The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-19
Butler and Phelps.

| uens batler ana Pnelps nave again come
issue on the question of the treatment of slaves
Gen. Phelps had some negroes in his camp anc
he believed he could MA ke them useful by organ
izing them into military companies. lie &C
cordIngly commenced the work and made re-
QUESTION on Gen. Butler for arms and uniforms
Gen. Butler replied advising Gen. Phelps to de-
sst from organizing negroes into military COM
panies, and to set them at work clearing away
trees and brush in front of his line. Phelps re
joined that he did not care to be slave driver,
and rendered his resignation. Butler refused
to accept the resignation and sharply ordered
Phelps to carry out his previous order. This
further correspondence then followed
CAMP PARAPET, La, Aug. 2, 1862.
Mayor Gen. b, +. Butler, Commanding the De-
partment of the Gulf:
SIR-Two communications from you of this
date have Just been received. One of them
refers to the raising of volunteer militia forces,
stating that "must deslst from the formation
OF any negro military organizations y and the
other declaring lin spirit contrary to all ussge Of
military service. and TO all the ghts and Iber-
ties of cislx4n Of i ir4e government, that my
resignation will not be accepted by you; that
IL leave Of ABSENCE untll it's acceptance by the
PresldehJ will not be granted me, aud that /
must see to it that your orders--which could
not obey without becoming "a slave mysef-are
faithfully and diligently executed. - 80.
1t can be OF little consequence to1ns a, to what
kind of slavery am to be subjected, whether
to African slavery or to that which you thus
SO oHsnsiveIy propose for the, giving me an or
der wholly opposed to my convictions of right;
as we'll xs of she lns her scale of public neccssi-
ties IN the case, AMI insisting upon my comply
Ing with it faithfully aud diligently allowing
INC no room to escape with my convictions or
Lay principles, at any sacrifice may make. I
cannot submit 10 either kind of slavery, and
cannot therefore, tor "a double reason, comply
with your order Of the 3lst of July, in comply
ing with which [ should submit to both kinds
both of African slavery and to that to which
you resort to in its defense.
DESTROYS 20 the las! of saving the public in
tercsts Involved, appeal to your sense Of JUS
tice 10 rCco' slider your decision and make the
most to The cause out OF the sacrifice which |
offer, by granting the quiet, proper and GUS
tomnly action upon my resignation.
BY refusing ny request you would subject ne
10 4IHt INCONVENIENCE, without, as ilr as | see
any advantage ca her to yourself or to the ser
wee, WIT, u yicW Of securing myself a tardy
justice III tie cas-, beng remote from the capi-
tai, Wien the Transmission Of the mails is re
lnarkaOIy Irr' gular and uncertain, and IN order
10 give you every assurance shat NV /, slguation
Is 'rndeleI III srict compIlancr With para graph
twenty -uIne vi ttle regulations To be "uuc jadl-
uOn4l add NHmed.ete,' | herewith enclose q
copy for The Aoju,ant General Of the army,
winca desire hay De forwarded 10 Iun, 50 he
Had before the Prtsldent toJ as EARL action in
the Case as his Excel ncy may be pleased ~ ac-
cord ; and DIS my position, sufficiently 4ieG4-
ant alrrady, lrumlsgs to become much more 50
still by the course OF action which | am s02rv
10 hnd that you deem II proper to pursue, al
gently request his E4ccllency, 10y speely ac-
cepance OF my CONFUSION, 10 hberate Inc from
that sense OF sufocauon-tro that darkIiny
sense OF bondage and tnthrallnent which it ap-
eaIs " me, like the snake around the muscles
and slnews OF Ltocoon, is entangllng and dead
ening The energ,s Of the Government and coun-
try, Wien a decisive act might cut the evils and
US from their Danetul and fascinating
forever.
am, sir, very respectfully"
Your obsdcnt servant,
j. W. PnELPs., ~ 49,
Brippdler Ganeral