commencement
Il the war.sleigsf q ssg4 s,sIqy sdt . sgss ~
f1 Siieiinah 4---- --s--Als-.az1rzss.<ssS4-- - y
"fhold that thiu Government was made
sf the wHlrE BASIS, by WHITE MEN, for the bens
of WHITE MEN, and their PesTEhrTY forever
b. A. DOUGLAS, ElHotsSh ~ Qsa3-a=