The slaves of Rebels cannot be regarded as property, real or personal. Though claimed as property by their masters, and though too often recognized as such by individuals in the National Government, it is the glory of our Constitution that it treats slaves always as “persons.” At home, beneath the lash and local law, they may be chattels; but they are known to our Constitution only as _men_. In this simple and indisputable fact there is a distinction, clear as justice itself, between the pretended property in slaves and all other property, real or personal. Being men, they are bound to allegiance, and entitled to reciprocal protection. It only remains that a proper appeal should be made to their natural and instinctive loyalty. Nor can any pretended property of their masters supersede this claim, I will not say of eminent domain, but of eminent power, inherent in the National Government, which at all times has a right to the services of all. Declaring the slaves free, you will at once do more than in any other way, whether to conquer, to pacify, to punish, or to bless. You will take from the Rebellion its mainspring of activity and strength; you will stop its chief source of provisions and supplies; you will remove a motive and temptation to prolonged resistance; and you will destroy forever that disturbing influence, which, so long as allowed, will keep this land a volcano ever ready to break forth anew. While accomplishing this work, you will at the same time do an act of wise economy, giving new value to all the lands of Slavery, and opening untold springs of wealth; and you will also do an act of justice, destined to raise our national name more than any triumph of war or any skill in peace. God, in His beneficence, offers to nations, as to individuals, opportunity, _opportunity_, OPPORTUNITY, which, of all things, is most to be desired. Never before in history has He offered such as is ours here. Do not fail to seize it. The blow with which we smite an accursed Rebellion will at the same time enrich and bless; nor is there any prosperity or happiness it will not scatter abundantly throughout the land. Such an act will be an epoch, marking the change from Barbarism to Civilization. By old Rights of War, still prevalent in Africa, freemen were made slaves; but by the Rights of War which I ask you to exercise slaves will be made freemen. * * * * * Mr. President, if you seek Indemnity for the Past and Security for the Future, if you seek the national unity under the Constitution of the United States, here is the way. Strike down the leaders of the Rebellion, and lift up the slaves. “To tame the proud, the fettered slave to free,-- These are imperial arts, and worthy thee.”