Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1862-08-12
Gen. Hunters Letter.
PoRT ROYAL, 5. G., July II, 1SG

'"S iSNNi ~ JNGA tt'Sh
June :, 1862, expressing to me the ap-
prOval Of my course in regard to the freed
slaves of this department by the import
ant aud benevolent association Of which
you are President.
Satisfied of having attempted, in the
atsencc Of Instructions, TO do my duty IN
the matter according to the best lights Of
my judgment and 4 long experience, every
assurance of sympathy from men whose
characters esteem is gratifying, and en-
ables ne to wait with more patience for
those inevitable days which are to give
policy on the slavery question to our
G1vernment.
1t is my only fear that the Lesson may
not be understood and acted upon until
read in characters of blood at the freside
of every Northern family. To attain wis
dom, we mast sutf.r but that wisdom on
the Slavery question must tiually be OBJ
tanned, Is my sustaining faith.
Our people are not dull of cOmprehen-
sion in regard to matters about which free
play is given to their common sense
When fire is spreading through block
Of houses, they do not hesitate to batter
down al intermediate house to save the
remainder Of the block When the pligue
occupies an infected district, the district is
qparantiued, and every resource OF science
and industry pat forth TO rid the locality
of its presence. The soldiers of health
are by no means ordered to mount guard
over each su.,ren house aud see that the
vested Interests of pestileuce are protected.
"Break open doors, if they be not opened, ="
is the order on these occasions. "Let in
fresh air and sun light: let purity replace
corruption"
But 10 presence Of one great evil, which
has SO long brooded over our country, the
intelligence of large portion of our peo-
pie would seem paralyzed aud helpless.
Their moral nerves lie torpid under its
bcnumbing shadow. Its breath has been
the pestiIence of the political atmosphere
in which our statesmen have been nurtured;
and never, | fear, until its beak is drip
ping with the best blood of the country,
and its talcns tangled in her vitals, will
the free masses Of the loyal States be fully
aroused to the necessity of abating the
abOmlnaiion at whatever cost and BY Hkat-
ever agencies.
This is written not politically, but
according to my profession in the military
sense Looking forward, there looms up
a possibility (only too Tosslble) Of peace
which shall be nothing but an armstice,
with every advantage secured to the Ee
bellion. Nothing can give US permanent
peace but successful prosecution Of the
war, with every weapon aud energy at our
command, to its logical aud legitimate con-
clusion. The fomenting cause Of the Ee-
bcliOn must be nbated; the ak must be
lnid 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
q1arieIs heretofore opposed to my views in
favor of armiDg the blacks, of change
of sentiment. Our recent disasters before
Richmond have served to illuminate many
minds.
To speak Of using the negroes merely
for throwing Up intreuchments, is step in
the right direction, though far short of
what must be the end 1t has the advan-
tage, however, uf making the further and
final steps necessary for men working in
face of the enemy must have arms with
which to protect themselves if suddenly
attacked
On the whole, there is much reason to
be satisfied with the progress made by
public sentiment, considering how deeply
rooted were the prejldices to be overcome,
the general failure of the nation to realize
at first the proportions of the war, aud the
impunity still extended to those Northern
traitors who are the plunderers of the Gov
ernment 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 aud
courageous traitors Of the South who are
in arms against Us.
In conclusion, it may be not inappro-
pirate to say that in transmitting the ap-
proval of the National Freedmau's Relief
Association of my course, you we're
doubtless uGconsciously-indorsing views !
which your own earnest eloIuencc had 10
slight share liz maturing. Though withou,
the pleasure of your personal acquaintance,
| was, during year, member Of your
and take this opportunity of
gratefully acknowledging my Indebtedness
to your teachings.
Your letter would have been earlier
answered, had not pressing duties too
fully occupied my time.
Believe me, Sir, very truly your obliged
and obedient servant, ID. HUNTER.
Z. S.-Noue of the carefully fos tered
delusions by which Slavery has sustained
itself is more absurd than the bugbear of
"a general migration of negroes North"
As a necessary sequence Of emancipation.
So far is this from being the fact, that
although it is we'll known that l give
passes North to all negroes asking them,
not more than dozen have applied to mc
or such passes since my arrival here, their
ocal attachments being apparently much
tronger than with the white race. My
experience leads me to believe that the
xact reverse of the received opinion on
his subject would form the rule, and that
,earlv n not u,i ts all the negroes OF the