The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-08-09

quiries of the President of the National
Freedman's Association
Headquarters Dept Of the South, !
Hilton lIeat, Port Royal. July II.
Rev. Stephen Ii Tying, President eff the
National Freedmsn's Relief Associa-
ton, New York City:
SIR hare the honor to acknowledge
The receipt Of your communication, dated
June ID, 1852, expressing to me the APP
proval Of my course IN regard to the freed
slaves of this department. by the impor-
tAnt and benevolent association of which
you are President.
Satisfied OF having attempted, in the
absence OF Instructions, ~ do my duty in
the matter according to the best light Of
Judgment and = long experience, every
assurance of sympathy from men whose
characters esteem is gratifying. and en-
ables me to wait with mors patience for
those inevitable days which are to give
policy on the slave question to our Gov
ernment.
1t ia Iny only feAr that the lesson may
not be understood and scted upon antil
read in charsctcrs Of blood at the Gseside
of every Northern family. Toastaia Viz
dom we must suffer but that wisdom on
the slavery question, must finally be OBJ
tanned, .is my sustaining faith.
Our people ara not dull Of comprrhen-
| sion in regard to matters about which free
play is given to their common sense
When the FIRE is spreading through a
block of houses. they do not hesitate 10
batter down IN intermediate house to save
the remainder of the block. When the
plague occupies an infected district the
district is quaran,inel. and every resource
of science and industry put forth to rid
the locality Of its presence. The soldiers
of health are by no means ordered to
mount guard over each smitten house and
see that the vested interests OF pestilence
are protected "Break open the doors,
if they be not opened" is the order on
this occasion. '.Let in fresh air aud sun
light; let purity replace corruption"
But in ths presence Of one great evil
which has so long brooded over our coun-
try the intelligence Of large portion Of our
people would seem paralized and elpless.
Their moral nerves lie torpid under its
benumbing shadow. Its breath has been
the pestilenoe of the political atmosphere
in which our statesmen havebeeti faftnr-
| ed; and never, l fear, until its keak is
dripping with the best blood Of the ooun-
try, and its talons tangled in her .vitals,
will the free masses Of the loyal States Be
fully aroused to the necessity Of abating
the abonination at whatever cost and by
whatever agencies.
This is written, not politically, but ac-
cording TO my profession in the military
| sense. looking forward, there looms up
possibility lonIy too possible Of u s acc
which shall be nothing but m armisuee.
with every advantage secured to the re-
bellion. Nothing can give u psrmanen,
peace, but . sucoessful prosecution of the
war, with every weapon and energy 1t
our command, 10 its logical and Legitimate
!, conclusion. The fomenting cause Of the
rebellion must be abatsd the axe must
be h id to the root of the upas tree which
has rainsd down such bitter fruit upon
our country, before anything like per-
mament peace can be justly hoped for.
Already see signs in many infuen-
tiAl quarters, heretofore opposed to my
views in favor Of arming the blacks, Of .
change of sentiment. Our recent disas.
ters before Richmond have served to il
lnminate mnny minds.
To speak Of nsing the negroes merely
for throwing up intrsnchments ID ! STEP
in the right direction, though far short q
what must be the end. It has the cd
vantage, however, Of making the further
and 6nal steps necessary; for men work
ing in face Of the enemy must have ARM
with which to protect themselves if sud
denly attacked.
i On the whole there il much reason Il
b satisfied With tho progress made B!
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