The national Republican., 1861-12-09
INTERPRETING FROM PORT ROYAL.
IErom the carrespondanca of the N Y Trihuna !

II rum tne COETeepOn0euCo VI tut N l. lIlDun6.l
THE NEaHoEs WISH TO REMAIN Al THE SOUTH.
There Is no wish on the part Of the negroes
to go North. They dread the cold, dislike 10
leave their homes-the attachment as / have
already explained, being local, not personal
and look intelligently forward 10 emancipation
on the soil. A large number of them, who
gathered about one Of the officers, was much
frightened on being asked whether they did
not wish to be sent North, and an old man an.
swered, /" No, Massa, no we don't want to go
Nor:h. You make his tree State, and pay us
for our toorc, and let US all stay hers." An an.
swer which may help to dispel the dismal an.
ticipation really entertained by some persons
not otherwise unintelligent, that the North Is
to be overrun by liberated slaves, They have
aud can have neither the wish nor the means
to forsake the soil on which they are born or
bred. .,....
THE HORRIBLE CRUELTY OF THE REBELS TOWARDS
N.H. .a'" THEIR SLAVES.
That they have been shot in Numbers by
overseers and masters Is beyond all question.
The fact is attested by every sort OF evidence
from great numbers of persons who have NO
chance of concerted agreement in their &C.
counts and 1t tallies with the announced de-
termination Of the slave owners, that they would
destroy the negroes rather than suffer them to
be freed. do not know whether any effort is
made to discredit the accounts already sent
North, on the ground of incredible barbarity,
or otherwise but no one here affects to doubt
the facts. ~ On
have conversed with many of the negroes
| In camp and out Of it. .tl ..',7
Their accounts are substantially alike, differ
ing In detail. Officers of rank, with the full
| means of Information, and after careful inquiry
assure me that the accounts first given, which
have come back here, fall far short of the
| truth. =" ..y. 70
1t is not the exceptional cruelty of\some
is to be charged. The horrible fact stands ont
with appalling clearness and certainty that the
murder of the slaves who cannot be compelled
| to follow their masters Is deliberate policy
and relentless purpose. On the roads which
lead to the islands for thirty to ffty miles in
all directions, guards are stationed to Intercept
the negroes and prevent their escape. Ifcsught,
they are sent inland, and there fogged, tor
tured and imprisoned in irons. If they cannot
be caught, they are shot without hesitation or
mercy. At Beaufort, q regular watch is main.
tanned. When the gunboats 60 up the river,
as they do every two or three days, the whites
keep out of the way. If the coast is clear, they
return in the day time as well as night. The
negroes remaining In the place are captured,
If possible, and taken to the mainland. II pur-
suit Is unavaling, they, like the others attempt
ing to escape, are shot.
I saw at Beaufort yesterday, negro who
told me he had, the day before, been ordered
to follow his overseer, and when he refused
four barrels Of revolving rifle were fred ut
him; not shot took effect, and he escaped. /
questioned and cross-examined this man with
the greatest care, and have no doubt what
ever of the truth Of his statement. 1t is a sin
gle instance, and give 1t, because In this case
at least, was able to satisfy myself of Its
correctness, and may add, it was confirmed by
two others of his comrades His name is Viii
liam, his masters name, as near as could
make 1t out, Chism, aud the overseer's Guest.
There Is more horrible story yet. A slave
named Priscilla, formerly owned by Mr.. Gra-
ham, of Grahamvills, now a servant OF Capt.
Charles Z, Fuller, one of the brigade quarter
masters, relates that before she left the plsnta-
ton, the slaves were ordered into barn to
she'll CORN that when all were In, the doors
were locked, the barn fired, and men, women
and children were burned alive. Capt. Fuller
| assur "a me that he has no doubt OF the fact