The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-08-08


ter written by gentleman in Paducah
TO the ST. Louis Democrat
During the time that the late Major
General Smiths division occupied this
post several hIgitives sought protection
within our lines; and were not claimed
then by their rebel masters, ar the COM
manders insisted on all parties claiming
contrabands 70 prove their loyalty and
take the oath OF allegiance. Amongst the
number were four turned over 10 me for
hospital purposes In the winter months
the hospital was quite full Of sick and
wounded, and no white person could be
induced, for either love or money, 10
wash The clothing or clean the sick II
our poor fellows we're not attended 90
both by care and proper cleanliness, ty-
phoid fever erysipelas, and hospital gan
CREME would have been the death Of sew
erRl Of them. Under this condition Of
things, one colored woman and three coll
ored men turned Ia and did all the wash
idg and cleaning up Of the soldiers, be-
sides cutting wood and hauling water.
The entire time that / had charge,
there were nearly one thousand patients
in the hospital, aud the kindness and
sympathy Of these unfortunate contra
bands were unoeasing, aud the most
strict cleanliness was preserved by them
all through. For these services, by which
the lives Of so many of our faithful Union
soldiers were preserved 10 the country,
what was the reward which these unfOrs
tunate slaves received2 Ending Column
bus evacuated, and Fort DonelsOn surren-
dered, the rebel master Of Eliza, WIN had
contributed ten thousand dollars TO the
Southern COnfederacy, came in and took
the oath to our Government and reclaim-
ed his slave, who, with her child, was
surrendered. Thus this poor creature
who had, by saving The lives of our SOL
diers, purchased herself ten times over,
is restored to her master, as a reward for
her loyalty and her invaluable services to
our Government, H.auH H.'alEm
We can see no good, and infinite evil
60 flow from such policy. If men who
have given thousands of dollars and
other help to the Confederate Govern
meni TO enable them 70 destroy the
Union, and then, when they find the cause
of treason is desperate, take the oath Of
allegiance to the Federal Goyenment---au
oath which they mean to violate on the
first opportunity-if these traitors are to
be allowed to reclaim all their property.
what terror will our Government have for
law breakers Is the thief TO be par
dOncd when he Processes penitence ? Is
the murderer TO be turned loose upon So
ciety as soon as he declares that he is
sorry for his crime If not, then surely
traitor TO his country, who is more
guilty than the thief or the murderer,
should not be permitted TO enjoy unmo-
Tested the benefits of the laws which he
tried to destroy, This Paducah rebel
tried to overthrow the Government which
established the Fugitive Slave Law, and,
therefore, he should not have been suf-
fercd to enjoy the benefits Of that law.
His slave was worth not moro than
$1,000, and he gaze - he ptioe Of ten
s'apes, to break up the Union and destroy
the Government, which alone made his
slaves worth one dollar to him. And
again, The slave Of this double dyed trail
tor oonspirator and would-be assassin of
the Federal GoYernment,whi her owner
was aiding others to murder Union sol
diers was in the Union hospital night
and day, attending carefully to the wants
of our sick and wounded soldiers. Who
knows but the woman ministered TO some
brave fellow whose body was pierced by
bullets bought with the money Of her
master ? We denOunce the injustice
and folly displayed by the Federal off,
Ger in this instance with a righteous in
dignation. The owner had forfeited his
right to the service of this slave, and all
others he possessed If this stupidity be
repeated by our officials in such instan-
ces, we shall inevitably lose a mostly alu-
able and perhaps indispensable aid in
the prosecution Of the war. The slaves
OF rebels have furnished our authorities
with valuable information which was OBJ
tanned from no other source and their
information has proved reliable
We have the best authority for making
this statement which we make in spite
Of the witless filings which some Journal
lists have made at what they call "Con-
traband news The Government ought
to hold out large inducements TO the
slaves of rebels TO bring it intelligence.
The slaves have abundant opportunities
for observing aud hearing, and we ought
TO let them know that they shall be well
compensated il they win use their eyes
and ears properly.