The Portland daily press., 1862-12-09

| eLuplostu. IL plstceu proper
regulation and control. At Port Royal such
| persons have been extensively employed in the
work OF the Quartermasters Department and
in cultivating some thousands of acres of the
sea Islands of the coast, the products of which
are used in the support ofthemselves and fam-
lies. In the operations of the army on the
James river, and the Potomac, in the fortifca-
| tion of Washington. and as laborers teamsters,
hostlers, in the landing and shipping of stores,
they have been of great service: and the de-
mand for their labor has exceeded the supply
available.
ARGUMENT FOR EMPLOYING NEGRO LABOR.
| With this presentation of the past operations
and the present condition of the War Depart
ment, the duty required of me by act of Con-
gress to make an annual report, is in a great
measure fulfilled. 1t is seen that force has
been placed by the people of the United States
at the command ofthe government to maintain
| its authority more mighty in all the elements
of warlike power than was ever before arrayed
under one banner. How shall that force be
employed? To smite the enemy on every hand,
to attack his armies and strongholds, occupy
his ports, clear the great rivers of the west of
his Instructions, and pause not until he is SUBJ
dued, is our plain duty. Above all it is our
duty to disdain no legitimate aid that may save
the lives of our gallant soldiers, diminish their
labors, provide for their wants and lessen the
burdens Of our people,
No aphorism is more universally received
than that ''the sole object of just war is to
make the enemy feel the evils of his injustice,
and by his sufierings amend his ways; he must
therefore be attacked in his most accessible
quarter" The power of the rebels rests upon
their peculiar system of labor, which keeps
laborers on their plantations to support own
ers who are deyoting their time and strength
to destroy our armies, and destroy our gov
ernment. Whenever that system is in hostility
to the government, it is, in my opinion. the
duty of those conducting the war to strike
down the system, and turn against the rebels
the productive power that upholds the insur-
rection.
Rightly organized in the recovered terrific
ry, the laborers of the rebel States will not on
ly aid in holding fortified positions, but their
labor will, as in India. free the white soldier
from the most unwholesome exposure of the
South. They will cultivate the corn and TO-
rage which will feed our cavalry and artillery
horses, and save the country portion of the
enormous burden now attending their purchase
and transport from the North. This cultiya-
ton would have been Of greater advantage to
us on the southeastern coast than even that of
the great staple of the Sea Islands.
Probably the people who remained upon
these islands, within protection of our armies
could, under wise control, have supplied all
the forage needed this year by the forces in
the Department of the South The full ra-
ton for horse weighs twenty-six pounds,
that of a soldier three pounds.
An army. well Organized and eouinned for
active operations. with a due pronortion Of
cavalry. artillery. and baggage trains will
have not less than one horse or mule TO every
four soldiers. so that the weight of food for
the animals is more than double that of the ra-
tions of the men.
How important an aid. how great an econo
my, in a long contest. therefore. would there
be in raising by this cheap labor the greater
part of the forage alone for the southern de-
partment, thus, for a greater portion of our
wants, transferring the base OF supplies. now
at New York, to Hilton Head. or New Or
leans.
The department has found il difficult TO
transfrr this labor from one mart of the seat or
war to another. Local aud family ties seem
TO be very strong with these people: and with
all their faith in the power and good will of
our military commanders, it was found difficult
to get volunteer laborers to leave Port ROYAL
for other depots.
A population of four millions true to the
interests of the Union. with slight assistance
from the army, will, under proper regulation
and government. be of the greatest assist
ance in holding the territory once recovered.
The principal staples of the south are the
products exclusively of their labor. II pro-
tected upon the lands they have heretofore
cultivated, with some organization. and with
support from small detachments of LOYAL
troops, they would not only produce much of
what is needed to feed our armies and their
trains, but they would forever cut of from the
rebellion the resources of country thus oc-
cupied.
The rebel armies move with ease through
portions of the border states, living upon the
country in which our commanders find no sup
plies. The people bring forth their boards
and offer them to the rebels for sale or
gift. Protect the laboring population. who
are majority in the greater part OF the South.
in the possession of the land and its products,
and this great advantage will, for whatever
portion OF the country we occupy. be trans
ferred TO us. As soon as the coast is tho
roughly occupied, and the people organized,
trade will revive. Cotton. rice. sugar. and
other products will be exchanged by the pro-
ducer for what he needs Their wants will be
supplied direct from the northern factories.
and the cultivation of the great staples will
enable them TO pay for what they use A per-
fectly free trade may thus again grow up be-
tween the North and the South, and with
greater or less rapidity il will spread over the
whole country as our forces succeed in meet
ing and dispensing the rebel armies.
The greater part of the whole country
formerly producing the sea island cotton Is
now thoroughly restored 10 the Tnion. The
laborers are there--the soil and climate II
needs only assurance of protection 10 revive
the cultivation of the staple AS well as IN nro-
duce vast quantities of corn and FORAGE for our
troops. Since this war must be conducted bv
marches and battles and sieges wbv neolact