The New York herald., 1861-12-17

ture. ny scouting parry from b,oa Mississippi oit,
but al noon to-day they made their appearance and stale
that night had ovorakvn them their wanderings and
they bod been compelled TO sleep IN the woods.
THE MEN SIGHT SEEING.
All day the soldiers have been stray all over the
island looking for coYiostes picking up shells to send
souvenirs Of their camp 70 their friends at home,
hunting in the woods Three four rebel spies
said TO have been by some OF the One
others met with the droves 0f swine and cattle left
by the rebeis. Two three horses also seen
and party found two " secesh = dogs in swamp
The poor snisnals were almost starved. They
caugh aud brought into camp and effort made to in
ducs htm 10 take the oath but they declined for the
reason that ihat bone that had been in many
other rebel mouths that there precious little
left OF il, They asked TO be released on their parole OF
honor, but as they were understood TO have emgrated
from Virgina, IL deemed safer 10 hold them for the
present prisoners Of war until there opportunity
exchange them with their friends Mason and Slidell
10; c>-ur loyal sedierr in the hands of Davis
70 The last saw Of the dogs the Improvement in
their appearance apty illustrated the advantage OF
lNsse from past evil associations.
DEAD BODIES EXHuMED
party " the Ninth regiment while digging to-day
exhned the body OF rebel soldier who had evidently
died natural death, az there appearance of a
wound Later in the day the body Of rebel officer
dug up He had wound from rife ball in his
breast and had undoubtedly been killed in the fight
between the garrison and the Massachusetts the 9th
OF July. Both were decenty buried by our soldiers,
no, again 10 he disturbed n their long sleep, trust
until the day when . great and small shall be sum
moned 10 stand before " the Judge of all the earth "
Quite lot Of shell shot has also been
found buried in the sand aud has been divided among
people OF the rebellion The work Of dis
charging the Constitution has progressed very well
day and rs order begt to succeed the confusion OF the
last two days, the island appears mors desirable
abiding place, and the men are becoming quite cheer
ful anu more coptened. A temporary pier has been
built Al which the steamers Lewis and Anna unload the
stores rom the Constitution ! understand that Nj
Livingston, Of Lowell. has thirty Thousand dollar
tract ior pier a. SHIP Island. win bo most valuable
acquisition An accident occurred to-day member OF
the Twenty sixth regiment ] did not learn his
He assisting unloading the Constitution when he
vas jammed between her side and hoY He was pretty
badly hui no, seriously injured.
rHo0iAHATIOs OF BRIGADiER GENERAL PHELPS 10
THE PEOPLE OF THE SOUTHWEST
HEADQUARTERS MiDDIE EsRx BRIGADE !
selr ISLAND Mississippi, Dec. 4, 1851.
To IsE LoNAL CITIZENS SoUHwEsT:--
Without any desire OF my own, but contrary 10 NV
private inolnation, again find myself among you
military officer of the proper respect for
my fellow countr. renders il not Of place that
should make known 10 the motives principles by
which my command Will be governed.
We believe that every state that has amited as
slave State into the Union since the adoption OF the
situation hss been 80 admitted in direct violation Of that
constitution
We believe that the slave States which existed as sucn
~ the adoption OF constitution becoming par-
ties 30 that compact under the highest obligations or
honor and morality TO abolish slavery
IL Is conviction that monopoies as Obstructive
AS competition is conservative OF the principles vi
iacs OF republican government; that slave labor is a
monopoly which excludes free labor and competition
that slaS are kept in comparative dleness and in
fertile hall Of our arabic national territory, while free
Europe confined to the other half and often dis
'resoa py want; that the free labor OF the North mas
more need expansion into the Southern States from
which u II virtually excluded than slavery had into
Texas inV 40; that free labor is essential free
institutions that these institutions naturally
better adapted and congenia 70 the Anglo.
SaNon race than The despotic tendcn.
c'es OF slavery and finally that the domnant political
principle of hi. North american continent SO long as
the Caucasian race continues flow upon us from
tnrofe, mus needs 10 that Of free institutions and free
government.
Any distractions TO the progress thai co. m OF govern
men ~ Inc United states mus inevitably he attended
With discord and
Slavery from the condition OF iversall, reeosn ed
social aEl moral evil has become length political in
stitntion. demanding political recognition IL dcmauds
rights to the exclusion and snnhitiou of those rights
winch are insured ous by the constitution ana c must
choose between them which we viii have for We capno
have both.
The constitution made for foemc, moi for slaves
slavery as social evil might for time tolerated and
endured, but political institution hncon,no ;,oo
rods and eNacting, controlling like ,ireai nec .esit
all whom circumstances have compelled live rnder its
sway, hamperng their action and Tins impedjpg onr
ma atonal progress.
As political institution il could exist as a Coordinate
part only OF two FORMS OF government vizthe despotic
and the free; and il could exist under free government
only where public sentiment, in the rictc er
ocisc Of robust freedom leading to extravaganza and
licontcusness had swaycd the thoughts and habits oc
the poopo beyond the bounds and limits their own mo-
deraIc constitutional provisions II could exist IN.
der free government only where the peoplo
IN period oi GnreasOnng cxtrayagance, had per.
mited popular clamor to overcome puhc reason and
Ind attempted the imrossibility Of setting IN -
ay rs political Institution, social eva i- rn.ahcnt.
20 mo 'al law. .s'.ss - ...n is opposed
BY revcrtng TO the bs.-r
one oi the most ,oIy o. tne pest we lind uat
.'olution, was originated by tho attempt to give