New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-17
THE EXPEDITION TO SHIP ISLlhD.
A PLEASANT VOYAGE.
uNopSTRUCTED LANDING.
The Proclamation Issued by Gen. Phelps
rrom Our enecial Corresponaent.

nm the VOYAGE The usual quantities of flying fish,
,o,,o;sa A,c attracted the attention of tie pass.
engers. The weather was delightful, the sea re-
rarkabIy smooth, and those who had been confined
70 the holo from sea sickness, finally veDtured upon
deek some 10 Ii ten to the music from the bends OF
The Connecticut 9th and Mas achusetts Goth; some
watching the gambos ofthe porpoise, who bad volnn-
teered 10 escort our big canoe; others stretching
their ewes along the horizon in the holes Of hiding
lard. Sea voyages very unpopular with soldiers
who offer a reward for the man who wrote Life
ON the Ocean Wave" TIE officers Of the ship did
everything to meke the tIp pleasant one, and GER
iainy fuccecded.
On TUESDAY. Dee. 3, we dropped anchor off Ship
Island We here met with small naval fleet, con-
sfaing Of the Massachusetts, Capt. Smith Dag ofce'
gunboat Cuyler, Capt. Winston. Also, some icw
xnizes among them the steamers Lewis aud Anna,
roeether with their cargoes of sugar, moasses rosn
and furniture Three small fishing snacks lad also
been captured
On "Wednesday morning we commenced TO disem-
bark. Much time was saved by using the two rebel
cleaners. otherwise We should have bad TO depend
npon the ships boats.
It, ell l2-pounder, belonging to the battery, was
lost in transferring it from the Constitution 10 the
Lewis.
Snip leland had been In possession Of the Rebels
ulunter Rifles under command of Major Allen, but
they Were driven of by the Massachusetts some time
AGO The Island is barren, desolate place. On
Tire west end is fort partly erected by the Govern
pient The work was Discontinued when the rebel
lion broke out Ii has, however, been made avail
able by the naval feet. II mounts Is guns of large
cabcr. Il is the intention OF Gen. Phelps to COM
plete the work ard make three tiers Of guos which
are 10 be Sent from Pensacola. The fort Fort Mass-
chusctts formerly Fort Figs isin command Of Lieut..
s. Reid Bucanan aud Capt. Fontaine of the Navy.
Tie lighthouse wac fred by the rebels, burning ont
the interior and des'royiugthe lantern. twill soon,
however he placed in as good condition formerly.
A ftguirg march OF Fix or seven miles through
die white sand brings you to the other eud Of the
island which is the only fertile spot which is
thick fores; Of piue and white oak. This pat Of the
island was insaJi ed formerly by OF two families
engaged in rearing cattle Their houses have been
burned to the ground. Some twenty or thirty head
OF cattle and pigs roam drought tue woods Raccoons
We found in gIea. abundance. Tire sailors shlke
them from the trees, and by good use OF the eulss
make sure Of their game. Jadgiug from the bones
we find more tnan suspect they formed tic pginci-
pal article Of Diet for the rebels
island the appearance Of town.
On Saturday, Dec :, about O'Clock. we weighed
anchor and bid farewell 10 SHIP Islard. We arrived
on MONDAY afternoon al Kew West 20 take in coal.
But not being able 10 obtain IL there, we were
Obliged to 70 TO Havana. We left Havana the
I2th after ooalDg there, and arrived at Fortress
Monroe on the 18th. The steamer viii coal there
aud proceed TO Boston.
a prcclauno tiou issued IV Gen
Phelps
HR,DoUARrKKs MIpDLE.rx BmoADR.}
SiuP ls-,ED, Mississippi, Dec. g. 1861.
10 The loyII cif'seas 81 ne Sorta- esf.
Without any desife Of NY own, bat contrary to
nv pfivate inclnatiCns, ! again find Myse among
you as q military officer Of the Government A :
proper respect Tor my telow-coun,Tymeh renders 1t
Dot ont Of place that / should make known 10 YOU
the motives and principles by which my command
will e governed.
We believe that every State that has been admitted
as sl4ye State into the Union since The adoption Of
tlc Constitution has been admittedTn direct viola
ti0n Of that Consultation.
We believe that tbe slave States which existed, US
ssrb at the adoption OF cur Constitution, are, by
b., oming ''ies t. that compec, under the highest
Civilizations Of honor anu morality to a'-hSn oiVeLy'
Ifis ouf conviction that monCr-iies arc - eo
etructiye as competition Is Conservative OF lLe iIlh
eires and yitahties Of republican government that
slaye ator Is 2 MONOPOLY Which excludes free lacor
and competition; that siaves are kept IN commi;.-
idleIes- and ease IN Terrific halI OF OuF hdpio
national territory willie free whlto iaboTers, eou'
st.artlv anQnentiDg in numbers from Europe, are
confined 10 the ether half, and are often distressed
Nv Uant. that the free labor of the North has more
need Of expansion into tie southern States, nom
which il is virtually excluded, than Slavery had
into Texas ia 1886 that ire labor is essential to
free iustiulons that these Institutions are natural
iy better adapted and more eoneenal TO the Anglo
Saxon Iace than are the desp0tic tendencies OF
SLAVERY: aud finally that the dDm,nant political
prari es of this North American Con.iaent, 80 long
NE the Caucasian cJplihues 10 now Ill upon us
frcu Europe, must needs be that OF Tree lus,itu-
tious aud free government. Any distinctions 10
a.t form Of government ia the United States must
inevitably be attended with discord aud war.
slavery from tie condition Of universally reeog-
niz d socisl ard moral evil has become al length
political institution demanding Political recognition
II demands rights TO the expulsion Of thore rights
which are insured TO BY the Constitution; and we
snu,t choose between them which we will have, for
we cannot have botb The Constitution Was made
for freelaen not for slaves. Slavery, as SOCIAL
evil might Tor time be tolerated and endured; but
rs political institution, j, becomes imperloas and
exactng, controlling, like dread necessity, oil
whom Circumstances have compelled t. Eve under
Sts SWAY, b.mrerinQ their action ana thus impouing
our national progress. As political institution, II
eod exist rs u coordinate psit only OF two ioTns OF
government, VIZ, the despoic ana The free; ana II
could exist under nee government Only when pub
lie sentiment, ia tie most ui sIlcted exercise ni Il
yovust freedom, leading 70 eAtwyagaIce ana icon-
tOusnefs bsd swayed the thoughts aud habits ci the
people beyond tho bounds AID linits OF their own
moderate constitutional provisions. Ii could eNjs
npder a free government ony Where The people, IN
period of unfeasOning extravaganza, hhd permitted
popnar clnmor TO overcome lutiic reason, ana hoc
attempted the ilnpOssiblty OF setting up lo.ina-
Aently, as political institution, social evil Which
q opposed 10 moral law
By reverting 70 the history of Che past, we snd