The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-11-21
NO. 48.
ConsrabAaas nOs Z Dogno0 GA the

SOner0bA00s 0Os = D0goo0 On the
| lwashnsson pi.paseA v sAs Rsv Ysrk rins}
| The following important letter is from
the Superinssndsntof Of Contrahsnds q, wssh.
ington to Gov. Yates:
CoSrRABAND DEPARTMENT. Camp Baker. I
| Washington, Oct. "a, 1869.
To His Exceieney. Richard Yatrs. acverner niinSis;
/ sra: From testimony deemed by me
reliable. l learned yesterday that, in an ad-
dress lately made in Southern Illinois by
an ex-member Of Congress, the representa-
ton was made that in Washington. at the
present time. no less than 10000 " contra.
bands" were subsisted and clothed at the
Government expense. Now, . statement
coming from a source Sd high. where the
individual is supposed TO know the facts.
would tend to Influence mischievously a
large class OF our citizens who have no COR
rect means Of obtaining the facts. Thus I
felt it my duty TO communicate with you.
after advising with some Of your friends in
i Washington. puiting you in possession eff
the facts, which you are al liberty to use as
you may deem best for the caGse Of truth
and justice.
The facts are as follows:
On the 10th Of last June I WAS appointed
BY General Wadsworth Superintendent Of
the contrabands at "Duf Green's Row."
Washington. where l found aoou, four
hundred persons, young and old. Since
my appointment up TO the present time no
less than $500 contrabands. Of both sexes
and of all ages, have passed through my
hands.
OF the above number all bu. six hundred
and seventy five have gone out eitheE to do
for themselves. labor in private families, or
work for the Government. The six hun.
dred and seventy four present nunber)
includes one hundred and twenty who have
been sent us from the various military en-
campments in and about Washington. and
master and Commissary Departments. aud
are sent to US for medical treatment. Then
We have about twenty who are employed at
forty cents per day in the service of the
camp. Besides these quite number 60 out
during the day to wash for the sick soldiers
at the hospitals, and return to their families
, at night iu the camp. This leaves a small
balance of those too old and infrm for
profitable labor. or too young to go to SER
vice. And even the mothers, with their
large and dependent families, have husbands
in the army or navy, and have been sent to
us for protection and sustena ance, while their
husbands are employed by our army.
As to clothing. the Government has not
at any time furnished these people with any.
not eren blankets. except in q few cases.--
Northern benevolence, through the " Ma.
,onal Freedmen's Association" and the
" Colored Cont~band's Relief Association"
have thus far furnished the clothing for
these destitute ones. Thus We see, in the
light OF these facts, that all the cry raised by
alarmists about contrabands" being .
burden to the Government 10 tho creation Of
, the fancy OF designing politicians.
Then. again. the cry which 10 SO Of en-
raised by these same designing men, that
the North will Q crowded with niggers."
and that the poor whites will suffer 10 con-
sequence, is alike without foundation; for
while applications are daily made by per-
sons from all the Northern and Western
States, and the most liberal offers of pay
made TO these people If they will consent to
go. yet not one in hundred can in any
wise be persuaded to 60 North.
Thus, when the question OF Government
burden for 40. 600 " cortrabands" is consid
cred in the light Of truth, il is reduced to
AGO; while the thousands Of those who some
have hoped to see emigrating to the North
and West. 90 into the colnmn Of units.
The thousands expended by the Govorn-
ment for clothing the coLtrabands" turns
out to he just nothing. and the "idleness"
spoken OF is. in the light OF truth. speedily
converted into erecting Notifications, diligent
and laborious toll in all the servile depart
ments OF the Government.
No. instead OF these people being q drug
on the hands Of the Government, ten could
be day employed. where We have but one
to furnish.
Yours, respectfully.
ID. B. NICHOLS.
Sup't Of Contrabands, Camp Baker.