Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-11-04
The Policy Of bringing Contrabands North

lut OllCy Va VI lA5Lh6 SOHAop"Ao AVA 1AH
Portions of an interesting correspondence be-
tween Governor Andrew of Massachusetts,, and
Major Bodies, member Of Gen. Dix's staff, at
Fortress Monroe respecting serdpg contrabands
to Massachusetts, have recently been published,
Gen. DIX through his aide de-camp, writes
Gov. Andrew for permission TO remove large
number OF contrabands from FoIlcss Monroe
to Massachusetts, that they might be thus ria.
ced in ga friendly and secure nelghbOlhoOd."
In the coarse Of Gov. Andrews reply declining
to accede to Gen. Dc ) request be argues the
propriety and humanity Of the scheme of re.
moving these recently freed negroes to northern
climates with the following convincing logic
IT, indeed, it is true that rebel hordes are
cong their traitorous length for IL deadly spring
upon Fortress Monroe, and that rebel iron clads
are coming down the river and if i. be :rue
that the Union forces to oppose the threatened
assault are inferior to the force that menace
them, then ty listening to your proposals
should deprive the band Of heroes now under
command Of General Dix, and steadily awaiting
the storm, OF the sreugh of hundreds Of stout
arms which would be neryed with the despera-
ton of men fighting Tor liberty, and | should
DEPRIVE this slandered race OF the praise and
the education OF their manhood to be acquired
in bold struggle for their dearest rights. Here
Providence has given to them chance to com
plete Their emancl alton from slavery. by a vic
tory over prejudice and it is significant that #
do any thing TO deny them that chance, by
the same act | may ylsbly injnre the cause Of
the Union arms. ! cannot bring myself to do
anything to take away from the command IN
der Gen. Dix, this great rtSerred force as know
you would find it If you would but use it. If
YOU are attacked let the blacks fight to preserve
their freedom They are needed. II anything
could strengthen my previous opinion on this
point, it would be Just such facts as you mar
rate in your letter. If the negroes have wives
and children to hghtior 10 addition TO their free
dom, they will not show themselves insensbe
to the motives which have inspired all other ra-
ces. II is one of their rights to strike for their
dearest other rights, as all races have done.
should welcome every blow Of theirs which
might at once carry succor to patriot, death
to traitor, confusion to their slanderers, re-
newed life to their own veins, and victory to our
dag.
Contemplating, however, the possibility OF
their removal, permit me To say that the North
ern Staets are Of all places. the worst possible
- select for an asylum. These poor people,
ahuat upon the world, are inhabitants Of a
Southern climate, and have habits ana are sub
ect to needs and pecularitles OF physical constl-
tuition accordingly. Where, then is the pru-
dencc or the hunany Of supjectlng them at
once to the rigors OF our northern SKY, in the
winter season, with the moral certainty OF in
fictlng extreme soilering, resulting probably 10
disease and death II their removal is definite
ly determined upon would take tho liberty OIL
suggesting for the asylum. some Union foothold
in the S0uth--as Hilton lledd-where they
could retain their health be trained az soldiers
and their labor rendered economically available
For them to como he for encampment or asy-
lum would be to come as paupers and sufferer,
into strange land and "a climate Trying wen "a
is habitucs asa swarm Of homeless wanderers
migrating without purpose, and not to the
Wilderness where the strong arm would suffice
Tor maintenance, but 20 a busy community
where ;hey would be incapable ID s.li-help-I
course certain 10 demoralize themselves and en
danger others. Such au event would be han
Ole 10 all trai ors and TO all ers0ns eylly dis
posed We should be told that the experiment
had been tried and had lalled that the negroes
were proved worthless and incapable of taking
care Of themselves when the truth would be that
We had pursued the plan most eminently cllcu'
ted to disable and eorrup; them. meet with
pleasure the motives of humanity which have
dictated your proposed plan butiro the very
same feelings must consider the plan mistaken.
1t Is precisely because | DO not wish the negroes
to suffer precisely because would save their
wives and children from per,shng precisely
because do not wish their new freedom to be-
come license, corruption, and infamy, that
respectful y decline to aid or c1uutenance your
plan FIR their transportation to the North