Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-04-23
New York, \ pril :
Gold closed at Ia l47 H.

EXTRACT FROM THE SPEECH OF GEN,
Thomas AT LAKE PROVIDENCE. la
Tn the first day of January last the Pres
ldent Issued a proclamation declaring from
that day forward all the slaves of the
States then in rebellion should be free. -
! on know that vast numbers of these
slaves are within Your borders, ms de the
lines of this army. They come into your
camps and you cannot receive them. The
authorities in Washington are very much
panied to Lear, and | tear with truth in
many cases, that some of these poor un-
fortunates have on different occasions been
turned away from us, and their applca-
tons tor admission within our lines have
been refused by our officers and soldiers.
This is not the way to use freed men. The
question came up in Washington, "What
is best to be done with this unfortunate
race Z" They are coming upon us in
such numbers that some provision must be
made for them. You cannot send them
North. You all know the prejudice of the
North against receiving large numbers of
the colOred race. Some Stats have pass
ed laws forbidding them from coming with
IN their borders. AT this dav, in the same
States, persons who have brought them
have been arraigned before the Courts to
answer for the violation of the State ELI
actments.
Look along the river and see the null
tlLude OF deserted plantations along its
banks. L ese are the places for these
freedmen, where they can be self sustain
ing and sef-sapporting. All of YOU will
som3 day be on picket duty, and | charge
you all if any of this unfortunate race
come within Your lines that you do not
turn them away utreceive themkindly and
cordially. They are to be encouraged to
come to Us. They are to be received with
open arms; they are TO be fed and clothed;
they are ~ be armed
This is the policy that has keea fully
determined upon. am here to say that
| am authorized TO raise as MANY regi-
ments of blacks as | can. | am author
lied to give commissions from the highest
to the 10 est, and desire those persons
who are earnest in this work to take hold
of it. desire only those whose hearts
are in it, and to them alone will [ give
commissions. | don't care who they are,
or what their present rank may be. do
not hesitate to say that all proper persons
will receive comm ssions.
While am authorized thus in the name
Of the Secretary Of War, have the full
est authority TO dismiss from the army any
man, be his rank what 1t may, whom |
find maltreating the freedmen. ] his part
Of my duty | will most assuredly perform
if any case comes before me. would
rather do that than give commissions, be-
cause such men are unworthy the name Of
soldiers.
hope to hear that in this splendid di-
vision, as | know it to be, veterans rs Ma
poleon would call them--for you are vet
erans-E hore to hear before leave that
| shall be able to raise at least regiment
from among yon, don't want to ston,; Ct q,
one, nor at tpo. must have two at least.
1t is possible that can procure four.
would like to raise on this river twenty
regiments at least before | go back.
shall tase all the women and children and
all the men unfit for orr military organi-
cations, and place them on these plalta-
tions; then take these regiments and put
them in the rear. They will guard the
rear effectively, Knowing the country
well, and familiar with all the roads and
swamps, they will be able TO track out the
accursed guerillas and run them from the
land. When get regiments raised You
may sweep out into the interior with i'm
punity. Recollect, for every regiment of
blacks raise, | raise regiment of whites
to face the enemy in the field. This, fel-
low soldiers, is the determined pc icy of
the Administration. You all know full
well, when the President of the United
States, though said to be slow in coming to
a determination, when he once puts his
foot down it is there, and he is not going
to take it up. He has put his fool. down;
] am here to assure you that my official
influence shall be given that he shall not
raise it.