The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-30

tween TIC duuDnlSlraucn ana the LieuLcHhnt
General of the army has been settled by the 30
lection of civilian to discharge the duties OF
that office during the present national struggle.
In coming to this decision the President and Sec
Rotary OF war viii receive the endorsement of
the people. We need all Of our educated mill
tary men to command and lead the troops against
the army Of insurrectionists now centred in
Virginia. They have been scho0led and trained
to fight our battles, and on the battle field is the
place that the country needs their services, and
not in purchasing supplies. They have net
been educated for business, but exclusively for
military purposes. 1t is not therefore for mo
ment to be supposed that they are as well quail
! TIED to make purchases and deal with
the army Of sharpers who are continually
trying to palm Ut poor for q good article,
as person whose business habits has brought
him in contact with all grades Of pecu-
lators. In times like the present, especially in
view of the enormous jobs that have already
been developed in the Commissarist Depart
ment of Pennsylvania, as well as our own
State, 1t is important that the person for this
Office should be taken from the ranks of civil
tans, whose practical life and business habits
are guarantee in the future against the imposi
ticIs and populations that have already been
developed at Harrisburg and Albany. The
appointment of person Of the known execu-
ave ability and practical business talent of ex-
Governor Banks shows conclusiveiy that the
Secretary OF War appreciates the Importance of
the position, and whatever may have been the
abuses in tho Comuissariat Department, either
under our State authorities or Defence Com
mittee, as far as the United States Army is con
cerned, these populations have received their
quietus in the selection Of ex Governor Banks.
Negro slaves rs Conlraband OF War
An element OF Immense SIrengIh TO the
Government.
The late judicial decision Of General Butler
At Fortress Monroe, adjudging slaves, the pro
perty Of rebels, as contraband Of war, meets
with universal appreciation among the support
ers of the Union cause throughout the country.
1t is an impregnable decision, because the
slaves of the revolted States are engaged, more
or less, in all the duties devolving upon the
common soldier, except that of serving in the
ranks. They dig trenches, they throw up
eartbworks, they do the most OF the Transports
ron duties, and all tho rough work Of the Con-
feaerate camps. It is even reported that the
sens Of chivalry of South Carolina regiment
at the Manassas Gap railway junction in Vir-
gina, have each negro slave to carry their
muskets, knapsacks, &c, on the line of
march from point to point. Negro slaves,
therefore, the property of Southern rebels in
arms against the government, are as clearly
contrsband Of war az cannon, bombshells,
gunpowder, beef and pork, horses and cattle.
Our anti-slavery Tribune, in discussing this
subject, makes some very good points, such as
that indicating the many useful purposes to
which the negro slaves of our Southern rebels
may be- employ ed in the hot summer climate of
the South by the armies of the Union. But
tnbordinating the whole argument to that one
idea of the abolition of slavery, Massa
Greeley earnestly and exultiDgly recommends
the wasteful and foolish policy Of turning
loose to SHIFT for themselves all slaves that
may seek the protection or that may be seized
by the armies Of the United States in this war.
Thus we are told that if such reinforcements
should become troublesome to the camp or
cumbersome because Of their numbers" they
can be pointed to the North Star, and told to
nar CHI; or that "if the exigencies of the cam.
paign required so summary proceeding, they
(tbe slaves} might be destroyed as property;"
that "if our army were compelled to let them
TAIL into the enemys hands, the negroes must
be instructed to tell the rebels, who might try
10 use them, that they were spiked that is,
that having had taste of freedom they can
serve IA slaves no longer. Fioaliy, at the end
of the war, as everything contraband of war
aiken during the contest is absolutely aud
sorelessiy forfeited" the Tribune recommends
hat all negro slaves remaining on our hands
seized OF rescued from the enemy, "be com
p,lled to take cate of themselves, like other
people"
We are strongly inclined to object to thi-
sbolipoa programme, and TOR two reasons
Fret. because 1t would involve TO the govern
lent dead loss of these contraband chattels.
when they might be turned into prodigious
,ource CT incemnity for the expenses OF th,-
war; and, secondly, because, in compelling
these slaves to take care of themselves, we
should, TO q great extent, be turning them
looee TO idleness and starvation. We think
hat sound policy OF economy and humanity
cannot be reached by any such processes of a
military emancipation.
Lot Us suppose g case: There are half q mil
lien of slavee in Virginia which, under an or
binary peace establishment are worth say three
hundred, millions Of dollars Suppose that in
the prosecution of this war one-haf this val
liable lot of half millioa of "corn fed mig
gers" fall int the hands Of the United States
Under the rules and articles of war they w,l
thus become the property of the United States,
4qual, in a cash valuation, to one hutd,ed and
iifty millions of dollars. This is handsome
mn, Of money In the shane of slave nraueffy