Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-06-01
"WAsnrNeroN. Nav 80. 1861.

ed TO FORTRESS Monroe THIS afternoon, bearing
the following letter Of instruction to his broth
er -
"WAsHINGToN, May go 1861.
SIR: Your action in respect to the negroes
who came within your lines, from the service
uf the rebels, is approved. The department
is sensible TO the embarrassmentS, which must
surround officers conducting military opera.
tons in state by the laws of which slavery
is sanctioned. The government cannot recog.
nize the rejection by any state of its federal
obligations, resting upon itself, among these
obligations, however, no one can lie more i'm
portant than that of suppressng and dispers-
ing any combination oil the former for the pur-
pose OF oyerthrowing its whole constitutional
authority. While, therefore, you will permit
no interference, by persons under your com
mand, with the relations of persons held to
service under the laws OF any state, you will,
on the other hand so long as any state, within
which your military operations are conducted,
remain under the control of such armed com.
binations, refrain from surrendering TO al
legged masters any persons who come within
your lines. You will employ such persons in
the services to which they will be best adapt
ed, keeping an account OF the labor by them
performed, OF the value OF it, and their main.
tenance The question OF their final DISPOSE
ton will be reserved Tor future determination.
To MAJoR-GENERAL BUTLER"
From the New York Tribune.
The account o. labor to credit in the above
instructions, and debit for subsistence, will not
probably exhibit an alarming balance TO de-
plete the treasury of the government, and the
future determination as TO the disposition of
the negroes is something more diplomatic than
positive. The first invoice of Virginia prop.
erty received at Gen. Buffers camp consisted
OF eight packages. Gen. Ashley was detailed
to examine and report.
"What are you going to do with us 2" the
negroes asked.
Gen. Ashey-we shall not harm you.
Negroes-we know that, but will you send
us back! We want TO know, because if you
don't our friends will follow. They wait to
learn how we are treated.
Gen. Ashey-I have no authority to act,
but on may be sure that you won't be return
ed to your masters for twenty-four hours
AT this, about 200 volunteers, who had gath
cred about, from various regiments, and all
parties present. capped their hands and cheer
ed, showing the sentiment of the soldiers. Gen.
Ashley then examined the eight separately,
and seemed TO understand their situation, and
to feel as with one OF their number, an old
Methodist cass-leader, who said that they
were like the children of Israel in Egypt they
knew that dellVerance was 'gwine TO come
but how, was not so clear. But the war was
something toward it, They had awaited quiz
ely since September, when we made up our
| minds that tile north was too strong for The
| south"
"Who are we 2" asked Gen. Ashley.
"Masters and slaves, both was the reply.
The next day, according to their prophecy,
40 or so more came into camp; and these
"volunteer virginians" continued coming, UNI
til Gen. Ashley left. An examination OF
these confirmed the conclusions respecting the
knowledge of the negroes that something was
going on which might enure to their good,
and they determined to seize the opportunity.