Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-11-06
Gen. Sher1nan's Instructions
Black Gods TO be Used like other
Beasts and Men.


We seldom, if ever, published any pub
lie document with as much pleasure as we
do Secretary Cameron's instructions to
Gen. Sherman, commanding expedition to
the Southern coast. They are as follows:
WAR DEPARTMENT, Oct. IA.
SIR:-In conducting military operations
within States declared by the proclamation
of the President to he in a state of insur-
rection, you will govern yourself, SO far as
persons held to service under the laws of
such States are concerned, by the princi-
pies of the letters addressed by me TO
Maj. Gen. Butler on the 30lh of May and
| the sth Of August, copies Of which are
herewith furnished to you. As special di-
rections, adapted to special circumstances,
cannot be given, much must be referred to
your own discretion, as Commanding Gen
era Of the expedition. You, however,
will, in general, avail yourself Of the seTi-
COS Of any persons, whether fugitives from
labor or&ot, who may offer them to the
National Government; you will employ
such persons in such services as they may
be fitted for, either as ordinary employees
or, II special circumstance seem to require
it, IN any other capacity, with such organ
lzation, IN squads, companies, or otherwise,
as you deem most beneficial to the service.
This, however, not to mean a general arm
ing Of them for military service. You
will assure all loyal masters that Congress
will provide just compensation to them for
the loss of tie services of the persons so
employed. 1t is believed that the course
thus indicated will best secure the suostan-
tial rights of loyal masters, and the bene-
fits to the United States Of the services of
ell disposed to support the Government,
while il avoids all interference with the So
cial systems Of local institutions of every
State, beyond that which insurrection
makes unavoidable, and which restora-
ton Of peaceful relations to the Union, I'M
der the Constitution, will Immediately re-
move. Respectfully,
SIMON CAMERON, Secretary Of War.
BRIG.- GEN. SHERMAN.
The administrator seems to have at
last thrown away the ridiculous idea that
ibis rebellion is TO be suppressed and the
traitors protected in the possession Of their
slaves at the same time. Ii is virtual re-
affirmation Of the doctrine Of Fremont's
celebrated proclamation, because. while
Mr.. Cameron speaks Of remunerating 10y
al masters for the services of their slaves,
he says nothing Of remunerating traitors.
We infer from this that they are not to be
repaid, and certainly the government will
never do anything SO absurd as to return
their slaves. If rebels slaves are used
to whip the said rebel and reduce him to
subsection to the laws, it is not likely the
government will offer to remunerate him
for the services Of his slaves il that capac-
ity. That would be "addng insult to in
iury,p and Of course no "chiyalrous" son
of the South would accept of it. The
government has no right to return trait
or's slaves or pay him for their services
So long as he obeyed the constitution and
the laws he was protected in bis rights, but
when he rebelled against both he forfeited
his right to their protection, and can no
more claim remuneration or the return Of
his slaves than poIicy-holdcr can claim
damages from an insurance company after
having applied the torch to his own prop
erty.
The great expedition took with i one
thousand "contrabands" collected at Fort
ress Monr,e, who go ostensibly as laborers
to work upon the Notifications, but really,
we presume, as "missionariesa to their col
losed brethren in the South. Their short
experience has taught them the advantages
of freedom, and disabused them of the idea
that The mission of "Lilicoln's army" is to
murder master and slave indiscriminately,
as they had been taught by their masters.
They VIII not be long IN communicating
this to the thousands of slaves with whom
they will be brought in contact, thus ma
terialy aiding in the work Of forming
them into squads, companies, or otherwise,
as may be deemed most beneficial to the
service.
Whatever may be the ultimate result of
the expedition, it will do much to quiet
that universal discomfort which has arisen
on account Of the seeming dilatory move
ments Of the army in and about Washing
ton. 1t now appears to have been the pol
icy Of the administration to keep large
army there primarily to defend the capt
tai, but also because it compelled the reb-
els to concentrate their forces there, while
this expedition could be fitted out and
sent down the coast to take possession Of
and open the principal cotton ports. It
will not do for the rsbeIs to withdraw their
force or any considerable portion of it
4 f.~-~~ AZ Do+1.,,o, 49,. 1000. al, 4