New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-18
{. coyTRAgANDv NEGROES.


to. day for the Union would be driven over 10
the side of it's adye'sares. Good iulth t""a'd
allies aud compatrots is primary dictate OF
honorable war.are, and whoever strikes Tor the
Union may rest assured that the contest when
has been forced upon the loyalty and patriotism
of t6e country by armed treason shall be prose
cut.d to the end With honesty Of purpose ana
snelcness OF aim.
And, while such is the case, it is but naked
Justice to insist that, as the war Is not 10 oe
turcrd aside from its declared purpose to over
throw Slavery, 50 tho arm vi the Nali'n S"""
not be- shortened 10 order to shield ana screen
Slavery. Tnc great duty of maintaining anu
vinGicatng the Federal authority against Tue
Vaccinations aud the arms OF treason must hot
be feebly, hrartlcssly perf"rmed because SLAYER!
might suffer by vigorous aud fearless hdt'i'!'
If Slavery should ever plaut hersei In Inc P"t"
on which the Naton 10 advancing against It's
tratorous euemics aud say. " our lille or mint
the prompt response OF the Nation must oe'
"Youfs. then; not NIUE" And meent'mo tue
Nation must confront aud pursue its ioes without
asking or considering whether Slavery is or Is
in deadly strife against the Union.
Ii is no part Of the business OF the armed de'ehu-
ers of the Union to catch runaway negroes Inc
Military have nothing to do with that service except
when The execution Of the lave is resisted hy u
formidable force. Still, we think the commanders
Of the Union forces in loyal portions oil the slave
/ States have done right in publicly assuring the
deceived and alarmed inhabitants that they shall be
protected in all their legal rights that servile insur
rection shall be repressed aud that the escape oi
their slaves shall not by encouraged. Such assui-
ances have been given to the people OF loyal States
and communities alone, and in our judgment have
been properly given. Their extension to rebel con-
multies in the presence of rebel armies would Dc
| quite another matter.
As our armies penetrate Virginia, they move
among u white population who have been :, s.
teu,st,cal, he'd into state Of frenzled hootlIliy
TO the Union aud oil who stand by 1t. Tue out
spoken Unoni,ts Of Eastern Virginia have been
hunted out as though tbey were mad dogs. The
few who secretly cherish love for the old Tag
aud faith dare not give our advancing columns u
word Of information, fearing that any lad and
a. comfort they might afford 10 tae Union armies
would cost them their property and their lives
Y Clouds Of Secession cavalry will enytlop our
moving regiments, cutting of scouts aud prevent
ing observation beyond the rage OF our rifles
Cowardly puerras will urk III every thIcket aud
le IN wait behind fences whence they eau easily
run to cover. Naked batteries, ambuscades and
pitfalls VII surprise the patriots wherever the
| lay of tue laud susgests them. IL, then, We are
IT, repel Inflammation by the way from th"Sr con-
peteut to aloid it, We mgut as welt give up the
contest.
But 10 commander who means to succeed will
do any thing If the sort Persons qualified to
give warning vi the enemy's sn0r,s aud d"ad-ia Is,
his numbers, marches and positlour, wi always lee
welcome at headquarters, no matter ct wtat
color condition they may be. Not what thv
are, but what they know, viii be the ma CON
sderat.on And if any If them should be quail
flied to uct "a guides through intricate, perIIOus
passes, they will re 50 much tbe more welcome.
But what shall cur commanders do with
/" these fugitive 7" is still asked. We answer,
IS fugitiyes. Do nothing Use them go far a.
they can 10 made useful, pay them fanly ijr
their services, aud then dismiss tbeu 10 shit for
themselves. The fact that some Of them may be
claimed as chattels by rebels, is no concern of
I ours. Those rebels may bave a plausible CLAIM
Oh jeff. Davis t. eaten their fugitive chatt,ls,
but they erialny bave none Ola the Nation they
have abjurcd, the Government they are trying to
subvert Let them catch their own negroes II
they pretend to have any, while We attend simply
and solely to putting down the rebellion.
Such We hold 10 be the Obv Gus, natural, easy
solution Of the question which has been raised
with regard to iugtlyes who may approach aud
seek 10 enter the liues of the Federal forces IN
Virginia and other crater. of rebellion. We
cannot repel theuI, for they may be able to give
information whereof our commanders are ia in-
minent need. We cannot make such extensive
digging trenches, filling saDd.bags, &c.. since
negr0.dririug Is q business to which very few of
our ihen are accustomed, and our soldiers are
tS,;Ler ssSamtG nor unable to Weld the pick
and spado in cou.tilctiug their own deen.es.
We cannot load down our moving columns with
tie care 81 them, except 10 70 FAR as they may
be made useful az Rnidcs, cooke, 80, ana q,
that extent they should bo subsisted and paid
like other people BIT whether there arc or are
not rebels who clam 10 be- the 0wHers Of thrte
uerson, il no concern of ours. and should not he
ut all considered nor invest a,ed. Oar COM
iIanGers advancing the. face Of orspefatc
enemy Lbr ugh hostile country will have quite
enough on baud WIthOJt pungIhg into such
r.coudit. md irrelevant gpeculatlUns. Let them