, 1862-03-04

Gen. Mansfield and tho - Contra
The following letter was written by General
Mansfield, U. g. A, to commission appoint
trabands}' Of Fort Monroe. It disposeso Of the
whole matter most able and conclu1tyely. It
was ahomb-she1l thrown into highly conser-
vatiFe Fortress Monr0e-a bomb-shen from
battery served BY Brigzdier~ General Of the
regular army.
GAIT be7hk1' issr.ag Fssras1y shns; g. isss. Se'}
TO The Commission, ca1. Cram. Lieut.: ca. Can
non and Ngjor Jones, appointed Rer General Or
No g.; J!oM Heaa7uarEsrs Department q:
GENTLEMEN invitation Of member
Of the Commission, ! take the liberty to ex~-
press to The Commission my views on the
subject Of tic contr;luaad negroes, so called.
These can be divided intofour classes:
1st. Those abandoned by their rebel OWL
crs, and compelled to. ask for work and sup
r. "a. Those who have run away from their
owners, the rebels, to obtain their freedom
from control.
I'd. Those who have been put to work by
their rebel owners on the forti idcatiens, &c, to
resist the Government, and have madc their
| escape.
It'll. Free negroes who seek work for a sup
po1t-
The question now arises O. to these negroes:
Is the United States bound to hold them as
| slaves, and deprive them Of their right to 90
where they please? It Is clear that they are
not prisoners Of war, for they have never
their escape to avoid taking part against
the United States, Or have beun abandoned to
the United States, Is the rebels hare ahan-
doned lands, houses, cattle, &c, and
arc human beings cast on the world with
nothing but their hands to obtain 4 livelihood,
27tnr ri thorn horfy,er trnrt-p1 N yphp1 fnr{i
fcations, &c, are released (uuder the 4th
section Of the act Of Congress Of the 9th o1
August, 1861, to contscate property from
further service to their masters-and in sucf
cases what is The II posftions Why simply Tho
ct any person in the country released By ta'' fron
thsPdgapent Of an oWtgation-a free person-
Al these negroes, with the exception Of th
fourth class, arc OF have been claimed Us prop
erty by the very rebels who have taken a
| arms against the United States, and are Lawful
CITY, hut persons held to labor under the Cor
| stitu'ion in certain States, and nowhere else
| and are not bound or held to labor for ia
] United States, consequently they arc nc
slaves to the United States. It is clear th
) condition Of slaves with them was cocxisten
: with the obligations Of the Confederate Slas
: : States to the Constitution aud hws OF Ii
:. United States, against which they are in opc
! armed rebellion
5 Now what are these negroes? Are they NJ
: / 1fCcnlen by thlS ElAIe OF fCGeN0n by Il
T act Of secession, the Confederate States ha,
E voluntarily broken the Constitution and Law
I Of the Union, and have taken up arms again!
j. that Constitution and those Laws, and Il
IS United States'are thereby absolyed from tt
h enforcement of the fugitive slave Law, eyt
r if 60 absurd q claim were put forth.
= this statement be true, they arc en1
= tied SIS laborers to all the wages they c,
~ ~ earn, and to go where they please, and wou
{, recommend that al! their earnings be paid
D. them while III tile United STATES employ, 81
II That all officers and others who employ the
l. in this department be required to psy them
le Just COMPENSATION, and that they be allow
=" to improve thtir condition if opportuni
. ! should admit.
>, You are at liberty to u=e this letter as y
. 2 please. am, gentlemen, very respectfully,
o. Your obedient servant.
Il, MANsF1ELD,
ri Hr1~adies General r. S 4