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Chapter 25:
- Forced emancipation -- purposes of the United States government at the commencement of 1862 -- the willing aid of United States Congress -- attempt to legislate the subversion of our social institutions -- slavery the cause of all troubles -- statements of President Lincoln's inaugural -- declaration of Sumner -- abolition legislation -- the power based on necessity -- the system of legislation devised -- confiscation -- how permitted by the law of nations -- views of Wheaton; of J. Q. Adams; of Secretary Marcy; of Chief Justice Marshall -- nature of confiscation and proceedings -- provisions of the acts -- confiscation of property within reach -- procedure against persons as enemies and traitors -- emancipation to be secured -- remarks of President Lincoln on signing the Bill -- remarks of Mr. Adams compared -- another alarming usurpation of Congress -- war power of Congress; how maintained -- act to emancipate slaves in the District of Columbia -- compensation promised -- remarks of President Lincoln -- the right of property violated -- act to prohibit slavery in the territories -- act making an additional Article of war -- powers of the Constitution unchanged in peace or war -- discharge of fugitives commanded in the confiscation act.
At the commencement of the year 1862 it was the purpose of the United States government to assail us in every manner and at every point and with every engine of destruction which could be devised. The usual methods of civilized warfare consist in the destruction of an enemy's military power and the capture of his capital. These, however, formed only a small portion of the purposes of our enemy. If peace with fraternity and equality in the Union, under the Constitution as interpreted by its farmers, had been his aim, this was attainable without war; seeking supremacy at the cost of a revolution in the entire political structure, involving a subversion of the Constitution, the subjection of the States, the submission of the people, and the establishment of a union under the sword, his efforts were all directed to subjugation or extermination. Thus, while the Executive was preparing immense armies, ironclad fleets, and huge instruments of war with which to invade our territory