New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-14
THE "IRREPRESsIBLE AT NEW
ORLRANs-BUTLE vs.. PHELPS.

ORLRANs-BUTLE vs.. PHELPS.
Experience proves, as reason had already
ind Gated, the utter iInpossibilty Of prosecuting
the War for the Union without definite, uni
form, uuambiguous, proclaimed Government
policy with regard to Slavery, and especially
Slavery TO Rebels. Since the passage of tie
C.niisca,ion Act by Congress, it seems inipossl-
be that there should be but one policy on th .
subi.ct-tLat namely, OF rec 'enziog no per-
son as lawfully or rghtiully held in slavery ty
a rebel. Gen. Butler however, does not az
pear to have been spprised OF the passage OF
thls act at the tine Of the correspondence
which We print on another page and of which
the substance is as follows:
l. Gen. Phelps, commanding brigade in
Gen. Buffers corps. makes (July :~) requi-
stion on Capt. Davis, Adju,aut.General of the
corps, for arms, clothing. &c, Tor three repi-
ments of Black Loyalists which he was ra'sne
to strengthen his post. He states in expana-
ton that his position is an unhealthy 0ne-ihat
HIS men are dying at the rate OF two or three
per day of diseases incident to the climate and
the season, which do not assail the Blacks OF
Lou slana-that he has three hundred Of these
already ENLISTED, organized into five companies,
and partially drilled-that they are willing to
fight or do anything else that will shield them
from Slavery--that "Society in the South seems
on the point of dissolution, and the best way
10 prevent the African from becoming insttu-
mental in O general state Of anarchy is 10 en-.
lis, him in the cause of the Republic and
that our position in Louisiana is not such a.
To justify us in repelliDg substantial offers OF
assistance.
2. Capt. Davis per order Of Gen. Butler,
directs Gen. Phelps (July 3l) to employ his
" contrabands' in wood cbOpping-whereof he
says there is urgent need.
3. Gen. Phelps declines (same date to :" be-
come tho mere slave-driver which you propose,
having no qualifications that way" Ile there.
fore tenders bis resignation. He says colored
man bas just been brought into bis camp
wounded by a shot from rebel guerrillas near
at hand, and that the Blacks could not chop in
tolerabe safety at tie point indicated unless
provided with muskets as well az axes
A. Gen. Butler aug. y declines to accept
Gen. Pheps's resignation. He directs him 10
desist from his "ncgro military organization, y
the President alone having authority t. initiate
such an arining of Blacks, and he having indi.
Gated 10 purpose TO employ them as soldiers.
the arms &c, now on hand for Louisiana
Volunteers were expressly intended for Whites.
He cannot see that employing negroes to do
necessary chopping, &c., makes Gen. Phelps
slaye.drlyer. Just such work has been done
by the Army of the Potomac. Are negroes
better than they ~ Gen. Il. Is willing to feed,
cloihe, &c, the negroes, and that a militar,
guard (of Whites) be sent out for their protec'
ton while at work rs required.
:. Gen. Butler transmits aug. y the
above correspondence to the War Department
for direction ana action thereon. lie send,
along Mr.. G. Roselus Ga New-Oreans lawyer
to enforce his view Of the matter. lie init
mates that Gen. Shepley (already on tao way
hither) win also argue the Pro'SlaVery side oi
the question. He does not state that Hon.
Reverdy johnson of Maryland ("ho ACCOM-
panies Mr.. Ro,elius) has taken brief III the
same case but that may be presumed. And
he adds this momentous statement:
An in.vr,setoa br,ke out among use Hegroa, JeO
mile, nd The mar s,eh oop.sd e Of that Hegaso'
hvd 10 oxpy 10 an boat belonging ~ pa'sins
doom for aid and the epient ,ero va' stoppsd ~ IN
Cyiao the negroes thai should rsp anaok tp Me'"
upon me p0mea and ahad1,n."
Gen. Butler 10 careful not TO hint the reason
that the women and children In question
are obliged to appeal to him for protection;
but we all know. 1t is because their husbands
and brothers are away in tho Rebel armies
fighting to dissolve the Union. While they are
killing the Unionists of the North, We are to
kin those OF the South, thus making every
thing serene.
Tie paragraph last quoted affords striking