The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-27
Gen. Mansfield on the War.
Correspondence of the New York Tribune.
NEWPORT News, Va. Feb. 9. 1876

NEWPORT News, Va, Feb. 9, 1862
The gods still chastise US for neglecting De
cember. Observation-Disclosures one would
expect that Deluge No. 2 was upon us, were i,
not for the steady, stately flow of the noble
James river, which shows that the fountains o
the deep are not opened yet.
l told you that | would write you on the
Contraband subject. These poor refugees are
at present. into the frying pan out OF the fire .
only. They work hard and get no pay. They
came to be treemen, and we hold them slayes-
slaves of the United States
The General in command of the department
sent down to collect the money these poor fellows
had earneu here, and Gen. Mansfield, U. 5. A.,
resisted, on the ground that they We're neither
slaves nor contraband of war.
"A commission was therefore appointed to in
Qulrc into che matter, and he wrote them his
views In II letter, u copy Of which | enclose. Ii
d!sp0ses OF the whole matter most ably and con
cluslvely. 1t was Il Dumb-sheil Thrown into
highly conservative Fortress Monroc--a bomb.
shell from Il battery served by ii bris&dier-gcn-
eral OF the regular army.
CAMP BUTLLR NEWPORT NAws, Va, Feb. 8.
10 The Commission, Col. Cram, Lieut.. Cot.
Cannon, anti Major Jones. appointed per
General Orders No S, from HeadquQjlers De-
paf|"tAt Of Nrglnlo, to laq~ir2 iAto The con-
dH!0n Of certain coHTdbaadS:
GENTLEMEN By invitation Of q member Of
the Commission, | take the liberty to express to
the Commission NY views on the subject Of the
contraband negroes, So called. These can be d.
vlded into four classes
lst, Those aban1oned by their Rebel owners,
and com peeled to ask for work and support.
2. These who have run AWAY irom thoir own
nrc tln I(nt,Iy tA ,lt,., ,t:. rt $500.
control.
Sd, Those who have been pat at work by
ttlclr Rebel masters On the Notifications, &C..
to resist the Government, and have made their
escape.
Ala. Free negroes who seek wogk tor 4 support.
lhe question now arises as to these negroes
ls tbe United sVttes bound to hold item as
and depriye them OF their right to 20
where th2y please? Is is cle&r taaJ they are
nat prisoners OF war, for they have never been
lound il arms, End havo maze tle!Y escape to
avoid takinG par agairs, the Unito. States, or
nave been abandoned to the United States, lis
the rebels have abandoned lands, houses, cattle,
&c., and are human beings cast on tho world
with nothing but their hands to obtain Il .iycii.
nood. Some OF t?em having worked on rebel
iortliications, &c, are released (undpr the 4th
~""''"' ~ e'E N u ooiAiCcS IL lllC Oll Au-
1861, 10 contscate property from further
IS their position? Why, simply that of any
person III the country released by law from tho
OF an obIigalion-a free person.
All these negroes. with the exception of The
fourth class are, or have been claimed as prog
orty by the very rebels who have taken up arms
against the United States, and are lawful Dlun-
j property. Bot they are not PROPERTY,
persons held TO labor andar the Constitution
in certain States, and nowhere else and are
not bound or held to labor for the United States,
consequently they are not slaves to the United
IL is clear the condition of slaves with
hem was coexistant with he obligations of the
Confederate Slave States to the Constitution
ma laws Of the United States, against which
hey are Ia open armed rebellion.
Now what are these negroes ? Are they not
reemen by this state of rebellion {? BY the act
Slcesslon, the Confederate States have v0lun-
arily broken the Constitution and laws Of the
mon. and nave taken up arms against that
and those laws. and lle United
are thereby absolved from the enforce
nent OF the iuguitivG slave law. even If so ab.
yrd a claim were put forth. IF this statement
trno they arc entitled ~ iahore1s to ali the
wages they can earn, and 70 20 where they
'lcase, and L would recommend that all their
be paid to them while in the United
employ, and that all officers and all others
'ho employ them in this depMrtmentbe required
pay them a just compensation, and thar they
e allowed 70 improve their condition il oppor-
unity should admit.
You are at liberty to use this letter as you
lease.
am gentlemen, very respectfully your ODE.
s'ryant.
MANsEIELD. BRIG. GEN. II. s