The Placer herald., 1862-01-25
What shall be done with the Contra.
bands.''

1t is supposed that there are some two
thousand "slaves" or "cuntrabands" as Gen.
Butler dubs them, at Fortress Monroe, and
within the Federal lines on the Potomac.
How they came there is not necessary to inn
qulre; but what shall be done with them is
as much a matter OF humanity as it is mat
ter of justice and propriety. If they are the
mere property, as held by Gen. Butler and
Others, then the case is clear; it is only nee.
essary to determine that they are the prop.
erty of "rebes" to sell them and use the
proceeds in crushing out the rebellion"
10 refuse to do ths--to take them from
their owners, and instead OF putting the pro
ceeds in the public Treasury, actually issue
daily rations to them, is worse than an ncon-
sistency. These ''slaves" or this contraband
property should be worth one million dollars
and in ordinary times would if they were
engaged in growing cotton &c, add at least
half million annually to the national pro
duction, and thus to a certain extent, enable
Cheever, Tying and others, in this city to in
crease the ''comforts" of their families, for
the more cotton, DC, the more shipping bust.
ness and general prosperity of this city, in
cludlng, Of course these ''godly" creatures.
And as things are now, this "contraband"
property properly disposed Of, and the pro-
ceeds put in the public treasury, it should
pay at least one days expenses, and which,
according TO the report of the Secretary of
the Treasury, are only little over one mil
lion per day. But on the contrary, if these
"slaves" are 6lack white men, and naturally
entitled 10 the liberty of the white man,
then in Gods name let US be honest and
true American Democrats, and deal justly
with them. OF course i. would be folly to
do this in Virginia, Maryland &c, for if left
there Just as soon as the war is over they
will be restored to "slavery" OF to that status
of the negro common to the States of the
South. They must therefore, be brought to
the northern States, and As they are natural
V entitled to liberty, Of course they are nat
uralIy entitled to al the rights Of the white
man, aud the man base enough to take them
from their Virginia homes aud then refuse to
fellowship with them here is hypocrite aud
scoundreI that deserves the contempt of all
honorable minds Of cou"se our highly de-
veloped and perfect northern society would
not tolerate such injustice as this; but as the
other States have not yet reached the social
perfection of Massachusetts, and Therefore
there might be some little 'lreJndce" still
anloug them against equality and fellowship
with negroes, we propose to the Administers
tion to send to that liberty loving State
where there can be no doubt about the
matter, and VIII, re the Everetts and Prescotts
will at once 90 to work, of course, and raise
these Oppressed and down trodden' sons
and daughters # Africa INTO prood aud
happy fellowship with themselves. Que or
the other must be done---if they are propprty
the property of "rebeIA'-make that prop
ery av; liable for putting down the rebellion;
or if they are blach white men, and na uraIly
entitled to the same liberty. then deal fairly
and mantuly by these poor creatures, and
flaternze and fellowship with them.
NJ "