Year: 1861




Emancipation the object of the War.


1t ought to be no surprise to us to find that, to
the best, Judging citizens in America Mr. Cam
eron's letter to General Butler appears the most
important event that has occurred since the be-
ginning of the conflict. They regard that letter
as an Act of Emancipation, as it cannot be re-
ceded from, and must determine the conduct of
the Government in respect to the slaves. Amidst
the chaos of Northern opinion and counsels, here
is bit of firm ground at last for foothold.


Full of danger as the outlook is on every side,
there is now evidence that Government, and there
fore public opinion, of which Government action
is an exponent, has taken the direction in which
alone ultimate safety can be attained.


On the 10Th of July General Butler wrote to
the Secretary of War for instructions as to what
he was to do with the increasing number of fugi
tives from various Slave States who are repairing
to him. The Cabinet certainly saw the import
ance of the reply. They took their time, for Mr..
Cameron's letter is dated August" The Ian
guage is so obscure as 10 show some lingering
doubt and timidty, and there is parade of ful-
filling the obligations Of the Constitution in con-
sidering the slaves property to be paid for but
amid these reservations and restrictions, there is
a new policy announced which is decisive of the
slavery question. General Butler Is authorized
to make soldiers of as many fugitives as may be
fit for that service. 1t is certain that the Con-
federates are employing their slaves in the servi
ces of the war, and that they boast of having two
regiments in the field, besides reserves at home
1t is absurd to suppose that, when slaves escape
from such employment, they are to be treated as
property to be returned. The rebellion of their
owners breaks down the fugitive slave law, and
leaves to these negroes their simple character of
immigrants. a lIf.-


The case of fugitives from the Border States
whose owners may be loyal, is more perplexing
The decision is that the neutral course of law is
suspended in those States while they are the field
of wal and that under military rule the interests
of the owners will be best consulted by their
negroes being maintained and kept in hand as
soldiers, than by leaving them to chance. They
also therefore to be drilled and employed, and
their masters may, it is intimated be settled with
hereafter for their value. Nobody would expect
an abolition proclamation from the Washington
Cabinet, and this letter distinctly recognizes the
pro-savery provisions of the CONSTITUTIONAL
terpolated of late years; but an authorization to
incorporate fugitive slaves with the Federal army
is. not the less, decree of emancipation.
Wherever the Federal forces now 60, the slaves
will rise, and repair to them as deliverers The
news that they will be received will spread south
wards, as tidings that concern the slaves always
do; and the slaves themselves will take care that
the war is everywhere understood to be for the
abolition of slavery. -


The Confederates, in fact, settled the fate Of
slavery when they drilled and armed their two ne
GRO regiments; and the Government merely cor
roborates that settlement by authorizing the for
nation of similar force on the other side. The
difference is that the Southern leaders do not
know what they are doing, while the Government
is perfectly aware of the import of what it or
dains, and thoroughly conscious that it cannot
recede from its position. The position is, how
ever, manifestly and avowedly provisional one;
and the necessary conclusion is that the Federal
cause is henceforth identified with the abolition of
slavery. - ~ 30 ~.