Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-08-14
SLAVERY IN THE WAR.
Letter from Gen. Hunter to the Rev
Stephen H. Tying.
[Ffon The New york Tribune !

Letter from Gen. Hunter to the Rev.
Stephen H. Tying.
tProfn the New York Tribunel
Gen. Hunters letter to Rev. DR.. Tying,
which we print this morning, will be read
with profound interest by thousands. Gen.
Hunter, be il observed, is an extensive slave.
holder, was born and reared in Slave State,
aud knows Slavery and slaves more than al
most any man who talks about them. II,
Is by education and choice a soldier of the
Republic, and probably never voted in his
llte, nor took any active part in politics.
What he says, therefore, has weight and
authority which the opinions of few men are
entitled TO.
SHEADQ.s Dy7'r or THE Sorru
HILTON HEAD, PoEr ROYAL, s. c., July ~, i992
'Rer. Stephen H. Tylg, P-esileat of The
Ndtioaat FreedD,an's Relief Associ1tion,
New York CITY.
Sir: l 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 Department, by the important and
benevolent association of which you are
President.
Satisfied of having attempted, in the
absence OF instructions, to do my duty in the
matter according to the best lights of my
judgment and long experience, every assur.
ance of sympathy from men whose charac-
ters L esteem is gratifying, and enables me
to wait with more patience for those newt
able days which are to give policy on the
Slavery question to our Government.
Ut Is my only feaT 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 wisdom
we must suffer; but that wisdom on the
Slavery question must finally be obtained,
Is my sustaining faith.
Our people are not dull of comprehension
in regard to matters about which free play
is given to their common sense. When q
fire is spreading through block of houses
they do not hesitate to batter down an in.
terlnediate house to save the remainder of
the block. When the plague occupies ar
injected district, the district is quarentineC
and every resource of science and industry
put forth to rid the locality of its presence
The soldiers Of health are by no means or
dered to mount guard over each smitter
house and see that the vested interests of
pestilence arc protected. Break opcr
doors, fthey be not opened is the ordel
on these occasions. Let in fresh air ant
sunlight; let purity replace corruption
But in presence of one great evil which
has SO long brOoded over our country, tn,
intelligence of large portion of orr pcopl,
would seem paralyzed and helpless Thei
moral nerves lie torpid under its benumbinl
shadow. Its breath has been the pestilenc,
Of the political atmosphere in which oul
statesmen have been nurtured; and never
fear, until its beak is dripping with the bes
blood of the country, and its talons tangled
in her vitals, will the free masses Of the loya
States be fully aroused to the necessity OF
abating the abomination at whatever cos
and by whatever agencies.
''This is written, not politically, but ac
cording to my profession in the militar.
sense. Looking forward, there looms up
possibility (ony too possible) of peact
which shall be nothing but an armistice. will
every advantage secured to the rebellion
Nothing can give us permanent peace bu
q successful prosecution Of the war, will
every weapon and energy at our command
1 fomenting cause of the rebellion must b.
the upas tree which has rained down sucl
bitter fruit upon our country, before any
thing like permanent peace can be justly
cared for.
ALREADY 1 see signs in many infuentia
quarters, heretofore opposed to my view
in favor of arming the blacks, of a change
of sentiment. Our recent disastcrs before
I Richmond have served to illuminate many
mind; mind;
4 for throwing up intrenehments is step il
the right direction, though far shor
of what must be the end. 1t has the ad
vantage, however, of making the furthe
and final steps necessary; for men workinI
in face of the enemy must have arms witt
2 which to protect themselves if suddenly at
tackled.
"On the whole, there is much reason t
be satisfied with the progress made by pull
lie sentiment, considering how deeply roote
were the prejudices to be overcome, tn
general failure of the nation to realize 9
: first the proportions of the war, and the in
punity still extended to those Norther
traitors who are the plunderers of the Go,
!, ernment by means of fraudulent army an
. navy contracts, on the other band, viii
= using every energy of tongue and pen to e,
!, cite discomfort with our Government m
~ sympathy with the more candid aud cou
. . ageous traitors of the South who are in arm
against us. at
q SIN conclusion in it may not be, appropria
y y to say that in transmitting the approval {
= the National Freedman Relief Associate
:, Of my course, you were--doubtless unco
y sciously-indorsing views which your ov
i earnest eloquence had no slight share in m
. turing. Though without the pleasure {
" : your personal acquaintance, was, during
!, year, member Of your congregation, ar
;, take this opportunity of gratefully acknow
= edeing my indebtedness to your teaching
i "Your letter would have been earlier a
n swered, had not pressing duties too fully o
il cupied my time.
= ''Bclieve me, sir, very truly, your obligt
n n and obedient servant, ID, HUNTER
- - up. s. None of the carefully foster,
~ delusions by which Slavery has sustain,
l.. itself at the North, is more absurd than Il
10 10 bugbearof "A general migration of negro
~ to the North, as necessary sequence
y y emancipation. So. far is this from being 4
y fact, that although it is we'll known that
y, give passes North to allnegroes asking thel
50 not more than dozen have applied
~ ~ me for such passes since my arrival hel
10 thoir local attachments being apparent
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