That might recommend to suspicion that I agree with the rebs
这的确可能让人怀疑我与南军看法相同
that their slaves are property in the first place. Of course I don't.
怀疑我从一开始就认为 奴隶是财产 但我当然不那么认为
I never have, I'm glad to see any man free,
我从不那样认为 任何人获得自由都令我高兴
and if calling a man property, or war contraband does the trick, why I caught at the opportunity.
况且若把人视乎财产或战时禁运品 即能解放黑奴 我又何苦大费周章
Now here's where it gets truly slippery.
棘手的地方是
I use the law allowing for the seizure of property in a war knowing it applies
我应用法律准许战争中没收财产 因为知道
only to the property of governments and citizens of belligerent nations.But the South ain't a nation.
它仅适用于好战国的政府财产和公民 但南方不是一个国家
That's why I can't negotiate with 'em.
因此我无法跟他们谈判
So if in fact the Negroes are property according to law,
那要是我坚称他们只是叛民
have I the right to take the rebels' property from 'em,if I insist they're rebels only,and not citizens of a belligerent country?
并非好战国公民 法律规定黑人确实是财产 我有权把他们没收回来吗
And slipperier still: I maintain that it ain't our actual Southern states in rebellion,
更麻烦的是 我坚持认为并非我国南方叛乱
but only the rebels living in those states,the laws of which states remain in force.
只是因为叛民居于南方 而南方依法为战时状态
The laws of which states remain in force.
依法为战时状态
That means, that since it's states' laws that determine whether Negroes can be sold as slaves, as property,
即是说既然是由宪法决定 黑人能否作为奴隶或财产买卖
the Federal government doesn't have a say in that,at least not yet,
联邦政府不能予以干涉 起码至今还不能
then Negroes in those states are slaves, hence property, hence my war powers allow me to confiscate 'em as such, so I confiscated 'em.
那些州的奴隶因此便是财产 因此我的开战权让我得以 如此执行没收 我就这么做了