The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-10-05
GREEN NgoUNTAfN FREEMAN, OCT. 5, lSGl.
"Contcabands - at Fortress Monroe.


The correspondent Of the New York Times
at Fortress Monroe thus describes the coll-
trabands at that place
The order which was 50 hastily and incon-
siderately issued to Gen. " COL, from Wash
ington, to send the contrabaud negroes that
have assembled here to the National Capitol
has been judicousy countermauded, and
there is d prospect now that the question and
the negroes will be left undistulbed to the
solution to which the problem SO happily tends
The country needs and has the services Of
the negroes. Unless the lie is to be given to
the adage, that revolutions never 60 back
wards, then we need not fear that the well
defined sentiments of the day will suffer Il
shock. from the treatment which the nea roes
receive, and will continue to receive here
They are simply in the hands Of men Of
good sense, neither ianatcal nor prejudlccd
but who bring to bear strong good sense not
only as relates to their present trea tment, but
their future condition. Practically the ne
groes and the question are in the keeping Of
The Quartormaster OF this Department, Caps.
Tallmadge to whom moro than all other men
is due the credit of being the author, adyo-
ate and administrator Of the contlaband ;"
idea and the country may feel sure that so
far as depends on him, prejudice shall not
result to the negro or to the Government. The
negroes are Systematically cared for all their
comforts are scrupulousIy provided no iu-
stance of harsh treatment has been heard Of
-~-while the productiveness of the labor per-
formed by the negro is confessed on all hands.
Under this system the capacity of the negro
for most kinds of labor has been abundautIy
proved. He needs to be directed more care
fully and watched over more strictly than
the white laborer. | am inclined to think
that the circumstances under which the con-
trabands' arc placed here, their associations
and the influences which surround them, tend
very much not only to render them contented
but make them industrious.
They come readily under the system and
discipline that characterize everything at
military post like this-they are even fond of
these, and seem to regard themselves as in
some sort part Of the military machinery
that so much charms them. Their shoves
and other implements of labor, they handle
and carry as soldiers do their guns-the re-
suit Of the native talent Of imitation pccu-
liar to the race. Going to and from their
work, they do not straggle along in promiscuous
crowds, but fall into regular files and columns,
and with step and regularity that would do
credit to enlisted men, march with clearly de.
fined pride, and sometimes to the tune whis-
tied by one of their number who, while he
has caught chauce-sight Of the morning pa
rade, has at the same time learned the music
Of the band. I doubt not they would make
fair o. even excellent soldiers Take away
these surroundings, the contraband might
and think he would be different from what
we behold him here, In whatever light you
view the subject, the Government has done
well to let it alone, but to allow it to work
itself out under the auspices that have thus
far attended the novel question.