The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1864-01-28

#'''@.f'" - &1' N~'tAs 4 az 1t''t't>h'
ritter IA ~ 1Gjao: .-.ar lying
that III H." $50 ~a, 'o~t #rt uot tyr-
hldleu ~ hamanj'y q ma
,Uro Ntueh may haT~ass a. weaken The
chenv We may .en!lsca;c Dis pro.
porsy OF every kind, and appropriate i,
- oar own use, for the double purpose
Of diminishing his strength aud ang
,neHt.u- our own. We may capture
and dctain his soldiers and take their
lives five can in legitimate combat.
All this we are allowed 10 do, because
It is a right which belongs to every ra.
ton at war, is derive! from am! at
tachcs to state of war. These we'll
established and fundamental principles,
haveocen recognized by Enforcement
III it's intercourse with other nations.
sustained by repeated decisions Of the
Federal Courts and never denied or
doubted, except during the present
war, by certain northern politicians,
who have throughout, manifested mole
interest in the rebellion than love for
thc Union Of these States. And it is
proper here to remark that the charac.
ter Of helligerents, has been given to the
insnrgent States by the legislative and
executive department Of the Govern.
mcnt that VIC have 30 treated them
during the entire war, and that this
action has been sustained by a late
wei. considered opinion of the Supreme
Court Of the United States in case
tn,!y and fairly presented This question
may, therefore, be regarded as settled,
SO far as the action Of this Government
and people can settle any question.
Daring the first months of this war, in
con,non wi'h a!at believe to haze
been decided III j,.i,y of the people.
bo;h in ard out the army, iniulycd
The hops, and EXPRESSED Tire belief that
ii could be successfully terminated
w:'tun direct i;."ck upon the Toe |,
ins. ..nt;on Of the South. The Govern
ucut i,s,(f seems 10 have entertained
The same siew. for Il remarkable tender
ness Characterized It's dealings with
traitors. ana The var was prosecuted
during the til st year, viii, eminent sue
cess, upon the theoi> Of aain. ',iA re-
baison a. little lamarc as possible. Bit
Ter experience aud observation, how.
ever, finally coHvince! me. As it did
others. that slavery WIS not only sthc
corner stone Of The Confedcracy, br,
WAS He j,o.ccr which sustained ana
the motive which i:are!lai the rebel
lion. Every negro that worked wt' a
hoe or drove mt.e IN \ southern r':,n.
tation, was as mach enlisted ass n>t h,
Union Is the soldier who served witt ls
gun in the ranks Of the rebel armv: and
more effectively So because the grain
upon which our enemy suhsists, renders
him more formidable than his shells or
his bullets.
Slavery stood like mountain before
the advance a our armies, and could
neither be ~ oided or dtfied 1t enabled
the insurgents TO place their entire mill
tary force in the field against US, and
added more than one half to their avail
able strength. While slavery existed,
treason had power and object, aid SO
long would the rebellion continue, the
war be y, otracted.
At the commencement of this rebel
lion, the four millions Of slaves inhabit-
ing the Southern States were peaceful
and loyal subjects Of this Government;
owing allegian' 9 to it, and amenaLlc to
is laws. And although they became
instruments Of treason, yet
heir allegiance has rot been and could
not lie dissolved. Upon this people,
therefore rs its legitimate subjects, the
Government had as high claims as il
rad upon the white population Of the
south. BY State laws only, they were
lcld as slaves, but this was insubordi
ration TO thel status ~ subjects for,
i any time i. Government could have I
AIKEN them from their masters, and /
them like other men, for VIC.
alton Of its laws, and tie fact that they
we're slaves would have been no de.
enee. by no act or deed has the Fe-
leral Government ever relinlnished its
sovereign claim upon this class of its
people and II could not have done So.
with due 'eG gard to the peace and safety
If the Union. No wise government,
would permit a rye IA, permanent
population 10 reside I'll il, limits |
who are beyond It's r'sim..3e control
Whatever may be the character given
them 10y mere local regulations, can no,
effect the authority of the SOVEREIGN