Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-08-14
Letter from General Hunter to the Rev.
Stephen n Tying,
The following is Gen. Hunters reply to the
inquiries of the president Of the National
Freedman's Association

| inquiries OK the president OF tho NaAopGi
Freedman's Association
| HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF TIE SoUTH,
| Hilton Head, Port Royal S. c., July IT, lo62.
Ret. Stephen Iyng, President Of the National Freed
mans Relief Associaton NetD York City:
| S1R: l have the honor to acknowledge the
| receipt Of your COMMUNICATION, dated June Q,
| 1862, expressing to me the approval Of my
course iu regard to the freed slaves of this De-
| partment, by the important and benevolent as
sociatiOn Of which you are president.
Satisfied Of having attempted, in the ab-
sence OF Instructions. to do my duty in the mat
ter according to the best lights OF my judg-
ment and long experience, every assurance of
sympathy from men whose characters esteem
is gratifying, and enables me to wait with
more patience for those inevitable days which
are to give policy on the slavery question to
our government.
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 eYery
Northern family To attain wisdom we must
suffer bat that wisdom on the slavery ques-
ton must finally be obtained. is my sustaining
faith
Our people are not dull Of comprehension 10
regard to matters about which free play is
given to their common sense. When fire ia
spreading 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 10.
cality of its presence. The soldiers of health
are by no means ordered to mount guard over
each smtten house and see that the vested in.
serests of pestlence are protected. Break
open doors, il they be not opened, is the Or
der on these occasions Let in fresh air and
sunlight; let purity replace corruption"
But in presence Of one great evil which
has SO long brooded over our country, the in.
telligence Of large portion of our people
would seem paralized and helpless. Their
morel nerves lie torpid under its benumbing
shadow. Its breath has beer the pestilence Of
the politca! atmosphere il which Cur states.
men have been uurtured aud uever, fear,
until its beak is dripping with the best blood
Of the country, and its talons tangled in her
vitsls, vii. the free masses OF the loyal States
be fully aroused to the necessity Of abating the
ahomination ut whatever cost and by whatey.
er agencies
This is written. not politically, bu. accord
ing to my profession in the military sense
Looking forward, there looms up possibility
(only too possible) of peace which shall be
uQthlng but an srmstlce, with every advantage
secured TO the rebellion Nothing can give
Us permanent peace but O successful prosecu.
tion Of the war, With every weapon and ener-
gy at our command, to it's logical and legiti-
mate conclusion. The fomenting cause of the
rebellion must be abated the axe must be laid
TO the reot Of the upas tree which has rained
down such bitter fruit upon our country, be-
tore anything like permanent peace can be
justly hoped.
Already see signs in many influential quar-
tets, heretofore opposed to my views in favor
of arming 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 entertainments is step in the
righe direction, though far short of what must
be the end. 1t has The advantage, however,
of making the further and final steps necessa.
~ y; for men working in face of the enemy
must have arms with which to protect them
selves il suddenly attacked
On the whole, there is much reason to be
satisfied With the progress made by public sen-
timent, considering how deep rooted were tho
prejudices to be overcome, the general failure
of the nation to realize at first the proportions
OF tbs war; and the impunity still extended to
those Northern traitors who are the plunder-
ers of the Government by means of fraudulent
army and Eayy contracts, on the Que hand.
while using every energy Of tongue aud pen to
excite discomfort with our Government and
sympathy with the more candid and Courageous
traitors of the south who are 10 arms against
US.
La conclusion, 1t may not be inappropriate
to say that in transmitting the approval of the
HNational Freedmans Relief Association of nv
course, you were. doubtless, unconsciously en-.
dorsing views which your own earnest elo-
queuce had nc slight share in maturing Tho
without the pleasure of your personal acquain.
tance, was, during year, a zaember OF your
congregation, and take this opportunity Of
gratefully acknowledging nay Indebtedness to
your teachings
Your letter would have been earlier ans.
wered, had not pressing duties too fully occu-
pied my time.
Believe me, sir, very truly your obliged and
obedient servant, d. HUNTER.
p S-None Of the carefully foStered delu.
sions By which slavery has sustained itself at
the North, is more absurd than the bugbear Of
general migration of the negroes to the
North, /" as necessary sequence OF emancpa-
ton. 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 me for such pass-
es since my arrival here, their local attach
ments being apparently much stronger than
with the white race. My experience leads me
to believe that the exact reverse of the rscsiv-
ed opinion on this subject would form the rule,
and that nearly ii not quite all the negroes of
the North would migrate South whenever they
shall be at liberty to do so without fear of the
! auction block. Sincerely, d. II.