Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-12-12
DIFFERENCE AND AGREEMENT OF
THE PRESIDENT AND SECRE-
rARY CAMERON.

TARY CAMERON.
The rumors OF difference between the presi-
dent and Secretary Cameron, as to the d sous
sion of the slavery question in the report of
the latter, is confirmed by the publication of the
original report and the report as amended
There is a rumor that Mr. Cameron absolutely
refused to make consent to the amendment
suggested by the president, and that the latter
made the eliminations and alterations himself
This is not credible, however, and it viii doubt
less appear that Mr.. Cameron himself made
the changes suggested by the president. The
important alteration consists in cutting out the
secretary's proposition to arm the slaves, and
his somewhat acrimonious argument for that
line of policy. In regard TO the employment
and freedom of the slaves coming within our
lines, the president agreed with Mr. Cameron.
AS to the proposition to use the negroes as
soldiers, it is obvious that the president did not
wish his administration committed to so radical
measure in advance of any apparent necessity
for it. He chose very wisely to leave it to be
decided by the future progress of the war, and
not to burthen the patriotic cause in the South
with the odium of measure which might
never be resorted to. By requiring the sup
preston of the obnoxious portion of Mr. Cam
erons report, the president does not say that
he denies the soundness of the theory, or that
there may not come an occasion for an applica-
ton. But ne simply declares it impolitic to
mark out and defend possible line of policy,
which may never be adopted, when such pre-
sentati2n of it would evidently have no other
effect than to produce Misunderstanding, preju-
dice and hostility ut the South. Sufficient TO
the day is the evil thereof" and it is evidently
the presidents policy 10 meet events and cir
cumstinces qs they arise and not to discuss
them in advance.
Everything connected with the war has been
so fully published during its progress that it is
not worth while to burhen our columns with
the statistical portion Of Secretary Cameron's
report. We therefore confne ourselves to the
debated matter, and print first the Contra
band part, as it stood in the secretary's draft
of the report, and then the same passage as
cut down and amended
THE ORIGINAL PASSAGE.
1t has become a grave question for determi-
nation, what shall he done with the slaves
abandoned by their owners on the advance of
our troops into southern territory, aa in the
Beaufort district of South Carolina. The
whole white population therein is 6000 while
the number of negroes exceeds $4,000. The
panic which drove their masters in wild con-
fusion from their homes, leaves them in undis-
puted possession Of the soil. Shall they,
armed by their masters, be placed in the field
to fight against us, or shall their labor be con-
s'luolly eniPio!eu III IeP'oGuoihs s 'ne 'iTSns Th
lor supporting 'he armies q. ieoei"Im H. hann me
war ,'',o Wn'Gn lh's Sose';''o,. r.;nS nI' ' e..
!prceu u! reot!ouS sla.;o,s ,h :, omor,r ,;o
,nc purpose Vi LeoSI "a;ooJ a. rpn h., 10 on
ien.l! anu ueae"e1 a'',oot ond r. re,es,aLl;sh
e'iieS Vi tne . Io,.s f ,bo Irn;,od S,atas
!ne uutnoi's aLo.a "ua !, y onnosed ~ overhrown
~ 'ne P,I;ro ;,rroot;or and rebellion ns nnr.
.! a naooyer and defend what ia instlv ;ts
Pose - W.. w oron hetween ;nJenenient nat;ons
;d, o"n. " - ,,,hdno tbe enemy and ali that he'
,." 70 ""' - ,hat enemv bv occnrying the hostile
odm1trv ou"s and exercising dominion over all The
,,o,, o9d ,b;rgS within its territorv. This he
nu" "na IN rasrec, 80 ;ndenenden, Nations ot
,5, T u,;,b eacb p,hcr il fnllows that rebels who
no w"' Iainx;n', hr fnrce of arms to over,bro,y
ro,ernn,eni ;nstly bring mon themselves all
ne comssnnsrces Of war; and nroyoke The de.
s'u I,ar;,eS bv ,he xor.t nf cr;mss That
onvornn,ont would he false 70 notonal trnst
si Ill ;",,iv oxo;,a tho r;J cuio of tbo
alG a,oJ "J'.u ,6a, Mn',Id nbs,a;n fron, the use
w e ,n." eo;nn, SG n,sans ~ rreserye ,s own ey
~ "a! nroroo,no rahslI;ors and tra;,or-
H s,orin, ~ ,ro,oc,;na ,he nroror
Gus ,Ia:n y! bn are roc;ns, war oaa;nf, 4, y
'fL VI n;o""I "' woal,h aSd oor oS ,he rahoI
in. Pi''a' ,,;ooa ~ nPro,ar,,' oosis,;n
81 vs. nr of fr;oan 90 ,hss
descendants of Africans. This nronertv has