The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-08-10

General Butler has written letter to the Sec
rotary of War. which draws the attention of the
country to one of the incidental issues of the
war, which neither the government nor the peo
pie will be able to ignore or overlook. The
question which General Butler discusses is, what
shall be done with the black people who come
into our camps?
1t seems that he has nine hundred of these re-
fugees now near his camp at Fortress Monroe, OF
whom three hundred are able-bOdied men, and
the rest women, children and aged persons. And
"more are coming in"
General Butler argues this question very ably
and thoroughly. He shows that these negroes
have been deserted by their masters, and have
not the opportunity, owing to the disturbance
caused by the rebellion, to earn their own SUBJ
sistence, if collected in great numbers. He ar
CUES that they must be considered by the gov
eminent not as things, or property--but as men
and women. He asks:
mo longer under ownership of any kind, the
fearful reflects of fugitive masters, have they not
by their masters acts, and the state OF the war,
assumed the condition, which We hold to be the
normal one, of those made in Gods image? Is
not every constitutional, legal and moral re-
ouirement, as well to the runaway masters as
their relinauished slaves, thus answered? con-
fess that my own mind is compelled by this rea-
soning to look upon them as men and women
If not free born yet free, manumitted, sent forth
from the hand that held them, never to be re-
claimed"
And he thus sums up his opinion as to the du.
ty of the government in this matter:
"In loyal state would put down a servile
insurrection In state Of rebellion would
confscstc that which was used to oppose my
arms, and take al that property which constitu-
ted the wealth Of that state and furnished the
means BY which the war is prosecuted, besides
being the cause of the war; and II, in so doing,
Il should be objected that human beings we're
brought to the free enjoyment of life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. such objection might
not require much consideration"
We believe this conclusion will meet the favor
of the nation generally. The object OF this war
is to msintain the Union and the Constitution ;
and whatever is found on experience, to stand
in tine way of our armies, and to aid the enemy,
will have to 20 down. IN. Y. Evening Post.
TEN How. +. P. BLAIRs PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
: In the course Of the personal explanationgiven
nv the Hon. f. P. BLAIR in the House, the other
dsy the following remarks reFe made:
Mr.. Ricbardson-I did not understand Gener-
Al Scott. nor did mean to be understood, as i'm.
plying that the President had forced him TO hight
that battle.
Mr.. Blair Of ouri-That is the very essence
OF thu matter. put 90 IuEsuess w I'VE e"cr
to what occurred prior TO that battle, and say
that the President after he had information that
General Johnston had escaped through the hands
of General Patterson and had joined General
Bea aregsrd on Friday evening, went to General
Scott and suggested the propriety of waiting un-
til Patterson's corps could come up and rein.
force the army that was then before Manassas
but 80 firmly fixed was General SCOTS determln-
alton to attack the enemy then and there, that
the Presidenl's suggestion was disregarded.--
me 6ecretary of War also returned from the
6e.d Of battle, and epdesvored 70 induce Gener.
Il Scott TO send forward reinforoements; he urg.
ed il again and again; and finally succeeded In
| having ave regiments sent, two Of which reach.
| ed Centreville hefese the retreat commenced,
| make these statements, and make them for
the purpose of preventing General Scott from
beine exhibited TO the country, % has been At.
tempted TO be done by bis friepds, ~ sssailinl
the President and his Administration. This
conversation, - reported in .bs speech Of III
gentleman from Illiools--and that speech haa
other marks indicating design 70 attack the
Admjnissra tion-holds out General Scott - -
sailing the President end Cabinet