Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-12-06

the insurgent rebels to carry on warfare
against the government in peace and secu-
rity to their own property?
Reason and justice and self-preservation
that such should be the policy of this Gov.
ernment but demand, on the contrary, that
being forced by traitors and rebels to the
extremity of war, all the rights and pow.
ers of war should be exercised to bring it
to speedy end
Those who make war against the Gov
ernment justly forfeit all rights OF proper
ty, privilege, or security, derived from the
Constitution and laws, against which they
are in armed rebellion and as the labor
and service of their Slaves constitute the
chief property of the rebels, such property
should share the common fate of war to
which they have devoted the property of
loyal citizens
While it is plain that the Slave property
of the South is justly subjected to all the
consequences of this rebellious war, and
that the Government would be untrue to
it's trust in not employing all the rights
and powers of war to bring it to a speedy
close, the details, of the plan for doing so,
like all other military measures, must, in a
great degree, be left to be determined by
particular exigencies. The disposition of
other property belonging to the rebels that
becomes subject to our arms is governed
by the circumstances of the case. The Gov
ernment has no power to hold slaves, none
to restrain slave of his liberty, or to ex-
act his service. 1t has a right, however,
to use the voluntary service of Slaves lib
Grated by war from their rebel masters, like
any other property of the rebels, in what
ever mode may be most efficient for the
defence of the Government, the prosecu-
tion of the war, and the suppression of the
rebellion. 1t is as clearly a right of the
Government to arm Slaves, when it may
become necessary, as it is to use gun
powder taken from the enemy Whether it
is expedient to do so is purely a military
question The right is unquestionable by
the laws of war The expediency must be
determined by circumstances, keeping in
view the great object of overcoming the
rebels, reestabishing the laws, and restor-
ing peace to the nation
1t is vain and idle for the Government to
carry on this war; or hope to maintain its
existence against rebellious force, without
employing all the rights and powers of
war AS has been said, the right to de-
prive the rebels of their property in slaves
and slave labor, is as clear and absolute, as
the right to take forage from the field, or
cotton from the warehouse, or powder and
arms from the magazine. To leave the ell
emy in the possession of such property as
forage and cotton and military stores, and
the means of constantly reproducing them,
would be madness 1t is, therefore, equal
madness to leave them in peaceful and Sc
cure possession of slave property, more val
liable and efficient to them for war, than
forage, cotton, and military stores. Such
policy would be national suicide What to
do with that species of property, is a ques
tion that time and circumstance will solve,
and need not be anticipated further than to
repeat that they cannot be held by the
as slaves 1t would be useless
to keep them as prisoners of war and
selfpreservation, the highest duty of gov
ernment, or of individuals, demands that
they should be disposed of or employed in
the most effective manner that will tend
most speedily to suppress the insurrection
and restore the authority of the Govern
ment. If it shall be found that the men
who have been held by the rebels as slaves
are capable of bearing arms and perform
ing efficient military service, it is the right,
and may become the duty, of the Govern
ment to arm and equip them, and employ
their services against the rebels, under
proper military command.
But in whatever manner they may be
used by the government, it is plain that
once liberated by the rebelious act of their
masters, they should never again be re-
stored to bondage, By the masters trea-
son and rebellion he forfeits all right to the
labor and service of his slave and the
slave of the rebellious master, by his SER
vice to the Government, becomes justly en-
titled to freedom and protection.