Year: 1863

slaves arc papcrty. Is there, has there
ever been any question that, by the law
of war, the property both of enemies
and friends may be taken when needed
whenever tax en- it helps US or suits the
euemy. Armies the world over destroy
the cncmy's property, when they cannot
use it. and even destroy their own to
keep it from the enemy. Civilized bel
ligercnts do all in their power to help
tn ,mseves or hurt the enemy, except a
few things recorded as barbarous or cru
ell. Among the exceptions are the mas
sacre of vanquished f. and non com
batants, male and female.


But the proclamation as a law is valid
or is not valid. If it is not valid It
needs no retrac.ion. If it is valid it can
not be retracted any more than the dead
can be brought to life. Some of you
profess to think that its retrac on would
operate favorably for the Union. Why
better after the retraction than before
the issue.


There was more than year and half
for tiial to suppress the rebellion before
the proclamation was issued. The last
one hundred days of which passed under
explicit notice that it was coming unless
avcrted by those in revolt returning to
their allegiance The war has Ger My
progressed as favorably for US since the
issue of the proclamation as before. l
know; as fully as one can know the opin-
ion of others, that some of the comman-
dcrs of our armies in the field, who have
given us important vic 9ries, tclieye that
the emancipation policy and the aid of
the colored troops constitutes tho hcav-
lest blows yet dealt to the rebellion, that
at least one of these important success
ses could not have been achieved when
it was but for the aid of the black SOL
dicrs. "a, d.. .


Among the commanders holding these
views are some who never had any affin-
ity with what is called abolitionism, 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 Of
ten urged that emancipation and the %
ming of tee blacks re unwise as militia
ry measures, a. d were not adopted as
such in good filth. r v"H.r


You say that you will not fight to free
negroes, Some of them seem to be will
ling to fight for you; but no matter
fight you then exclusively to save the
Union. issued the proclamati on
purpose to aid you in saving the Union.
Whenever you shall have cong uercd al'
resistance to the Union, if shall urge
you to continue fighting. it will be an
apt time then for you to declare that you
will not fight for to free negroes.


thought that in your struggle for
the Union, to whatever extent the negro
should cease helping the enemy, to that
extent it weakens the enemy in his re-
sistance to you. Do you think differ
emily? thought that wha yer negroes
can be got to do as soldiers, even just
so much less for white soldiers to do in
saving the Union. .l ..5s a... =,


Does it appear otherwise to you =? But
negroes, like other people, act upon mo-
tives. Why should they do anything
for US, if we will do no ing for them !?
L they stake their lives for us, they
must be prompted by the strongest mo.
tives, even the promise of freedom, and
the promise being made must be kept


The signs look better. The Father
of Waters again goes unvexed to the sea
thanks to the great Northwest for it, nor
yet wholly to them Three hundred
miles up they met New England, the
Empire, Keystone and New jersey hew-
ing their way right and left. The sun
ny South, too, in more colors than one,
also lent hand on the spot. Their part
of histo y has jottcd down in black and
white. The goal was a greet national
one, and let none be harmed who bore
an honorable part in it, and while those
who have cleared the great river may
well be proud. -.. ... ...


Even that is not all. 1t is hard to
say that anything has been more bravely
and better done than at Antictam, Muir
freesboro', Gettysburg, and on many
fields of less note. .a aa.


Nor must Uncle Sans noble feet be
forgotten. At all the waters margins
they have been present. Not only on
the deep sea, the bro ID bay, the rapid
river, but also up the narrow muddy ba-
you, and wherever the ground was a
little damp, they have been and made
their tracks.


Thanks to all, Cor the Great Repub-
lie, for the principles by which it lives
and keeps alive for mems vast future -
Thanks to all ...


Peace does not az pear SO distant as it
did. | hope it will come soon; come to
stay, and so come as . be worth keep
ing in all future time. Tt will then
have been proved that among freemeD
there can te no successful appeal from
the ballot to the bullet, and that they
who take such an appeal sure
TO lose their cause and pay the COSTS
And then there be some black men
who can rene 'cr that with silent
tongues, and clenched teeth. and steady