Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-05
WHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH THE CON-
TRABANDS?


emancipation. He maintains by argument and
Illustration peculiar to himself that they would
find it cheaper to hire the blacks and pay them
wages, while emancipation would soon add an
other gain by doubling the value of their real
estate. In former times, he says, cultivators
OF the soil in ireland or Scotland hitched their
horses TO the plough by the tail At length
government interlered and compelled them
work the horse in harness, which prove to be
a great gain for the farmer as well as the
horse. He thinks it would have leen very
impudent proceeding if the farmers had got
up a violent excitement against the govern
ment because it did not pay them for the
horses "before abolishing the tail-work." And
so Of slavery, says lie, "for why should the
American southerner be paid tor such a
change in his relation to his enslaved black
men as will be greatly to his own advantage 2"
We think there is great force in this reason.
ing, and it the shareholders could be induced
to adopt it, there would be an end of all ques-
tionings and reasonings in regard TO what shall
be done with slavery and the slaves Never
theess, we should rejoice to see the slave
states adopt the presidents emancipation poll.
cy. The whole land would rejoice to get rid
of slavery, by paying something to secure
emancipation, and all concerned would be gain.
ers. The civilization and policy of the coun.
try would gain the removal of baleful bar
barism the northern people would gain the
hope Of better understanding and closer union
with those OF the south; the southern people
would gain pecuniarily, socially and in all
other respects, much more than any other sec
ton of the republic, for a very short trial of
the experiment would show them how much
better il is TO hire laborers than to own them.
The freed blacks would be wanted on the soil
where they live, and if it could be made pos
sible TO expatriate and colonize somewhere
else the whole 100000 slaves, the agriculIu
raj interest of the south would earnestly in
teriere to prevent il. In the West India isl
ands where slavery has been abolished, instead
Of seeking to get rid of the black men, they
are anxious to get more of them; an if
slavery were abolished in our southern states,
colored people would be drawn to them
from every other part of the country.
But apart from this question OF emancipa.
ton, yet not without connection with it, there
is another that occasions no little discus.
sion and anxiety. AT Port Royal, fort Mon
roe, and elsewhere, there are thousands Of
slaves, who have been abandoned by their
rebel masters or have escaped from them.
They are not SO placed as 10 have an oppor'
tunity to shift for themselves and make their
own way in the world, nor are they assured
that they can freely go forth into the world TO
seek their fortune like other men, and make
themselves entirely safe against any possibli
ty of return to the slavery from which
they have escaped. Hon. Amos Kendall
estimates that there are 5000 contrabands
at Port Royal who should be confscated
and set free Something must be done Will
them. They can not remain permanently al
they are. And the question comes, VIVA
shall lie done with these conirabands! The
governmenthas considered this question: bu
has not answered it. And yet the answ err need
not be difficult Grant them at once all the
prerogatives of free persons, and let them 20
freely wherever they can find employment and
gain livelihood by their labor. Benevolent
men and women in the free states are ready
TO render them whatever temporary aid may
be necessary.
But where shall they go! If peace and
freedom could be Immediately established III
the southern states, they would not need tc
60 far. But this can not be at present. There
fore they must 90 to some other region. But
where If place where their labor is want
ed can not be found for them in any of the
free states, lei them go to Liberia or Hayti
where they are wanted. The repatriation Of
ali the blacks in this country would be utter
ly impracticable, if it were desirable. Il
is estimated that all the vessels afioa
on all tho waters Of the globe, EN-
ployed constantly several years. would no
suffice to transport them all from the Unitet
States to South America, if they could b.
received there, much less to Africa, il a home
could be made ready for them in that par
part of the world. But the condition OF thu
contrabands of whom we are speaking is ex
ceptional. They are without an opportunity
to earn living and make for themselves
permanent homes. They need to go some
where, aud in Liberia or IIayti, where they
are wanted, there is abundant room aud op
portuniy for them. Let them go there, i
nothing better can be done.
Such colonization of these contrabands car
be effected without expense or trouble to oui
government. The government of either Hayt
or Liberia will gladly pay their passage. anC
do everything necessary to secure their wei
fare and comfortable establishment in business
Both those governments have announced thei
readiness to transport colored emigrants from
this country, provide for their wants on theil
arrival, furnish them with land to cul
tivate, or other employment and do for them
whatever may be necessary TO enable them
to seek good fortune successfully. Let
these homeless contrabands 20 to one of those
countries where such welcome and opportu
my await them, unless something better can
De done. The same number of white neonle
placed in similar condition of homelessnass
and restraint, would be very miserable and
needy, although they might struggle again.,
It with more energy and resolution. I, !.
condition to which no human beings shonI
be confined. and the sooner these contraband
are released from it, the better will il be far Al
concerned.