Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-12-19

mont had been occasioned By want Of funds but
il is believed that al will soon be paid.
ssSurART coxDIrIoS o. rHr AMY.
The number Of general hospials is one hund-
red and fty-one. The number q patients ST.
l7s. The whole nrmbcr under medical treat
nicnt is not short Of 10000. There have been
no prevailing epidemics in the army during the
year. Much credit is given to the relief and
aid soeietius for the comfort thereby given to
the suffering soldiers.
SIGNAL CORPS.
3 The Secretary acknowledges The valuable
services Of Colonel Anson StsgeT, Major Eckert
and their assistants of the telegraph corps.
rHR ENrIoYNKST OF NEGRO LABOR.
Upon this point it isonly justice to the Sec
reiary that we shssiA quote in full his able ar
gument in favor of the employment Of negroes
wherever they can be made available. 1t is
worthy ofremark, as indication of the progrcs Of
the year, that the portion of Secretary Cameron's
report one year ago, which contained similar ar
gumcnts was stricken out before it was sent to
the people. Now there is no erasure:
with this presentation of the past operations
and the present condition of the War Depart
ment, the duty required of me by the act of Con-
/ gress to make an annual report is in a great
/ measure fulfilled 1t is seen that force has
been placed by the people Of the United States
at the command of the Government to maintain
its authority, more mighty in all the elements
Of wnrlike power than ever before arraved
under one banner How shall that force be en-
ployedl 10 smite Lto enemy ercry haHa 20 a.
/ fack his armies dAd siyOR1k0lds 10 occupy his
ports cedr the great rircrs or the cca Of he's oJ-
str'sciions and pause not uit2 ne as subduef Is
I tlai, duty. AbOve a. Il Is oar duty 20 disfasH
40 logifDaie aid that may o 8iees Of orr gil
lant soldiers, diminish their la5ers, proridc for
their r1i,is and lessen tie burdens Of our people
"NO aphorism is more universally received
than that the sole object Of Just war is 10 make
the enemy feel the evils of his injustice and by
| his sufferings amend his WAYS; he must there
| fore be attacked in his most accessible quarter
The power Of the rebels rests upon their pecul-
lar system oflabor, which keeps laborers on their
plantations to support owners who are devoting
their time and strength to destroy our armies
and destroy Government. Whenever that
system is in hostility to the Government il is in
my opinion, the duty Of those conducting the
! war to strike down the system, and turn against
the rebels the productive power that upholds
insurrecton. Rightly organized in the recOv-
I cred territory the laborers of the rebel States
will not only aid in holding fortified positions
but their labor WILL as in India, free the white
soldier from the most unwholesome exposure
| of the South. They will cultivate the corn and
forage which will feed our cavalry and artil.
lery horses, and save the country portion o
I the enormous burden now attending their pur-
chase and transportation from the North. Thi,
cultivation would have been Of greater advan.
! tage to us ON the southeastern coast than ever
that of the great staple of the Sea Islands.
"Probably the people who remained upOI
these islands, within the protection Of our ar
mics, could under wise control, have supplieC
all the forage needed this year by the forces il
the Department of the South The full ration
for horse weighs twenty six pounds, that of {
soldier three pounds.
~An army, well organized and equipped fol
active operations, with due proportion Of cav.
airy, artillery and baggage trains, win have no
less than one horse mule tOeyery four soldiers
so that the weight of food for the animals is NOR,
than double that of the rations of the men.
"H0w important an aid, how great an economy V
in long contest, therefore, would there be II
raising by this cheap labor the greater part o
the forage alone for the southern department
thus, for a greater portion of our wants, trans
ferring the base of supplies, now at New York
to Hilton Head or New OrleansI
"The department has found it difficult tc
transfer this labor from one part Of the seat o
war I'd another Local and family ties seem tC
be very steng with these people. and With al
their faith in the power aud good will of oul
military commanders, it was found difficult tC
get volunteer labOrers to leave Port Royal fol
J other depOis.
i a population offour millions true TO the in.
terests ofthe Union with slight assistance from
the army, viii, under proper regulation anC
government, be ofthe greatest assistance in hold
ing territory once recovered. The principa
staples of the South are the product exclusive
ly Oftheir labor. II protected upon the land,
they have heretofore cultivated, with some or
ganization, and with support from small de-
tachments of loyal troops they would not only
produce much of what Is needed to feed our ar
mics and their trains, but they would foreve
cut of from the rebellion the resources of ;
country thus occupied.
@The greater Fart of the whole country whiel
formerly produced thesea-island cotton. is nov
thoroughly restored to the Union The labor
J ers are therc-tho soil and climate. II need
only assurance of protection to revive the calf
/ vation Of the staple, As well 10 produce vas
quantities Of corn and forage for our trncns =
and sieges, why neglect the best means TO ma <
them successful and their results perraanents-
1t is worthy Of notice that thus far the portion
Of territory which, once recovered, We have NOS
} firmly held, are presisely those in which In
! greatest proportion of eolored men are found
By their assistance, armies Will be able per
i mansntly TO operate in aud occupy the eountry
; and in labor Tor the army, in raising its an
! their own supplies, full Occupation can be give
| them, and with this there viii be neither occa
! sion nor temptation to them to emigrate To
t northern and less eongenial climate.
Judging by experience, no colored man wi
leave his home in the South, IL protected in ths
home an possibility Of competition from ne
; gro labor in The North is avoided in giving col
ored men protection and employment upoa til
sod which they have thus far cultivated, an
the right TO which has been vacated by the OF
iginai proprietors, deeply involved in the crime
Of treason and rebellion. No great territor
: has been permanently reduced without slepTiv
. ing the leaders of its people Of thsir lands an
/. property Ii Is these thst give power and in
huenee. Few men have commanding geniu
and talent 70 exercise dangerous influences owe
! their fellow man without the adventurous aid &
money and property. BY striking down thi
system Of compulsory labor which enables II
leaders Of the rebellion 20 control the rrsource
Of the people the rebellion would die Of itssif
: What Washington said Of State Arrests
The following extract fuoIn letter o( Wasl
/, ingtoBs to Governor TrUmbull writing NOven
: Der, i77S shows the views sntertainea Of Ii
proper way ef dealing with traitors in a time
public danger;
, As It Is nov very apparent that we hav
aothins TO depend upon in the present eonte.
+ but our own strength, eare, firmness and VI
> tons should not the same measures be adoute
1 In your and ever other Government on the e,-
1 linents Would il not BE- prudent TO seirc q
those tories who have been, are, and ws khor
Z will Dc active against u.s. Why should person
Who are preying upon TIE Viials Of their count
be Suffered to skulk n lzfee, whilst We k.o,
p IL m =. =