New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-21
THE CoNrRABAND OF WAR.


THE CONTRABAND OF WAR.
Who was it invented the grand phrase the
March of Eyents!" Certainly, it was no Yam
kee. and it never could have been suggested by
the way the Events of our History have of get
ting over the ground. The dign6ed deliberatiOn
implied in the word % march " is anything but
descriptive of their method Of locOmotion.
"Double-quick time" is the only military word
of command that is at all expressive of the ra-
pidity Of their motion. In the hurry OF their
onward progress they take our public men, civil
and military of their feet that they suddenly
find themselves far in advance of where they last
remembered themselves, and perplexed with the
new and puzzliug environment of circumstances
that surround them. Our worthy President pro-
tested in lis Inaugural, and again, if we remem.
Der Alright, in bis Proclamation, that he had no
intention of invading any of the sovereign States
with any purpose Of coercing them; for oil no
proposed 10 himself was to rep0sses1 the Nation
Of tie little articles of property the Secessionsts
had helped themselves TO. And now be finds
himself hurried along with his armies upon the
sacred soil of Virginia, and with no particular
,queamshness, apparently, as to trampIng on
the sacred soil Of any Of the other rebelIious
States as soon as he gets ready Events have
been more than match for him.
So as 10 the matter of interference with the
slaves in the revolted States He placed HE
pledge of obedience to fhe Fugitive Slave bill at
the head OF his Inaugural, and there, as at every
proper opportunity since he avowed his intention
Of maintaining the rights of property-which, Of
course, means slave property--eyerywhet within
his jurisdict on. We do not find fault with him
for all this, for be could do no otherwise without
violating the oath of office ne had just taken.
He could have no original intention Of dong any
thing further than TO restore the old state Of
things if it were possible, after the rebellion was
subdued. But Events have been too strOag for
him again, and we find him and bis Cabinet ac-
cepting joyfuly Gen. Buffers exposition Of the
law of Contraband of War, which relieved them
from a grave embarrassment. Slaves In rebel
liouS State, seeking sanctuary under the national
flag, are not to be restored to their masters,
because they might be used as intrenching tools
or otherwise, to the disadvantage Of the atnies
Of the Union. The simplicity Of this readlng of
law, We hope, may in time commend t.elf 20
the understanding Of the Rhode lslaud officer
who, in the fervency Of bis zeal for sIsye-cltcl-
ing, made prisoners Of couple OF free negroes,
and sent them back to Maryland and even of
the booty colonel from Massachusetts, whose no
torous incapacity almost produced mutiny, aud
did actually cause reorganization OF AIS reg-
ment TO make his retention possible. who las
lately delivered up q man 10 Slavery, without
NY process Of law. On the simple word of a
Rebel who claimed him.
But though Eyeuts are 50 swift Of wing, and
Iwoop away Presidents and Cabinets, they
know not whittier, and they can scarcely see
bow, still the new complications they create de-
mand the wisest consideration on their part, that
they may not fatally entSnele tho honor and the |
true interest Of the Nation. The disposition to
be made Of these cOntraband negroes after the
war shall be over is question most deeply in
vol'ing the character Of the country and the |
reputation, at hons and abroad aud the states.
men responsible Tor its decision. 1t will be as.
suming larger and lareer proportions every day,
after our ARMIES begin to occupy the reyolted |
and il cannot receive too soon the |
calm and serious consideration Of all thougbtCul
public aud private men, so taat there may be
no danger Of damaging and disgraceful solu.
tion. There is no truth in the report which OBJ
tanned circulation sometime since, that General
Butler had stopped the coming OF fagitiyss to
Fortress Monroe, on the ground that he had no |
room for more. On the contrary, as We are as
sured on the best authority, he could receive and
employ proGtably many more than he has. But
the supply has ceased to meet the demand. from
tho very odd state Of things obtaining in that re.
gion. The time which John Randolph saw, in
vision, years ago, when the masters should run
away from the slaves, has actually come to that
yicinage. The slaves being left in possession of
the farms and produce, find il much pessauter
to consume the kindly fruits Of the earth, which
they have plarted, and 70 assimiatc into their own
human nature tho pigs aad poultry left upon
their hands, than to aPgly for the daily TASKS
tss alue't ~ 100 b-,I