The national Republican., 1862-02-26
GENERAL MANsFIELD ON CONTRA
BANDS.

OANDSs
The following is true copy Of letter writ.
ten by Brigadier General Mansfield to the Com
mission to inquire into the condition Of the con.
uabauds.
II disposes Of The whole contrabaud question
In very able and summary manner, and illus.
trates the fact that the General is statesman
as well as soldier, and that he Is as true and
loyal to humanity as to his couatry:
CAxP BUTLER, NEWPORT News, Va,
February 0, 1862.
To the Commission appointed per General
Orders No. s, from Headquarters, Depart
mspt Of Virginia. to inquire into the condi.
ton Of certain Contrabands:
GENTLEMEN: By Invitation Of a member Of
the commission, l take the liberty to express to
the commission my views on the subject Of the
contraband negroes, 60 called. These can be
divided into four classes:
1st Those abandoned by their rebel owners,
and compelled to s.k for work and support
I'd. Those who have run away from their
owners, the rebels to obtain their freedom from
control.
81. Those who have been put at work by
their rebel owners en- the Notifications to re-
sist the Government. and made their escape.
4.h. Free negroes who seek work for tup
port
The question now arises as TO these negroes
Is the United States bound 10 hold them al
slaves, and deprive them Of the right to gt
where they please
II b clear they are not prisoners Of war; foi
they have never been found In arms, and have
made their eecap, to avoid taking part agalus,
the United States, or have been abandoned u
the United Sta es Is the rebels have abandoned
lands, houses, cattle, g., and are hum,u be-
ings. cast in the world with nothing but theii
hands to obtain livelihood. Some Of then
having worked on rebel Notifications, &C., ART
released (under the 4th section, of the act O.
Congress Of the 9th August, 1861, to cona.cat.
property,) from further service 10 their ma.
ters; and In such cases, wha t Is their position
Why, eimply that Of any person in the country
released by law from the payment of on obliga
tion-s free pcrsou. T.
All these negroes, with the exception Of the
fourth class, are or have bsen claimed as prop
erty by the very rebels who have taken uI
arms against the United States, aud are lawful
p,under Of property. But they are not proper
ty, but persons held to labor under the Con
stitution In certain States, and nowhere else
aud are not bound or held TO labor for th,
United States, conss squently they are not slave
to the United States. 1t IL clear the condition
Of slaves with them was co-exlftent with tn
, obligatiors Of the Confederate slave States Il
the Constitution and laws Of the United States
against which they are 10 open armed rebellion
Now, what are these negroes: Are the,
not FREQ men, by this state OF rebel
lion? BY the act of secession, the Con
federate States hsvo voluntarily brokel
the Constitution and laws of the Unio
and have taken up arms against that Conati,u
ton and laws, and the United Sta'es are there
by absolved from the enforcement Of the fug
tive slave law, even II 80 abeurl claim wer
put forth. If this statement be true, they ar
entitled as laborers to all the wages they ca
earn, and to 60 where they please, and woul
recommend that their earnings be paid to the1
while In the United States employ; that al
officers and others who employ them in thl
department, be required to pay them jus
compensation, and that they be allowed t
improve their condition, If opportunity shoul
admit.
You are at lib.rty to use this letter as 20
please.
! am, gentlemen, very respectfully, you
obedient servant
u JOSEPH X. F. MANSFIELD, o.
Brig. Gen'l U. s. A.