, 1862-10-29

The Contrabnnds Not a Burden on
the G0FerAn1ent.

Tic :ollowlng important letter Is from the
superintendent Of contrabands, at Washing
ton, to Gov. Yates. II Eili possess especial
interest for Western readers from the fact that
It's writer Was successfully superintendent Of
the Chicago Reform Schools and the Michigan
State r. form School.
CosrAArASD DEPARTMENT, CAxr BAnKEE,(
WAsli1NtiTt'S. D. G., Oct 81. 1s6s. {
To His Excellency Richard Yates Governor Of H.
liro:e:
Eir: From testimony deemed by me relianle
! learned yesterday that, in m address lately
,aaae In Southern Illinois by IN cx-Mem5=r Of
ConErcss. this representation was made that
~ Na;,ainnSto,, y AZ the present tine, no le*s
then i0NI0 coutrabands" were subsiet.d
aid clothed ut the govt rnment expense. Now
n statement comlng from u source so high,
ulCrc The individual is supposed to know the
farts, would tend to influence mischieyousIy
a large class of our citizens who have no cor
Mt uieans Of obtaining the facts: Tnus I felt
advising With SOHO OF your friends In Wash
fngtou, puttiDg you in possession Of the facts
which you are at liberty to usa As Ton deem
bk:f1 Tor the cause OF truth a7d jnstice.
last june I was appointed by Gen. Wateworth
superintendent Of the contrsbands ut "DuT
Green's Row. Washington, where found
about aeQ persons, young sad old Since III;
appointment, up to tue present time, no less
than :, GOO contrabands, Of both sexes and
all ngce, hive passed through mr. hands.
u TIE above number, all bat G73 have gone
out, either to do for themselves, labor ia prl-
vate families. Or work for the Eorernulent.
The 6i5 tour present numbet) Includes 1a0
| who have been sent ue from the various mit-
tszy enca1npmen:s la and about Washington,
aru from the hands employed by the qusrter-
naste and commissEry departments, and arc
! sent to us for medical treatment Then We
| have about twenty who are employed A: forty
ccnts per cay in the service Of the camp. b.
sidts tbtse. quite number Of the remsindcr
r, cut during the day to wash for the sick
soldiers at the hospitals, and return to their
fan ilics at night IN the camp. This 1esres 4
small talarce Of those too old and indrm for
profitable labor, or too young to 60 to scr
wee. And even the mothers, with their large
and dependent families, have husbands iu the
army OF navy, and have been sent to US for
| protection and sustenancc, while their hus-
bands are employed By our army.
| As to clothing, the government has not At
any time furnished thesF people with any. no..
re-. Nanaxt*, except in & few esse:. Northern
s16o1n thS th NGnat Fred
traband Relief Assoelation," have thus far
1utnashed the clotling for these: destitute
ons*. Anus We see, In the light Of these facts.
thas . ~ tne TT raised by alarnlsts about
coni!apanos' being burden to the govern
politicians.
Then, again, the CRY which Is 30 ofsen raised
by thcee same destgning men, that the Nnrt1
will be crowded with "niggers," !" and thst the
poor whites will have to suffer Ia congeduence
Is alike without foundation; for while appIi
cations are daily made By persons from all tht
Northern and Western states, and the mos
liberal offers Of pay made to these people
they VIII consent to 60. ret not one In hun
Thus, when the question. OF Eoyernmen
burden for 40, ,000.N contrabands" Is: consid
cred IN the light Of truth, It il reduced to 400
while the Thousands Of those who some hav'
; hoped to SEE enigratlng to the North AMI
) | Vest, 60 Into the column Of units. =. :.
IL The thonsanhs expended By government 70
clothing the "contrabands," turns ont to b
,, Just nothIpg, and "idlene:s;" spoken OF Il
!, In the light Of truth, speedily converted iat
erecting forti1cadons. Qilieent and laborioo
toll In nil the se1vne departments Of the GOV
efnmelt ....-.. .r~.,. ~. -
No, instead Of these people being drug d
the bands OF the government, ten could
, to-day employed, while we hhre but oae
fu1nfsh. Youss, respecHutlY,
D. B. Nichols. !,
f. supt Of contzabands 1t 0amp Bnaer.