New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-05
FLORIDA.

by the Government in regard to Slavery, it is
absolutely certain that the United States forces
will soon have upon their hands an immense
mass of liberated slaves, not only in Virginia.
but in South Carolina and in most of the sea-
board Slave States. What to do with these
contrabands has already become serious and
perplexing question, and one which is daily
growing in Importance and difficulty. AT
present. these people, to whom the Govern
ment owes protection as loyal subjects of the
Union, are in security behind the cannon OF
our armies. But as the war sooner or later
must come to an end, it will be necessary to
make some final disposition of the negroes who
have taken shelter under our flag, and whom
every consideration Of honor, humanity, and
policy forbids us to abandon to the tender
lmercies of their former masters. The idea
cannot be entertained for q moment of leaving
them to their fate among the exasperated
whites of the South-nor yet 10 it desirable
that they should come North to swell the
numbers already too great OF the negro popu-
lations of our cities. They are accustomed to
rural life, to hard work, and to the climate,
the productions, and the habits of the sunny
and agricultural South. In the Northern cities
they would be sadly out of place. and q
burden to themselves and all around them.
What, then, shall be done with them
The easiest, the most humane, the most pol
tic disposition of the cOntrabands would be to
place them in Florida under the permanent
protection of the United States. Our forces
can easily take possession Of Florida, which is
the weakest, and from it's remote and PENN
sular situation, the most defenseless OF the
Slave States. BY occupying the excellent har-
Dor of Fernandna ut the northeastern extrem-
ity of the State, we should have an impregna-
Bile and convenient base of operations for
driving out the rebels, and for introducing the
liberated negroes from the Atlantic coast. On
the Gulf side Pensacola, Apalachicoa, st.
Marks, Cedar Keys, and Tampa offer equal
facilities for the fugtiyes from Alabama, Mis-
sissippi. Louisiana, and Texas, who will sooner
or later reek the protection Of our military
and naval forces. AL these places should be
occupied and held by adequate garris0ns until
the end of the war.
| Florida. "a a punishment for rebellion, might
h. reduced from its rank as Q State, and re-
stored 10 its original condition of Territory,
by repeating the act of Congress which made
it State. That act being repealed. the coun-
try becomes a lawful Territory Of the United
States, fairly purchased by them from Spain,
and having no claim TO independence. What
ever may be the result OF the present war, the
United States, even if compelled 10 acknowledge
the independence OF the rest OF the rebel States,
should hold on 10 Florida for political and strate-
gstcal reasons. It's position at the entrance OF
the Gulf Of Mexico and its fine harbors, espe-
cally Key West and Pensacola, make its pos
session of infinite value to us as mari
time and commercial nation. Its import
ance has always been felt by our wisest
statesmen and its value would BIO immeasur-
ably enhanced by the establishment OF
the Southern Confederacy as rival on our
Southern border. To weaken that rival if we
fail in subduing the whole of the Confederacy,
we should cling to Florida to the last ex-
tremity. Its ports would give US the command
of the gulf and its cotton and sugar fields
would serve as permanent protection to our
own manufactures against any hostile tariffs.
/ On the other hand if the Union emerge tri-
umphant from the contest, a far-seeing policy
would teach US that TO guard against future
attempts at slavehodiDg rebellion it would be
wise to put Florida on the flank Of the South
in Oh 70 nharr
than aid Secession. With Florida in their
rear, peopled by free negroes whose dread OF
Slavery would sufficiently insure their loyalty
to the Union, Georgia an Alabama would be
in no haste again to raise the flag of rebellion.
The statistics of the Census of 1860 show
that such a revolution could be effected in
Florida with comparatively very little disturb
aDcc or suffering. The State has an area Of
nearly 10000 square miles, being twice as
large as ireland, and larger than England and
Wales together. 1t is capable Of sustaining
easily 10000 of inhabitants, and yet its
whole population in 1860 was only 10000, OF
whom but $1,000 were whites. 1t has less
than &c, 900 white families, nearly all of whom
on the approach of the United States forces
will doubtless take refuge in Georgia aud Ala
bsma. In country thus thinly pecpled, and
on the forsaken plantations OF the traitors,
thousands - and if necessary, hundreds of
thousands-of contrabands could be settled at
slight expense for transportation. The steam-
ers already on the Southern Coast could carry
them by tens of thousands to their destination
by short voyages from any of the rebel ports.