Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-08-21
Gen. Hunter on the Slave Question.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
HILroN HEAD PoRT ROYAL, S. c., July II.

HEAEQUARTERs DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH
HILroN HEAD PoRT ROYAL, S. c., July II.
Rev. STEPHEN II. TYING,
Pres of the Nat Freedman's Relief Association N City,
SIR: have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt OF your communication dated June 2,
1862, expressing to me the approval OF my
course in regard to the freed slaves of this de-
partment by the important and benevolent as
soclatlon OF which you are president. Salts
fled of having attempted, in the absence of in
structions, to do my duty in the matter accord
ing to the best lights OF my judgment and a
long experience, every assurance of sympathy
from men whose characters | esteem is gratify-
ing, and enables me to wait with more patience
for those inevitable days which are to give
policy on the slavery question to our govern
ment. 1t is my only fear that the lesson may
not be understood and acted upon until read in
characters of blood at the fireside of every
northern family. To attain wisdom we must
suffer- but that wisdom on the slavery ques-
ton must finally be obtained, is my sustaining
faith.
Our people are not dull of comp ehension in
regard to matters about which free play is given
to their common sense. When fire is spread
ing through block of houses, they do not
hesitate to batter down an intermediate house
to save the remainder of the block. When the
plague occupies an infected district, the district
is quarantined, and every resource of science
and industry put forth to rid the locality of its
presence. The soldiers of health are by no
means ordered to mount guard over each smit-
ten house and see that the vested interests of
pestilence are protected. "Break open doors,
If they be not opened" is the order on these
occasions. LET in fresh air and sunlight let
purity replace CORFU ton"
But in presence OF one great evil which has
so long brooded over our country the inteli-
gence OF large portion of our people would
seem paralyzed and helpless. Their moral
nerves lie torpid under its benumbing shadow.
Its breath has been the pestience of the polili-
cal atmosphere in which our statesmen have
been nurtured; and never, | fear, until its
beak is dripping with the best blood of the
country, and its talons tangled in her vitas,
will the free masses of the loyal states be fully
aroused to the necessity of abating the abomi-
nation at whatever cost and by whatever agen-
cies.
This is written. not politically, but according
to my profession in the military sense. Look
ing forward here looms up possibility (only
too possible) of peace which Shall be nothing
but an armistice, with every advantage secured
to the rebellion. Nothing can give us perma-
nent peace but successful prosecution of the
war; with every weapon and energy at our COM
mand to its logical and legitimate conclusion.
The fomenting cause of the rebellion must be
abated the AK must be laid to the root of the
upas tree which has rained down such bitter
fruit upon our country, before anything like
permanent peace can be justly hoped
Already see signs in many influential quar-
ters, heretofore opposed to my views in favor
of arming the blacks, of change of sentiment.
Our recent disasters before Richmond have
served to illustrate many minds. To speak of
using the negroes merely for throwing up in
trenchments is step in the right direction,
though far short of what must be the end. 1t
has the advantage, however, of making the fur
ther and final steps necessaryi for men work
ing in face of the enemy must have arms with
which to protect themselves il suddenly at
tackled. On the whole, there is much reason to
be satisfied with the progress made by public
sentiment, considering how deeply rooted were
the prejudices to be overcome, the general fail
ure of the nation to realize al first the propor-
tons of the war, and the impunity still ex-
tended to those northern traitors who are the
plunderers of the government by means of
fraudulent army and navy contracts, on the one
hand, while using every energy of tongue and
pen to excite discomfort with our government
and sympathy with the more candid and