The national Republican., 1862-07-11
THIRTY-sEvENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION.
IN SENATE
THURSDAY, July 10, 1862.
CONTRABANps.

| In pENAIE.
THURSDAY, July 10, 1862.
CONrRABANps.
The PRESIDENT pro tssnp0~s laid before tht
Senate communication from the War Depart.
msnt, transmitting copies tf oil instructions Il
generals. In pursuance Of the act Of Congress q
August 8, 1861, In relation 70 the slaves q
| rebels. ,t .. ......s .
| The Secretary Of War writes 10 Brig. Gen. r
Saxt0n, under diate Of The 16'h ult, directing
him " assume the charge, In the Department o
the South, Of all The plantations deserted by
their owners, with the inhabitants thereof, vii
authority TO maks such rules for the cul'iva
tlon oil the land and the control and employ
ment Of the people, a. circumstances may re-
quire. He IL authorized 10 assume police du-
lies over them; iseuarantesd ample proiection
from the major general commanding; 10 allowed
such ratiOns o. may be suitable for those ID
want; Is furnished with medical and ordnance
stores, and Ia independent Of s6y suthority ex
cept that OF the commanding general. n
| Gen. Butler, writing from the Department oI
with new difficulty. He had negro property
10 the amount Of sixty thousand dollars, . por,
lion Of them women and children, not able
bodied laborsrs. He proposed TO credit all
isbor performed. and charge all goods and 70.
lions iurnirhed th'm. He said, ,"As military
question. II wculd seem 10 be measure Of
necessity 10 deprive their masters Of their per
vices. A. political question ard question
OF humanity, can receive tho services Of q
father and u mother and rot take the children !
OF The humanitarian aspect, hive no doubt
OF The political one, have no right 10 judge"
Secretary Cameron, May 80, 1861, writes 10
Gen. Butler that his action IL approved. Au
gust 8, be writes again, saying, that II was the
desirs OF the President that all existing rights
IN loyal Staies sh0nld be preserved, but that In
States wholly or partially under insurrectiou
ary control, these rights must necessarily come.
under military authority; that sllslavas should
be received, aud no claim allowed 10 disloyal
owners for the ser vices Of slaves. a-.
Under date Of September 20, 1861, the SEQ
retary OF War directs General Wool 70 send
cnntrabands 10 General Mcclellan, and, ON the
22d, orders them 10 be retained for service on
The Southern coast. On October s, he directs
one thousand OF them 70 be prepared to accom-
pany General Sherman. Assistant Secretary
Scott writes to General Sherman, October IA,
10 employ iugitives in such services us they
may be 6lhd for, "eiihsr as ordinary employees,
or, u special circumstances seem 10 require II,
In squads; companles or other wisa, aa You may
deem beneficial TO the service; this, however,
not being general arming Of them for mill
tary services"
Major General Wool writes frem Fortress
Monroe, November 25, inqulring about the pay
OF conirabands He says rome Of the officers
paid, on account Of the Government, $50. For
iaborers, he allowed $40 and subsistence, and
wished 70 reduce all 10 that price. The Score.
taly communicated bis approval,
Gen. Phelps writes from Camp Parapet near
Carroll on, La, giving particulars Of the send
ing Of slaves. "bag and baggage" to bis lines,
by NJ. Babillard La Branch, who tells them
that i" the Yankees ore king here now, and that
they must 30 to their king for food and abel
ter" He enlarges upon their peculiar condi
ton; comments upon the utter failure of the
Government to recognize their rights; discusses
the elements Of insurrecliOn existing In Lou
isisna refers to the, eiIsrt Of the slave
labor system on society there; considers th.
question o. emancipation; intimates that CON-
proniaes will hereafter be made with labor and
not with poliiicianp; iavors the policy Of imme-
dlats abolition, and CLOSES with statement oi
The wants Of the inRius's befure his iioes. ask
Ing Instructions. lie says tha new article Of
var Ia the first support he has yet had from the
Government. He thiuks M. La Brai che, who
protesses to be loyal, recogn zes the emsncips,
lion ss an impending fact.
Gen. Butler. June Is. 1862, gives further
details Of the above case. and asks Instruction.
=, N. Stanton, Secretary Of Wal, July 5. 1862,
Wt'co W oohut ~ Dutt0f. (tut
is OF opinion that under the law Ol Congress
u ey cannot be sent back 10 their masters; that
In common humanity they muat not be permit
ted to suffer fer want Of fool, shelter, or otsor
necessaries Of life; that 10 this end they should
bs provided by the qnartermaster and commits.
sary's Department., and that those who are
capable Of labor should be set 10 work, and
paid reasonabls wages" .nrsr ',r,'
The President, In directing this, does not as-
sumo 10 settle any general rule at present with
regard 10 tlayes.
Mr.. GRIMES preceded a memorial from
citizens of Washington, d g., praying o grant
10 the Guardian Society Of said District Of the
use In perpetuity of ten acras of land, on th.
north side Of street south, for the purposes of
. house Of industry and widows aud orphans
home.
REPORTS or COMMITTEES.
Ar. COLLAMER reported favOrably upon
the bill TO establish certain post routes Il was
considered and passed.
Mr.. WILSON, Of Massachus etts, from the
Committee on Military Affairs, reported favor.
,bly upon the bill to indemnify certain ciii-
Ems Of Delaware for expenses Incurred in The
defence Of the United States.
lie also, from the sams committee reported
back The House joint resolution authorizing
ths Sec retary Of War 10 furnish extra clothing
10 wounded and other soldiers Passed.
Mr.. DOOLITTLE, from the Committee on
Indian Affairs, reported back bill to replace
The bonds abstracted by the late Secretary Of
the Interior. Passed.
Mr.. CHANDLER, from the Committee on
Commerce, reported q bill IN relation to the
surveyors Of customs.
REsOLUTIONa SUBMITTED.
Mr.. POWELL submitted the following:
Resolued. That the Secretary Of War be d.
reotsd 10 transmit 10 the Senate tho report OF
Joseph Holt and Robert Dale Owen, commits.
siOhers Oh Ordnance and ordnance stUros, made
II tho War Department, and that he transmit
to the Senate all the evidence touching its con.
tracts investigated by said commission.
Mr. COWAN submitted the following: