The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-13
THE sLAvEfl' QUESTION AND THE WAR
LETTER OF Gl,sN NERAL BUTLER TO sECRE.
TARY CAMERnN
DErARrNENT OF vIRoIyIA }
FOR1Rrss McSaax. July 30. IoeI-

AZ
LETTER OF Gl,.yN BUTLER 10 sEcRE.
TARY CAMERON.
HEAuuuAK1xeS DEPARrnESr nv v,pov,.
FoR,Rrx Mcsaas. July 80. Ioel
Hon SIMON CAMERON, Secretary OF War,-SIp-Rv ~,
order received on the morning n the 18th July from
Major General DIX by elcgIa phc order from Leutea
ant General Scott, was commanded to forward OF tbs
troops OF this department, four regiments and half in.
Guiding Col Bakers California regiment to Washington
via Baltimore This order reached me at two O'CLOCK
A NJ, by special boat from Baltimore Believing thai II
omaated because of some pr exigency for the &
fence OF Washington, issued my orders before day
break Tor the embarkaton Of the troops sending those
VINO were among the very best regiments had. In the
course OF the following day they all embarked fx
baltimore, with the exception Of some 400, foI whom
u no transportation, although had all tho tTansI0
,oce ia the hands Of the Quatermaster here aid The
pay iie Of steamers. which By the DIR from th<
'u'eant General was directed to furnish trans orte
on W 70 and ut the time OF the order had been pre-
psr'hg Tor an advance movement by which hoped 70
clpe the resources of the enemy at Yorktown and e
peis uy ssz'ng large quantity Of negroes who
ns pessou INTO their service Ia building intreacA
ments there.
had i've days previously been enabled to mount Tor
e 81 TINE the nrst company Of light artillery which
had been empowered 70 raise they hal but single
rined cannon III, iron six FOUNDER. Or course every
thing nust and did yield ~ the supposed exiaeucy ana
the orders This ordering away the troops rom this IA
parlment, while it ak ned tie POSTS at Newport Nows
necessitated the withdrawal Of tie from Hamp,o
where was then throwing up int enchei works to enuhle
me TO hold the town with small force, while advanced
up the York or James river. la the village of Hanptos
there we're large number OF negroes, G, imposed Ia
great measure oil women and children Of The men who
lad he. t1her within my lines for protection who had
escaped from m'raudinr parties of rebels who had
gathering ablebodied blacks TO aid them CONSTRUCT
ing their batteries on tie james and York rivers hae
employed the men Hampton in throwing up intrench
~ MIS- and they We're working Zealousy aed efcn y
that duty saving our soldiers from that labor under TN
CLEAN Of the midday sun.
Tho women were earning substantially their own sub
sstance in washing, mar ketng and taking care Of TIT
clothes Of the soldiers and raps benz serv d ca,
TO the who worked support Of the children
Put by the evacuation OF Ham, to rendered NECESSARY
mi SraPe -
5000 men outside the fort including the force at New
port News, all these black people We're OBJ ged to break
up their homes ut Hampton, fleeing the nth
III my lines for protection and support. Ind, it wa
most distressing sight to these poor creatures who
had trusted TO the protection of the UnittS
states, and who aided the troops of the United States
their enterprise, 70 be THIS obliged to flee from then
homes and the homes Of their masters, who had esert
them, and become fugitvcs from fear Of the returs
Of the secession soldery who had threatened Shoot the
men who had wrought for u.s. and to carry off the
who had served to a than Egyptian bon age I
have therefore, within the peninsula this side d
Hampton creek, 300 negroes, 800 Of whom able
boled mon, thirty OF whom substantially pasa
hard labor lI5 women 225 children under the age Of
years and 10 between ten and eighteen years and mans
more coming in The questions which this state of fae
present are very embarrassing.
First, what shall be done with theme and second
what Is tleir state and coildition3
Upon these questions desire the instructions Of ths
department.
The first question: however, may perhaps be answered
by considering the last. ARD these men, women ane
children slaves? Are they frecY Is their condition tha(
of men, women and children of property, or is it
mix reationS What their status Under the const
tuition and laws we all know. What has been the effect
rebellion ana state or war upon that sdtusf Whom J
adopted the theory OF treating the able bodied negro tit
work in the trenches property liable TO be used in AID
OF rebellion and so Contraband Of that condition a
things in so far met, then and still believe on
legal and constitutional basis. But new SORES
Of questions arise Passing by women, the children
ainy cannot DO treated that basis; If property tbeS
must be considered the ncumbance rather than the
ary Of an army and of course in possible legal roa
tion could be treated rs cotaband Are they propert
If they So they bavo been left by their masters and
owners, deserted, thrown away, abandoned like Ne
wrecked vessel upon the ocean
Their formor pOSsCSSors and have causee6SY,
traorousy rebelliously, and to carry out the figure,
practically abandoned them to be swallowed IN by the
winter storm Of starvation property do they H0t he
he property of the savors? but their sayoe dc
not eed and viii not hold such property, and will assume
no snch ownership; has not, therefore, all proprietary
relations Ceasedp Have they not become thereupon me
women and children No longer under ownership e any
kind the fearful relics Of fugitive ssrs have they MOI
by their masters the If war assumed The
condition, which hold TO be the normal one of those
made in Gods mage is not every constitutional, logas
and moral requirement as well to the runaway master
their relinuised slaves thus answered. conf that
my mind is compelled by this reasoning to look upA
th as men and women If not free born yet free man
united sent forth from the hand that held them
to be reclaimed.
OF courseif this reasoning thus imperfectly FORTH h
correct my duty humane man is very plain should
take the Of these men, and children.
houseless, homeless and unprovided for, as would Il
the same number OF men, women and children whs
for heir attachment to the Union had been driven
allowed to flee from the Confederate States shonld have
doubt this question had not it stated THAI
order had been issued by General Mcdowell in hs depart
ncnt substantially fOrbiddng all fugitive slaves from
coming within his lines, or being harbored there Is that
order to be enforced in all military departmental If 20,
who to be considered fugitive slaves? Is a slave -
10 considered fugitive whose master runs away and
leaves hP Is forbidden to the troops to aid harb0r
within their lines the negro children who found
thcrcnS Or Is the soldier when his march has destroyed
their Of subsistence to allow them be-
cause he has driven Off the rebel mascrf Now shall the
commander Of a regiment battalion sit in judgment
upon the question whether any given black has fed
from his master his master fed from him9 Indeed,
how the free born TO be distinguished? Is any
less fugitive shave because he has abored urnn
the rebel ntrenchmensf II he has latored If UNDER
stand IT, he is to be harbocd by the reception of which,
tho rebels be distressed by taking those who
have wrought I'LL their rebel masters desired, masked
their battery those who have refused labor and left
the battery unmaskedf
havevery decided opinions upon the subject Of the
order II does not become to criticse ii, and write
spirit of criticism, but simply explain the fun
difficulties that surround the enforcing it, If the enforce
ent Of that order becomes the policy of the government.
soldier shall be bound to enforce il stea TASTY
not oh eriuy. But f left to my discretion, you
may have gathered from my reasoning should take .
wild ,ly different course from that which it indicates
In loyal State would put down servie instruction.
In state Of rebellion would con0scate that which was
used oppose my arms aud take all that property which
constituted the wealth of that state and furnished the
means by which the war is prosecuted besides being the
Of the war; and If in dong Should be objected
that human beings brought 10 the free enjoyment OF
life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, such objection
might not require much consideration
Pardon for addressing tho Secretary OF War directly
upon this question: it involves some political considers
tons well proprety Of military action. am, sir,
your obedient servant, BENJAMIN F. BUTLER.