New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-21
their position and commerce are those Of much ~.

anu maryiand penlusula, the contraDande and f<s
colored laborers were compelled to carry /, o.
Goods, arms, powder, shot, uniforms, and other ART
Giles OF great service 10 the Rebels were lsned h,
coasters on one side, carried ccross the counry 10 tbs
nearest Underwater on the other, and then smrgplsl
by Little pungys into the Rebel army at Richmocl
and other places, all the way from Cape Charles n
ITangiers Island and Baltimore. Secret den. n
smuggers have been in active opera,ion. AZ tim.
for the past six months and even before the brsak.
ing out of the Rebellion, from Cherystone Liob,.
House to Pokomoke River AMI up to the liue ts.,
separates Maryland from Delaware. In all ri.
lnarauding on the lawful commerce Of the coa,,
marauding that has been playing constantly and
powerfully into the hands Of the deadly eneme. 81
the Republic-the despised contrabands have bee,
compelled to play direct and constant part. II.
same is equally true along every inch Of the Soui
ern Rebel coast at this moment. II is here shsl
find one of the secret sources Of Rebel strength, d.
development of which has frequently surprised Ia
lookers-on in Verona.
The managers of the rebellion have undenssd
this whole matter perfectly. They have compe.y
hoodwinked those they were bound to circuny,a
Lie low and keep dark" has been the policy. An
was comparatively fair on the surface, while win
was constantly working tho mystery Of iniqrr,.
Their motto was
1--WE curse the sins we re pot inc.inedto
| Aud cesvs to those we have uind ,os
| Hence, while protesting the policy Of quiet, "a.
rebel leaders have employed their seeming MASTER,
inactivity in the most cunningly devised plan, d
patient, secret, persevering action.
Not only the commerce Of the Southern coos, bu.
the deenses also, speak Of the presence and cOutr
! ing power Of the contraband element. The forthe,
tons at Yorktown, the masked batteries on b.
Eastern shore of Virginia, those on the York and
James Rivers, scattered along from Hampton Rod,
up TO Richmond, the immense works at Cury
Island the smaller but still powerful ones at Sewsu,
and Pigs Points, all attest how much can and 70
been done by the "power behind tie throne uess
than the throne itself"
All along the coast from Roanoke Inlet, For,
tIatteras and Clark, Ocracohe, Beaufort, n. C..
Georgetown, S. c., Charleston, Port Royal down
to the lowest embankment of the enemy at Pen.
sacoa, near Key West and New-Orleans, up TO IL
works on the bayous and rivers to Manassas and as
shores Of the Potomac the serviie labor Of The &la
has been most actively and probably employed. Ia
the captured Fort Hatter.s were found a,tesl
accounts of moneys paid-Southern CAPITALS
return for Southern slave labor. There is DO; .
fertilization, ncr a storehouse of munitions Of WA
nor ship employed or being rebuilt and reitled,
all the Southern rebel country, but is direey
indebted for progress and completion chiefly
the outlawed con'rabands.
In view Of these undisputed facts there can lie lot
one question before the united people Of Ameriea.
The immediate and universal confsca,ion of all snch
rebel instruments of power must be iDperstivey De.
manded and rigidly enforced. II is perfectly clear
case that if the rebels can employ contraband prop
erty TO destroy the Union the Government and pro.
pie Of the Union have right to employ that property
to preserve it.
The accumulation of negroes at Fortress Monroe,
Fort Hstters, Port Royal and other strategis ponS,
is by no means the evil to be dreaded which many
seem to suppose. This aggregation of people,
rightly managed, may be made an element Of grss
internal strength to the nation. The importance
teaching it, of inspiring it with hope, OF elevatsa
moral purposes, of rewardng its industry, msh
perceived at glance by every patriot. Wa
the whole question is well understood it can be &C.
Quoted to successful issue rs safely as any othera
the Republic.
The number OF colored people at Fortress MonrA
preyious to the arrival Of the Union troops and eea
WAS quite email. A few old residents took eais,
chiefly, of the younger persons whocame az serVals
10 the officers of the army and navy and the casla
visitors at O.d Point Comfort. But the advent Of 10
Union force has gradually sweed the number, uDa
now Quartermaster Talmadge, U. 5. A., ser'esV"
70 them from seventeen hundred to two thousands
tons daily. Capt. Taylor, also Of the army
nenbew of the late President in his official po'Iica'
does what ne can consistently DO with regard to Tel
comfort. The building the most OF them occaPy@
quarters is good ore. 1t is situated near the As'
machine shop Of the Government, and presents ~
apueerance in front similar to that OF tie BA''s .
in the Park at New-York. In the center and ave
are large hunks for sleeping; at the sides are ''ns
tables; in the rear is suitable cooking aPai'us.'
The occupants fare as well as any OF our so1asHA
barracks.
In some of the adjacent buildings, several finiS
are provided for as well as the rooms viii aS''
Here the washing and cooking for certain oatsiisn
are carried on. The women and children arc mos'I
on these premises. They have plenty Of food n'e,
and water. The clothing department is 'a'Aef
Strengthened.
The principal work done by the coptraband'' "u
far. has been loading and unloading Government VIZ
sels, building new roads, including that reaiy IN
portaut public Improvement, the railroad rom wv
light.house on the point the beach all TIE wy
around the interior of Fortress Monroe. Ihe Gun :,
nletion of this work alone by contratand labor WI
be saving of hundreds ofthOusands OF dollars ~ -
United States.
II should be borne in mind that no permanent "
ranoemeu, has been contemplated for paying resua
wages to the cOntrabands. Accounts have O0eH n
ON their account, but their earnings, as gsnN =
thing, have not been held to belong them. h,a@
while labor has been constantly required Oh 'le.
they have had none of the incentives to Iaoof W
are found in fair wages for fair days WORK. -