The national Republican., 1861-05-11
A CASE AT FORTRESS MONROE.

We cut from the New York Herald, and laid
aside some lew days since, letter written on
the 9th Of April from Portsmouth, Va, Of
which the following is an extract:
Not q little annoyance vas experienced,
and some Misunderstanding were created, pre-.
vious to the entire stoppage Of intercourse be.
tween Hampton and the fort, by runaway ne
groes. Not many days ago, dozen or more
escaped over the Mill Creek bridge, but were
conducted back to the Hampton shore by or.
der Of Col. Dimmick. Some of them were not
recovered by their owners, but got of into the
woods. The Hsmptoniaus complained bitterly
that they had not been brought BY the troops
TO the guardhouss. The Colonel replied that
he had neither right nor authority to do more
command, and that Herewith they must be
content. One wench managed, however, 10
remain three weeks in the fortress, going about
from kitchen to kitchen, before the fact Of her
being a slave was discovered"
If men CT whatever color, white, black, or
yellow, offer themselves at Fortress Monroe,
and their services are not valuable, or are not
needed, Col. Dimmick does tight in turning
them away. But il their services would be
useful, and they are turned away, merely be.
cause they are runaway slaves, he does wrong.
If the writer of this letter is correct the latter
supposition is the correct one, as he expressly
states, that " scench," unmolested before, and
working in the kitchens of the fortress, was
sent of as soon as the fact q her being slare
soas discovered"
We notice that the General commanding the
Virginia forces at Norfolk, not only uses black
laborers in erecting his batteries, but he also
urgently advertises for them. And We have
no manner of doubt, that in the defensive
works being erected and enlarged at Fortress
Monroe, the United States will employ and
pay at high rates, just such laborers as Col.
Dimmick seems to have been 80 anxious to
keep out of his lines.
The true military principle, in an enemys
country, is to take advantage of all disaFections
in the country occupied, from whatever cause
arising, and to appropriate the enemy resources
in every possible way, not contraryto national
law. In slave country, If slaves run of, use
them, if there is any good use to which they can
be put. To the direct advantage, is added the
loss inflicted on the enemy. Colonel Dimmick
was not stationed where he is to act as bum.
bailif for the Shareholders of the town of Hamp.
ton, but to defend Fortress Monroe, and to make
use of any instrumentality, not excluding the
muscles and sinews of slaves, if he needs them.
If there is employment in his kitchens for
" ",cenches," let him keep them, without asking
whether they are "slares" or not. Upon this
subject, the Ohio State Journal of Saturday last,
says:
"The Cincinnati Gazette has said a very sen.
sible thing in regard to the rendition of fugitive
slaves to rebel masters by the United States
troops in Southern Territories. This has been
done in some cases to show that the Northern
volunteers we're not Abolitionists. The Gazette
thinks the game not worth the candle, and ar.
CUES that as q negro slave before the Constitu.
ton is just as much a person as his master, he
should be projected from that master, if the
former be loyal and the latter secessonsl.
ave agree entirely with the Gazette in this
matter. It is no part of the duty of the Federal
troops to stir up insurrections among slaves,
nor Is it there business to turn negro catchers
for the scoundrels who have betrayed their
county, and would gladly cut the throsts Of her
defenders. Virginia does not hesitate to arm
negroes against the United States, nor to EN-.
ploy them in the construction of works of mill
iary offense. These blacks, if free, must be
dealt with as other rebels. If slave, and willing
to be loyal, they should be emancipated, and
their rebel owners left to foot the bill. Our
troops should protect the property Of true white
men, and the lives of true black men. For
traitors, there should be no distinction made on
account OF color"
C,rru,,y n,,ro Tho Na- Vo,l, H,.cJJ oc