New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-26

earred here, and Gen. Mansfield, u. s. A., resisted
on the ground that they were neither slaves nor con-
rsband OF war.
A commission was therefore appointed to inquire
into the matter, and be wrote them his views in d
letter. copy of which inclose. II disposes Of the
whole matter most ably and conclasively. II was a
bomb-shell thrown into highly conservative Fortress
Monroe-a bomb.shell from a battery served by a
bngadier-genera Of the regular army.
C.xp Butler, NrwPoEr NEWS, Va, FEB. 3, 1897.
To TIE Commi'son Col. CRAM, Lieut. Col. C.sNoS OF
Hesoquatsn Department Of vnsni, inquire into the
condition OF eer'sin coutrabands !,
GEyTLEMES: BY invitation OF MEMBER OF we
| Commission, take tho liberty to express to Inc
Commission my views OIL tie subject oil tue coh.ra
band negroes, called. These can be divided ii'o
| four classes
let Those abandoned by their Rebel owners, ano
| compe He'd TO ask for work and support.
| cd. Those who have run away from their owheisi
the Rebels, TO obtain their freedom from control.
Sd. Those who have been put at work by men
Rebel owners on the Notifications, &C., TO rtsis' the
| Government and have made their escape
| 4tb. Free negroes who seek work for support,
| TIE question now aries as TO these negroes: Is
the United States bound 10 hold them as slaves, and
deprive them of their night to 20 where they please
II IL clear they not prisoners OF war; ior ,ney
have never been found 10 arms and have made theif
escape TO avoid taking part against the United states
or have been abandoned to the United States, az
| tie Rebel. have abandoned lands, houses, cattle
&c. and are human beings cast on the world WIN
nothing but their hands to Obtain livelihood. Some
of them having worked on Rebel fortihcations, &C.
are released under the 4th Section OF the net OF Con
cress Of the 9th August ls6l, TO concaie property
| from further service % their mfsten-and III Huen
cases what ia their potion Why, SIMPLY tnh. o.
sny person in the country released by law from Tue
ayInent of an obhgnti )n--afree person. -,
All there negroes with the exception OF the lonrtn
class are or have been claimed ~ property ny me
very Rebels who have taken up arms sshins' inc
limited States and are lawful plunder, y proPsLfy
But they are not property bit persons leii to ioof
under the Constitution in certain States, and no
whe re else; and are not bound held to labor for
the United States, consequently they are not slaves
10 the Uni,ed States. Ii is clear the condition oil
| slaves with them was coeXisteut with the obliga
tjons of the Confederate Slave States to the Conr,i
tuition snd laws of the United States, sgainst which
| they are in open armed rebellion.
Now what are these negroes Are they not free
men BY this state Of rebellion BY the act Of Sc
| ceaion, the Confederate States have voluntarily
broken the Constitution and laws Of the Union, and
have taken up arms against that Constitution and
those laws, and the United States are thereby alb
solved from the enforcement Of the fugitive slave
| law, even if 90 absurd claim were put forth III
this statement he true they are entitled az aDoreit
70 all the wages they earn, and 10 20 where th.y
please, and would recommend that all their earn
ings be paid to them while IN tho United States ern
ploy and that all officers and others who employ
| them in this department he required TO pay them d
lust compensation and that they be allowed 10 iin
| prove their condition if opportunity Should admit.
You are at liberty TO use this 'ctter 81 you ple1e
s gentlemen, very respectfully your obsdrnt servant,
MANSFIELD, Brs Zen L. 5. A.