New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-08-05

broadly as q conviction resuliing from valous iFhs W
information. TIE men who were willing 10 nave sgch
a result acromr.btd were ignored by the dominating
fpirits at Mon gomcrv who forced forward sale OF
bngs that produced the present crisis winch lh"hgh
lalnentab in many RESPECTS Is perhaps fortunate
finale to tie previous charter OF events since mas
stirred the popular hear; with mighty impulse, ard
brought al patties 70 the necessity Of suslnipg
the Government and Of UNFOLDING the integrity Of the
Constitution and the UIion
Ny Whole action in this matter was voluntary, and
inspired by seuse Of tie highest and best patriotism
can appeal to God honestly ana fearlessly, for The
Iectitude Of Dy intentions az for their perfect parity
and disiuterestedness. Aud when we oil meet before
the bar Of the Eternal Justice, and our Learts are
exposed, l have an abiding trust that The one
act Of my life which VIII plead most success.
fully for mercy and the forgiveness Of many
errors and iliTuities will be that which has so
urius J. provoked this cruel Caluunv. l shall
not indulge in elimination, or permit NY natural feel
ings OF Indignation against such outrage 70 find eX
preston now. Indeed it has saddened ne too deeply
Tor ans such emotion, ana fear almos to receive my
next letters, dreadng the effect which may Lave been
procuced on those who nearest and dearest to me-
But who less able to bear up against such aic
ton. Although have never Leeu partizau OF you're
have fet from your repeated declarations some niue
claim Tor services voluntarily rendered you IN the
course Of the last Is years, and for which as You well
know, lave never asked or received recognition IN
any manner OF form. Ii has been my IA lslortune 10
disagree Often and radically with come Of your pro-
fetsed friends still have never failed TO do your
public position Justice or to heed your calls upon me
whenever they were made. This is all AK at your
hands now: / dene 10 Sympathy from anybody; MY
reputation has been shameully tlandered and trust
TO your knowledge Of the facts to have me ghted with
those whose good opinion is entitled 70 respect. l
appeal to you one OF tie stricest justice
Yours Truly, J. L. HARVEY.
To CENTRAL CANKloS.
GEN. BUTLER on TIE CONTRABAND QUESTION.
The following interesting letter from General
Butler has been received at the War Depart
ment:
"HEADQUARTTRs DEPARTMENT OF NIRGlNIA,(
FoRTEEss MQNBoT, July 30, 1861.
"HoN. SIMON CAMERON, SLCRETAlh or MAR-
Sir: BY order received on the morning o. the 2Ch
July from Maior-GeDeral Dix, by telegTpllc order
from Lieutenant General Scott, was commanded to
forward, of the troops Of this department tour reel-
men's and bali, including Col. Basers California
Regiment TO Washington via Baltimore. iIls Ofdef
reached me at O'Clock n. M, by special boat from
Bfltimore. Believing that II emanated because OF
some pressing exgency for tie defense o Washington,
issued ny orders before daybreak forthe embaIkauon
Of the troops seudl those who were among ire very
best regiments lad. H. the course Of the following
day they were all embarked for Baltimore with the
exception OF 900, for whom had not tfanfpoia-
on although had all the transport force IN the hands
OF the QuarteiInasier here, to aid the Bay line Of
steamers which, by the order from the Lieut.
General was directed to furnish transp ortaion. Upto
and OF the time OF tie order had been preparing Tor
an advance movement by which, hoped 10 cripple The
resources Of tie enemy 81 Yorktown, and especially
By Selling large quantity Of negroes who were beng
pressed into their service ~ building The lnTenehmebts
there. mad five days previously been enabled 10 mount
for the frs tine the first company Of Light Artillery
which | had been empowered TO raise and ihey had
but a single rihed cannon, an iron six-pounder. of
everything must and oid yield TO- the supposed
exigeDcy and the orders. This ordering away the
trOops from tits department while II weakened the
posts at Newport News, ueces.iated the Withdrawal
Of the troops from Hampton, where was then throw
ing up ntIenched works 10 enable NE 10 hold the Town
wi a small force, willie advanced up the York or
James river. H. tie village Of Hampton there were
q large number Of TegIOes competed IN great UeH-
sure If women and chldren Of the men who had lied
tbi,her within my lines for protection Who had escaped
from mauraudiug parties OF Rebels who lad been
gathering mp GGehOdiCd lla AID them n construct
irc their batteries on the James and York rivers.
had employed the uenin Hampton IN throwing up IN
teuchmenls, ana they working jealousy ana ei-
fceHty that duty saving our soldiers from thar Ia
Dor under f'e 81 am If toe Did day sun Inc women
were earning substantially their own tuosls'e.ce
in washing marketiug and taking care OF the
clothes Of tie soldiers and ratIOns were being
served ont to the men who worked for the support OF
the children But By the eva nation OF Hampton, rem
dered necessary BY the Withdrawal OF troops, leaving
nc scarcely 5000 en- outside the Fort. Including the
force at Newport News, all these black people were
oil ed 10 break up their homes at Hampton, heenR
acrss the creek within nv lines Cor protection End
grprort. Indeed il was most disrCgin sigh, 10 see
these IOOr creaures who Lad trusted TO tue protection
Of The aTms OF the United States, and who mied lne
troops of the Tilted States IN their enieprsc, to be
thus Obliged 10 flee from their homes and the homes Of
their ma ters who had deserted them and become not
fugyts from fear C the return oil the hebe sUl.ltN
who bad threatened TO shoot the men who had cught
for W. ard carry % the women, who had served u
10 n wore than Egvyti.n bondage. | have there ore
now wit in the Peninsula, this SIDE Of Hampton
Creek 500 negroes, 800 a whom are able looied men
30 Of whom substantially past bard labor, 10
women 22j children unCer the age OF 10 years, and
40 between 10 and IS YEAR,, and hany mOic coming
in. The questions which tits state o! laoiS present
are very embarrassing.
"FrSt-Wlat shall be done Wiih them ard StcoHa,
What is their state aud CONDITION
Upon these questions desire the instructions OF
the Department.
"1he first question, however, may perhaps be en-
swered by considering the last. Are thee men, wO-
men, and children slayesl are they free is their
condition that OF men, women, aud Children or OF
property, or il it mixed relation What their status
wac under the Constitution ard laws, We all know.
What las been The eject Of rebellion and a state 81
war upoD that si0tVs When adopted The theory OF
treating the able-bodied negro lii 10 work IN the /
trenches, as property liable TO DC used IL aid OF Ie1el
lgn and % cOuiaband Of war; that condition fittings
was ia far met then and still beicye, on legal
and constitutional bati.. But now a new series OF
questions arise. Passing by women, the cbidiencer
Isiny cannot be treated that basis; If property,
tLey mnbt be considered the incumbrncc, rather than
tie auSarv of TN army and of eourse, in possi-
bic legal relation could be treated cCniraband Are
tLey property If they were 10, they have |
been left by their mastera and owheTey deserted
throwii away, abandoned, like the wrecked vessel
uIon the ocean. Their former pose sors and owners
have causelspfly, teitofOely, Tebellously, and 10
carry the figure practically abandoned them TO ne
swallowed up by tie Winter storm Of starvation II
property do they not become tie property Of the sal
yOfa but We their sayors DO not need and will lot
hold such property and will assume no such ownerhp
has not therefore AL proprietary relation ceased Have
they no. become thereupon men, women, ana chiidftn
No longer under ownership Of any kind, the fearful
rtcs Il fugitive masters have they not by their mas
tiers ecs and the stat Of war, assumed The condition,
which we hold 10 be the normal one, OF those mace IN