Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-07
From the n. Y. Sun (Republican).
The Pert Hawai- ye~roes

of free negro and slave labor now furnished On a
large scale at Port ROYAL and Beaufort was too
tempting to be neglected by the advocates of the
former system, and. as our readers have been
advised. number OF male and female missiona-
ries from New York and Boston proceeded at
once TO the scene OF operations. and are now en-
gagged in developing their favorite theories Suf-
fcient time, perhaps, has not yet elapsed to pro
nounce as to the success or failure Of the project.
but we have data TO warrant the conclusion that
the expedition is already imperled in consequence
of the excess of zeal over practical knowledge
in the parties engaged in the cause.
Il must be confessed that the difficulties were
weghty and numerous The plantations were
despoiled of produce and stock by the Commits
sary Department, in order TO avert the greater
evil of plundering By the negroes. and the imme-
date consequence has been to render the contra
bands dependent on the Quartermaster for their
ratiORs. This mas been losing Opertion TO the
Government, and the inherent difficulties result
ing from il have been aggravated by the ignor-
ance and incapacity Of the persons having the
matter IN charge. The allowance to field hands,
when working, on the plantations South is one
peck of corn (unground) and three pounds of
meat-either pork, beef or bacon-per week.
The meat was not given to those not working.
The negroes we're then fat and healthy, and suf-
fered comparatively little from disease
When Capt. Lilley took charge of the contra
bands az Beaufort he allowed them the following
articles and in the quantity specified: Fifty pounds
of beef or pork, five pounds of coffee. twenty
pounds OF rice eight quarts OF beans, threequ
of molasses, and Indian meal cd iibifgm to the
one hundred rations. Six children were entitled
to one ration. Rice and beans were issued alter
natey. Under that system TIE negroes lived
better than ever before-had enough TO eat. we're
healthy and willing TO work Capt Lilley had
$50 negroes under his charge, and during the two
months he controlled them but FIVE died, four of
whom were children, and the fifth an old man
who had passed his eighty first year. This was
the result of his system.
On the Doth of January, Captain Fuller took
charge of the contrabands, and began to issue
full soldiers rations TO each and every one count
ing children, and the consequence is the bills of
mortality have increased to alarming extent,
and the negroes are rapidly becoming worthless
and unable indisposed to work A soldiers
ration is enc pound and quarter of beef or pork,
eighteen ounces of bread, rice, beans, sugar, mo-
lasSes, soup, candles, pepper, vinegar. salt, &c,
in proportion, valued in the aggregate at forty
cents per day, OF for five hundred and fifty-six
men, women and children, 5000 40 per day for
rations alone. Capt. Lilley's ratOns may be val
ued at forty-fve cents per day, or perhaps less.
Now, in the first place. there is not a soldier in
the army that can does eat his rations daily.
No man can eat twelve hard biscuits day. be-
sizes Ms pOuIlu anu ndil Deer, his pO-
tatOeS, &c, furnished him. Nor can the negroes
do it with safety. Nevertheless. he is glutton
enough to eat all his pork and beef daily. and the
consequence is 4 large increase of mortality and
the appearance of small pOx among them to an
alarming extent There are now twenty five ca
ses in the smallpox hospital under the csre of
DR.. Waldock. who has made this case a special
| ~. and who has taken measures to vaccinate the
entire negro population Fevers also exist
@l.. a..
usual.
In fact the negro is killing himself as rapidly
as possible. 1t is continual thanksgiving feast
with him, and he will fail to endure il Just as
white would who eat his Christmas or Thanks
giving feast every day. There is limit to hu-
man endurance, and the contrabands are find ing
il out very rapidly. Laying aside the more inn
portant humanitarian aspect of the question. the
frightful expenditure incurred in feeding the ne
groes in this sumptuous and unusual manner,
should be taken into consideration. The United
States Government is feeding at least twenty five
thousand negroes daily at a cost OF So 600 per
day, and at the expense of the negroes health
and comfort as well. Now, with the regimen
furnished by Captain Lilley, which is much better
than the negro has ever before enjoyed, and which
costs about eight nine cents a day to each. the
same number of men might be fed for 81 $50 per
day, saving the Government each and every day
the comfortable sum of 81 ,750--an item of con-
siderable magnitude.
The Missionaries are having good success in
making themselves comfortable, according to the
account of a correspondent. who says that they
are mostly in Beaufort, CHARTERED together in a
large house, and engaged in the pursuit of aban-
dOned furniture, with which they are filling up
their mansion in regal afiuence. They are quite
successful in this line of business, and their ca
reer promises to be glorious. Rev. Mr.. French
is a famous forager in the furniture line, and his
reputation is firmly established. He may be seen
at all hours of the day, mounted on one of the
Quartermaster's horses, gaily capering about the
village. while Mrs. French and some of the lead
ing ladies enjoying themselves hugely in rid
ing about in a bar0uche, drawn by two of the
are still disturbed BY the old troubles. After
long and able discussions the relative superiority
of the ladies from Boston and New York has not
been decided. There is a great deal of hard
talk between the respective cliques. and some lit
lie feeling has been manifested by both sides.
As the contest progresses the comba ants grow
warmer and warmer in expressing their opinions
of the other, and the discussion promises TO rend
the band in twain, break up the party and so dis
gust both sides that all will 20 home You see
the Boston people having brought their double
refined Boston ideas with them, cannot possibly
see how some of the New York ladies who have
been respectable milliners and dreSsmakers in
Canal street-as they assert-can be fitted for
the grave and important duties of teaching the
contraband to read and write; and believing, as
they do that only in the modern Athens can one
acquire those peculiar qualities Of mind and habit
necessary 10 the successful prosecution of teach
er's duties among the contrabands, they cannot
credit the report that the New York ladies can
J be so insane or presumptuOns co dare attempt
anything in that line. Hence the row. One
thing may be said in favor of the missionaries
from Gotham. They come without receiving a
cent of pay from any society, while the Boston
ladies receive stated salary. liberal aud certain.
And am sure the ladies from New York. al
| though they are little on the sentimental order,
are fully well prepared for the work as those
from the Orient. Still, Boston rules the roost.
} The prospects for a cotton crop during the APP
preaching season not good, in consequence of
the delay in preparing ground, for want of stock
: and tools MIR. Pierce. the government agent,
had sent to New York for tools but il was doubt
! full If the exertions of those at the business
would raise more than enough cotton, the 6isi
year, to pay the expense OF its cultivation.
, Trouble I'm the Department OF the In
terror.
We are panied TO learn, on authority we can
hardly discredit, that grave and probably valid
I charges are urged against the Secretary of the
Interior for improper speculations and other NAL
feasance in office; and that there is a strong like
lihood that general change in the chief officers
of the Interior Department will be necessary,
including the heads of the Patent and Pension
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