New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-14


of lcep,e has been tolerated and even practiced by
officers Of inferior rank
Ii the Government at Washington had shown as
early desire for The welfare of the negroes IA for
the collection Of cotton the former might have been
materially benefited, and even more of the cotton
would have been secured thbn can now be gathered
Col. Reynolds who was first appointed Government
agent solely il appears, for the collection and slip
ment of cotton ard coniiscsed coniraband property
in general il Rhode Island cotton broker, pcssess
ing energy, business capacy and integrity; but he
bas considered it his duty consult the immediate
interests of the Treasury, without much reference 10
those If the negro. The agents and clerks under
him naturally reflect the character and carry out the
purposes Of their super.or bus indirectly snd Incl'
dentaly have been Of service TO The blacks on The
plantations they have occupied, by standing between
them and men WHO had less regard than themselves
for the negroes EXCEPTING the four or five agents.
each in charge 81 large section Of country iucud-
log mnny plantstione, no civil arm has been inter-
posed between the negroes and The .or of military
control the license Of rowing soldiers Such pro
10, ton has, of course been uncertain and feeble.
Ia the camp st Port Royal, the superintendent Of
the negroes under Mr. Lee bss been both humane
and efficient. snow 10 specal reason for complaint
at Bay Point Tybee, or Ouer Island at all which
yoints military parrsons and colonies Of contra
bands. Hilton Head leland contains more negroes
Gu it's different pl,ns ions than are gathered in camp,
aud tie want Of a general system Of central under
one responsible lead, which shall give them Uniform
treatment and identical interests s serions obstacle
To the best government of thofe in charge OF Mr..
/ Lee. His appointment made by tie chief Quar-
termasler Capt. Sexton, but no authority exists for
general supervision declaration OF policy except
/ in Gen. Sherman. a ia II Of wages has been estab-
lisned by him, moderate, bu. perhaps rs much rs
ought 10 be paid at igs. The difficulty rs tina, the
negroes still remaining Outside have hitherto been
able TO earu more by selling the produce OF the
plantations and tie game and ish which they bring
/ in than by The regunF work which is offered them
here 10 that little or no Involvement il held out 10 put
themselves On the pay-rolst the Quarterinas'er. In
ibis as in msny other things is Eel, the want Of a
comprehensive policy. which will come i'll tine, but
might have been adopted Dug since.
/ The necessities Of the army have seriously affected
the present material interests of the negroes remain
/ iug on the plantations. An inadequate supp'y If
forage on the arrival Of the expedition and subse-
queut inmtention 10 reqnsirpns at New-York have
obliged the Quartermssers to resort 10 the stores Of
cor on TIE estates which intended for The cub
sistence Of lhe ,laves Hilton Head leland, Port
ROYAL Island and parts of Ladies leland have been
nearly stripped Of corn, and elso Of cattle. Hmdlg
one esiare has food enough remaining TO last till
Arril bile on moot Of them the supply varies from
nothir 10 six weeks subsistence. All tie negroes
on ,hese islands will therefore be dependent
tie army commissaria, unless special provision lie
made by Government. The order Of Gen. Sherman
hereafter referred to, includes only conrabands enl-
ployed by the Quartermsstsr, ind their families.
When support for 600 or 10 900 destitute negrces is
called for, aud the PrO-Savery presses Of The North
seize tho occasion to re,erate their babual abuse Of
the negro as lazy, improvdent, and Incapable Of
work, except by compulsion two answers are ready;
First! That the negroes but the army, have con-
suusd the greater part Of these supplies. Secondly
That the services Of The negroes may be awaited Of
/ by Government for whatever purpose IL chooses
and il is rhe testimony Of Mr.. Sherman, in the letter
OF which the substance bias been given IN these col
nuns that The work Of the ableb0died men, number
iug probab, one out Of i've ak of family, will
be sufficient with their ratOns TO support them; AMI
by hs order the cot of both clothing and ra,ions,
except what is issued to employ ees, will be de-
Quoted from tho wnges of the latter. Ga ST. Helena
part of Ladies and many of the remote hlands
supplies may s, be had in considerable quantities.
There is reason for serious complaint at Beaufort
within the camp lines. Tho negroes who have come
in have there us here been in charge Of the Quarter
MASTER, but by some military egerdemsin fell into
the hands If the Brigade Quartermaster, Capt VIM.
Lilley Instead OF the Quartermas,er Of the fort,
! Can't Fuller The views of Gen. Stevens, who Is
there 10 command are well known to be ProSayery
in the extreme, aid lis prejndices against the negro
unusually bitter. His Qusrermsst-r is still worse,
and has treated the unfortunate negroes under his
charge with criminal nhumanity Of which Gen.
Stevens might not have teen guilty himself, but
which be has nevertheless TO ated and sauclIonej
i A priyaie from the 10Th Nes-Yoik, au appoutee of
Can't. Lilley, has been permitted 10 carry and use
wbio as the habitua means Of enforcing w ut is
called discipline in the Quartermasters service. The
whole sysleIn Of superintendent was careless and
cruel Efforts to reform it aud 10 improve the cond-
ton Of the negroes have teen thwaited by Official
inierposltion.
A Bspti,t clergyman from Boston, the Rev. Mr..
\ Peck Known in connection with miss Onary enter
prses, has endeavored. with good sense aud judy
ment, 10 give rome religious and other Instruction to
the negroer and to for them 20 Tar as Ae might
withou. authority. A school has been established
by his efforts in which both teachers and pupils are
negroes aud it still exists by the suierance vi Gen.
Stevens, though he has declared that be recognizes
the ea laws Of South Carolina It'll in force, and
VIII permit no Illegal attempts at Chrstianiziog or
educating the blacks. Aware Of the more lbe al ard
humane policy Of Gen. Sherman, be probably hest
totes to suppress the school I'LL more convenient