Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-08
GEN. Dix,s Proposition tn the Cover
nor az Massachusctss.

We copy the Following from the NeWOurypoft
(Mass.) Herald
The negroes are clog to and burdtl upon our
armies IN the South This is apparenG from the
correspondence between Gen. Dix and Gov. An
drew an relation 10 sending five hundred families
to this State. The cOntrabands come within our
lines, and as the army moves South more and
more will be had. The universal testimony is
that they are worthless 10 Us. A few of them can
he put 10 work, but many old and more
children and great proportion women, who from
"A state of comparative innocence ave corrupted
aud deptlyed by communion with the soldiers,
and soon die, or what is worse; live to spread dis
ease and corruption. They have done little, Ia
ken as a whole, To see what has been done Tor
them. They show no disposition to render them
selves useful-they have not the capacity or the
will To be so; and most OF them look forward to
a return to their masters plantation. With these
ignorant and simple people there Is great attach
ment 10 the places where they were reared
great love for those whom they have served,
and much more comfort there than they can
JOY elsewhere.
While the contrabands can do nothing for the
Government, they are a big bill of expense.
They have occupied the houses, while the sol
diers have been without shelter, and in some in
stances have had new houses built for them,
while white men. defending the country, were
left out doors without tents or blankets. They
have drawn their rationS at the expense OF the
Government, and maintained paupers,
while the Government never has aided whites, as
II has no authority to, and but few years ago
refused to distribute wood for which they had
use at Washington, among the poor OF the Dis
trict OF Columbia, because there was no consti-
tutiOnal right TO do We remember that in
the election OF 1874, it was rung all over the
land that Mr. Polk had no sympathy for the poor,
because be voted against such u disposal OF wood.
Now 1t does not appear what we shall do with
these people. We can't turn the whole Southern
country into Poor Farm aud have oyerseers
and send supplies forever. They must be placed
somewhere 10 earn their living. and be out of
the way OF the army. What can be done with
them!
Gen. Dix asks Massachusetts, to take FIVE hun
dred families, till the Government shall be ready
10 colonZe them. The Governor SAYS no--as
any Governor would and should. To take con
trabands till the Government is ready to cOlOnize
is TO take them for one century at least; and we
repeat-nO State will do it. Ii there was mme-
date danger OF an influx of negroes, we should
pass black laws" ike those OF the West
But can anybody tell Us what emancipation
amounts TO, il the contrabands are to stop South?
We often hear it said that never will person
who gains his freedom now be made a slave
again; and President Lincoln has used some such
words. Ii this amounts to anything. il implies
one of two ideas; either the South by some pro
cess not vet pointed out, will be in favor OF their
freedom, and willing 70 share the land with them
ana live with free blacks or the white people of
the South are TO be deprived of self government
-of the power to make their own laws
Suppose the war 20 close some day--and that
We take II. Is a suppoSable case-then either the
Confederate States will be independent or re
4 tIn mi h,
black people TO be free, whichever way il is2 If
they independent, will they recognize the
freedom we have given their slavesl Every man
viii reply-No; then slavery will be re-estab-
llshed. Very well, ii they return TO the Union,
will they not have the right 10 saw what shall be
the condition of their peopley For Instance
will not South Carolina have the right 10 saw that
free negroes shall not remain within her limits af
ter given date; and if they do that. they shall
be Soldg So she said, when in the Union BEFORE
how do you propose 10 prevent il hereafteri Now
every sane man must see that either this revolu
ton is to sweep away all State rights there is
to be no freedom for the blacks in the South af
ter the war, if thousand times they should be
freed during the war.
Here is the condition of the cohtrabands: they
can't get out of the South, because the Govern
ment can not send them abroad. and 10 free
State will take them; and they can't remain in the
South without returning to slavery, unless the
revolution i so complete 20 destroy the States,
when We all, black and whites together shall be
come the slaves of military despotism. This is
all We can see in the future The truth is, the
freedom OF the blacks can not be attained in war
without the destruction OF the whites Ii il is
ever gained-as it certainly will bet will be
through their masters. when in the good time
coming slavery Is improbable. reason rises
above passion, justice Triumphs over love of
dominion, the providence OF God opens the
door for their escape out Of the land, aud the
Christian religion develops 10 4 more practical
character than II attains where wars prevail and
slavery Is no offense against morality.