, 1862-03-07
Secretary Chase on the Port ROYAL
COutrabAnd1s

Contrabands.
Secretary Chase lras recently sent comnu-
nication to Mr. E. L. Pierce at Port Royal, in
acknowledgment OF his report: on the condi-
tcn Of the Contzabands. He gives his ap-
proyal to the report and goes On to say: ~
The whole authority Of this Department
over the sub5ects OF your report is derived
from the 1itth section Of the act 10 provide for
the collection Of duties, and. for other purpo-
ses,. approved July Is, 1861, by which the
President is authorized to permit commercial
intercourse with any port Of the country de-
clarra TO be in state Of insurrection, under
such rules and regulations as 1nny be prescrib-
Cd By the Sccreta1y Of the Treasury, who is
himself authorized 10 appoint the officers
needed to carry into effect such permits, rules
ard regulations.
1 any power to sanction any measures for tho
culture OF the abandoned estates in the Port
Royal or any other district, It il, indeed, in
the highest degree essential to commercial
intercourse With that portion cf the country,
That the abandoned estates be cultivated nnd
tho laborers upon them employed I do not
hesitate, therefore, to continue your agency,
with view to the general superintendent
and direction Of such persons as mav be en-
gagged in such cultivation and employment.
TT is understood that an ass seciation Of
jrdicious and humane persons has been form
consolidated with q similar association, in
New 7 ork and other cities, and that, through
the agency Of these associations, or one OF
them, persons may be employed to proceed,
with Tie sanction Of the Government, to take
Charge of the abandoned plantations under
the general plan suggested by yourself, and
which Is fullr approved by this Department.
You will herewith receive copies Of orders
addressed to the Quartermaster Of New York
and tie General commanding at Port Royal.
directing that transportation and subsistence,
with all other proper facilities, be afforded to
the PERSONS thus engaged. -:
"fon will therefore receive applications
select and appoin: such applicants as You
! think best lifted, and aesisn each to
| his respective duty; It being understood
| That compensation for Services to be rem
de1ed will be made hy the Association, while
| subsistence, quarters. and transportation snly
viii be furnished ty TIC, Government. unless
Congress shall otherwise provide. All en-
| gagsnaeuts made by you viii, Of course, be
subject 10 be Terminated by the Government
| whenever any public exisency shall require.
AS agent Of this Department, you viii also
| give ali suitable support and aid to any per
sons commissioned OF employed by tlese As
eociatlonE for The religious instruction, ordi
laboring population.
"It ID my wish 10 prevent the deterioration
Of the cstatrs, to secure their best possible
cultivation under the circumstances, and th
greatest pracsieab1e benefit to tho laborcr
upon the1n, and by these geneEal purpose
yonT own action will bs guided. ...N. .
| "Neposlng great confidence IN your intelll
gencc, discretion, and bcnevo1ence, the DE-
partncnt contldcs this Important mission t
yon with confident exploitation Of bcneacen
results. 8. 2. CHASE,
/ Secretary Of the Treasury.