Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1864-01-15

Il. The people Of the insargent States have
no right to complsin !; Tor having rsneanced
sheis alIegiansot to tt Constitute, lseied w1r
sgsaass il. adereed eCosstitutios A. govern
mens Of their otu, I'D claiming soceGnition -
: separate and indcpend4nt sovesei9nty, thy
nave assamed The at6iAade sf belDe gerentR - she
Federal Government, and thereby acknosledg-
ca Themselves entitled only to beliigerent
rights. Every right which, as citizens Of the
United States. they poassased under sbs Con.
eelsssioa, Aas been velu0easily asandoes1 ~
Soe!eited BY The rebellion. Thses Hghls oesael
and shoald nos b seseoeed 20 then, until they
shall lay down their arms, submit 70 the jusis.
diction Of she Federal Government, and obtain
pardon fos their treason In every sense Of Che
term, they are enemies to the Constitution, 70
our kepublican tSovese0eak - liberty ord hs
mainly, having but sin sle constitutional right
left, that of being dealt with according to the
laws of the land, for the atrocious crime they
have commit z. No other people or nation,
upon the face of the earth, could have commit.
ted 20 high crime against this Government,
and It's Dag. And now, while standing ~ shs
daddy enemies Of the Constitution.
With their hands uplifisd at the nations
throat, we are told that their ons,isusi0nal
rights are unimpsired. and - substantial Q.
chen they were law abiding and peacsfal
subjects Of the Government. Thus ~ are
asked 10 give immunisy 70 crime, BY excul-
ps,in2 the crimiDals.
A. emies and belIieerenta, 70 what rights
are the iosargens 8sa'es enti.ied Z The G 30
stitution being entirely allen upon this sub.
iscs weuust - ss f5r inf osmation 70 b
laws Of var, - estabii. he'd and recoanis a
among the nations Of tho world. The emit
net writer's on this subject agree 10 sayins
that In var We may do any act not forbidder
By humanity Or the laws Of nature which
may barrass or weaken The eneoy. We maj
co ,6ssate bis property Of every kind. and -
propriats II to our Own u.s., for the double
purpose Of Establishing his.tret 9Th aod sus
menting our owo. We may csp:ass
AID detain bic soldiers and take ,h-il
lives II we can 10 legitimate combat. Al
this W arc al)wed 70 do, because Il u /,
right ~hich belongs TO every pstion at var, /,
derived from and attaches to 4 state Of war
These well established aud fundausn,a
principles, have been Recognised By ouI
G ,verDmeot 10 10 intercourse with other "a
IONS, sustained BY repeated decisioss Of she
Federal c, urts, and never denied or doubted
except during the present war, BY cetssil
northern politicians, who have throup houi
manifested more Interest 10 the rebellion thai
love for the Union Of these States. Add il i,
proper here 10 remark that the character ol
beligerents, has been given to the insurgen
states by the legislative and executive de-
psrtmentt Of tho Government; thai
we have 90 treated them du,iD,
tho entire war, aud that this &C
ton has been sustained by 4 late we'll coasid
cred opinion Of tho Supreme Court Of III,
United States 10 case f0ily and fairly pre-
scented. This question may therefore, be re
gatded a. settled, so far ~ tho action of thli
Government aud people can settle any Qaes
tion.
During the first months Of this war, 10 com
mon Win what believe to have been q de
c,ded M jori,y Of The people, both 10 and 0 ~
of Tho amy, INDUCED the hope, AID ex
pressed he belief tina, IL could be successful
" terminated without die Ct attack uuon III.
local institution Of the South. TIE G,vern
meut itself seems 10 have entertained III,
same view, for q remark abte tenderness char
ac,erixsd its dealings With traitors, aud tn.
var was prosecuted during the FIRST year, viii
eminent success, upon the theory Of doing III,
rebellion as little damage "A possible Bite
experience aud observation, h0seser. 6saiiy
convinced me. as il did Others, thai SLAYER,
vas not only "the corner stone of the Con
federacy," but was The pOssev which sustained
and the motive which imp- led the rebellion
Every negro that work with hoe, or drov,
a mule on q southern plantation, "a. as mucl
enlisted seainsI the Union o. the soldier ~,
served wi.h bic gan 10 The Racks u tho rebe
army aud more effectively ~ because d,
grain upon which Oue enemy subsists, render
h'm more Sormidabie ID o bis shells or BIZ
bullets.
Slavery stood like . mountain before tn
advance of our armies, aud could neither b.
avoided nor dr6sd. II enabled tho insureent
to place their entire military force 10 th,
f-ld against Us. and added more than one
hslfto their available strength. While slave
ry existed, treason had power and object, ant
30 long would the rebellion continue, the wa
be prOtracted.
At the commence OF this reba lion. tn,
four millions Of slaves inhabilioQ the S,nth
eru States, were peaceful aud loyal suLj4c,.
Of ibis Government; owing allegiance !, I
and amenable TO its laws. Az IN. aouos
they became unwilling iustl ii n i # reason
yet their allegiance has nc. bsen aud coulc
no. be dissolved. Upon this people, there
fore, Is its legitimate subjects, the Govern
ment bad - high claims a. II bad upon tn.
whilc pc oulati0n of tho South. By Stat.
laws only, they we're held a. slaves, bit tbi
was insubor dioati0n 10 their status ~ sob
jscts I; for, ~ any time the G ,vernmert coul,
have taken them from their masters. and
punished them, like other meu, for violation
of Tvs laws, AID The fact that they we're ala ve.
would have been no defence. By no act o.
deed has The Federal Governments ever re
linquished It's sovereign claim upon this clss
Of LIS people and it could 90. have done %
With due regard to the peace aud safety d
tho Union. No wise g0verDmeO would Der
init q large and permanent population Il
reside within its liuits, who are beyond il
ultimate control. Whs,ever may be the
character given them By mere local regu
la,iors. can not effrc. tho authority Of tbs
sovereign power over them. These people are
GOT only denOminated - psvsons BY the Con
ssitu.ion, but they have 20 been treated b.
the G 'seTument, for I'll purposes, durioR il.
entire history. 10 Ill these respects, 1t least
the slaves were the equals Of th.ir masters
they could perpe,rate the . me crimes, BE-
tried therefore by the sane tribunals, iocar-
cerated 10 the same pris0ns, aud hung upon
the same sca6old. And while their mssserl
committed auocious treaeOn against the
g ,verDment which shelters ali, have not these
oppre BED subj cts right to fshs for Il, ADD
shed their blood 10 defence Of is 6ag1
Government represents, not merely
land aud certain defined territorial Inn
its, but the people who established it,
and who speak and act through it, rs
their political organ These people, 10
consequence Of their treason. having
disqualified themselves fer the exercis.
OF political rights, and privileges, their
State Governments have thereby become
aud must remain in allegiance