Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-04
From the Boston Journal.

chusetts) who undertook to manufacture a
little political capital for the benefit of the
democratic peoples party here, by inviting
Gov. Andrew to make provision for the care
and support Of five hundred contrabands, re-
ceived very pertinent and forcibe reply
from his excellency, a copy of which VIC lay
before our readers. 1t will be difficult for
these political generals, or for their friends
here, to evade the logic of Gov Andrews
reply, while the fact will remain upon record
that the proposition TO introduce negro con-
trabands into the state came from a democrat
lc source, and was rejected for good and suf-
hcient reasons, by a republican governor =
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Boston, October Is, 1862.
Ha]or John 4. BolleS, 4. d. c., to Major
General Die:
MAORI have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt Of your letter of September 80.
accompanied by letter from Major General
Dix, together with copy Of a letter addressed
to the general from the war department at
Washington. In these communications it is
proposed to me to take some active measures
for the reception in Massachusetts of por-
ton OF the escaped slaves now at or about
Fortress Monroe, according to a plan pro-
posed by Major General Dix, and in which
the general has obtained the acuuiescence of
the war department. This plan is represent
ed as very desirable for reasons both militia
ry and humane" 1t is said that the fortress
is threatened and probably may be attacked;
that, if so, these people may be ''swept back
into slavery" or that a haSty retreat and
transportation of them will be attended in
evitably with severe suffering to the helpless.
Ii ic 70 +I,o+
| sympathize deeply with the humane motives
upon which General Dix is seeking to act,
do not concur in any way or to any degree in
the plan proposed. These same motives of
humanity lead me i'll different direction, and
to point where in general, as sound reason
ing teaches. and even in particular cases, as
the case in question makes manifest, | find
that the true interests of the African and Sax
on are interviewer and their rights correlatve
as they are identical, so that the assertion and
maintenance of the one becomes the salvation
of the other. If, indeed, it is true, that rebel
hordes are coling their traitOrous length for
deadly spring upon fortress Monroe, and that
rebel lron-clads are coming down the river;
and if it be true that the Union forces to OPP
pose the threatened assault are inferior to the
forces that menace them, then by listening to
your proposals l should deprive the band of
and steadily awaiting the storm, of the strength
Of hundreds of stout arms which would be
neryed with the desperation of men fighting
for liberty, and should deprive this SANDER
ed race Of the praise and of the education
OF their manhood to be acquired in a bold
struggle for their dearest rights. Here Prov
ldence has given to them a chance to COM
plete their emancipation from slavery by
victory over prejudice and it is significant
that If | do anything to deny them that
chance, by the same act | may visibly iniure
the cause at the Union arms. l cannot bring
myself to do anything to take away from the
command under Gen. Dix this great reserved
toyce, as l know you would find it if you
would but use it. If you are attacked let the
blacks fight to preserve their freedom! They
are needed. If anything could strengthen
my previous opinions on this point, it would
be just such facts as you narrate in your let
ter. If the negroes have wives and children
to fight for in addition to their freedom, they
will not show themselves inSenSible to the mo-
tives which have inspiscd all other races. 1t
is one of their rights to strike for their dear
est other rights, as all races have done. l
should welcome every blow Of theirs which
might at once carry succor to patriot, death
to traitor, confusion to their slanderers, re-
Moved life to their own veins, and victory to
our flag.
Contemplating, however, the possibility of
their removal, permit me to say that the
northern states are, of all places, the worst
possible to select for an asylum. These poor
people, ahoat upon the world, are inhabitants
of a southern climate, and have habits, and
are subject to needs and to peculiarities of
physical constitution accordingly. Where,
then, Is the prudence or the humanity of sub
Jecting them at once to the rigors of our
northern sky, in the winter season, with the
moral certainty of intiicting extreme suffer-
ing, resulting probably in disease and death?
If their removal is definitely determined
upon, | would take the liberty of suggesting
for the asylum some Union foothold in the
south-as Hilton Head-where they could re-
tain their health, be trained as soldiers, and
their labor be rendered economically availa-
Bile. For them to come here for encampment
or asylum would be to come as paupers and
sufferers into strange land and climate
trying even to its habitues, as a swarm
OF homeless wanderers, migrating with
out purpose, and not to to the will
dernesS where the strong arm would suffice
for maintenance, but to busy community
where they would be incapable of self help
a course certain to demoralize themselves and
endanger others. Such an event would be a
handle to all traitors and to all persons evilly
disposed. We should be told that the expert
ment had been tried and had failed; that the
negroes were proved worthless and incapable
of taking care of themselves, when the truth
would be that we had pursued the plan most
eminently calculated to disable and corrupt
them. l meet with pleasure the motives of
humanity which have dictated your proposed
plans but from the very same feelings l must
consider the plan mistaken 1t is precisely
because do not wish the negroes to suffer;
precisely because | would save their wives
and children from periShng precisely be-
cause do not wish their new freedom to be-
come license, corruption, and intamy, that
respectfully decline to aid or countenauce
your plan for their transportation to rhe north.
Inasmuch as the letter of Major General
Dix is accompanied by a copy of letter from
the war department, granting permission to
correspond concerning the plan proposed,
deem it incumbent upon me to state that
have, since receiving your letters, conferred
with the department upon this subject, and |
am sure that there is not any difference of
opinion between the department and myself
thereon; nor do | find there the existence of
any such apprehensions regarding the safety
OF General DiXs position as you seem to en-
terrain.
ought to add that, even were my views CO.
incident with your own, am, under the law.
absolutely powerleSs in my official capacity
to promote them.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your Obedient servant
JonN A. ANDREW,
Governor of Massachusetts
Our columns are so much crowded that we
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