The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-03-15

The CONDITION OF THE NEGROES FREED BY THE
WAR.-The following article from the New York
Independent confirms what we the other day
said in regard to the negro slaves now within
our lines on the Southern coast, and the necesss
city Of taking care of and preparing them for q
condition of freedom:
The situation and character Of the negro refu-
gees at Port Royal furnish an important body of
information upon the contraband question. Our
lines upon the Sea Islands of South Carolina
have constituted city of refuge in the very
heart and center Of the slave region, within
whose safe protection have gathered about twelve
thousand souls, fleeing from the slave field labor
the pleasantest home Of the plantation system
The information respecting these fugitives was
embodied in report on the subject to Secretary
Chase, by Rev. E. L. Pierce, technically treas
ury agent, but in fact sent out under legal pro-
vision which would permit him to gather the
facts desired. The result of Mr.. Pierce's inves-
tigatica Is briefly this The slaves are desirous
Of freedon, the most intelligent most 80 Their
conduct under their new circumstances is re-
markably good; the alleged thefts from their
masters premises being commonly of triHes,
such as soap, dishes, etc. They are ready and
even desirous to do the regular planting work on
the plantations, being satisfied with the Govern.
ment pay Of from &s to $l2 month. Their own
morals, though variously imperfect, are very
remarkably good, considering that they have
been for generations systematically educated to
be unfit for freedom and self control They are
more anxious to have themselves and their
children taught to read than for any other one
thing They have in general faith in the good
intentions toward them of the North and North
ern men, notwithstanding the bad conduct Of
q fcw uDprincipled whites. Though universal
ly and industriously taught by their masters
that We were going to sell them all into Cuba,
their Characteristic local attachments have kept
them in or brought them back to their respect
i've homes, and no difficulty is found in keep
ing the force of each plantation quiet and order
ly upon it, any required freedom of movement
being Of course allowed. AS laborers, and es-
pecially as guides by land and pilots by water,
they have done very great and faithful service
to our troops.
The plan which Mr.. Pierce recommends as
best for the Port Royal negroes is to employ
them at wages that will enable them to lay up
$50 or $40 year, on the plantations where
they have been worked, under superintendents
to each large plantation or to each two OF three
small ones to maintain regulated but mild
species of municipal authority over them, 70 af.
ford all desired mental and religious instruction
to both old and young and to train them in
every way as rapidly as possible up to the ca
pacity of taking the whole care and charge Of
themselves Voluntary bcnevolence is relied
upon for the necessary means; reliance already
shown to be not vain
The Mobile Register, edited by John For
syth, is not any longer disposed to undervalue
the power of the Government Of the United
States. The tendency Of tho secesh mind is
just now rather to exaggerate than depreciate
the force brought into the feld to crush the re-
bellion. An article from the Register on the
Activeness,' is before us, in which the following
passage occurs:
We must make up our minds to bear ! Ger
tain amount Of disaster II 10 impossible that
such q war rs this should be Q career Of un,nter.
rupted successes. We are engaged riM an euenu
seko marshals Ne most majesiic mil;tcyv ,trsrnx
thai modern times kax xiinesssd. He sssails n
along land and coast frontiers of near 8vs
/, thousand miles in extent II is impossible thai
our government should have the means or III
prescience to make every post impregnabls
which the foe may choose 70 select for an q
sault with overwhelming foecs