New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-27
Y. w. BUD.
J. II. STEPHENSON.
). q. HOWE. SCommittee
NJ ID. CONWAY,
BENJAMIN II. WEST !
HE.-Fron Beaufort. y. q.

BKAUroRr jan. G. 1863
DEAR SiR: Gen. Saxton has handed tue circular
letter lately received by him from the Emancipation League
As he much occupied be able the
hrnseif he has directed it for him.
Gen Ssxoa e.timates the number of contra5snds the
Department Of the South" about 1900 In the OF
South Carolina alone there within line, not loss
than twelve thousand contrabsnds The numbst Key
West ST Augustine FernAndiaa aud other point, Florida is
about six thousand according hs best estimates
nov make.
Statistics carefully gathered about the lat OF hay. 1892
show that out Of population Of $780, the plan atoms of
South CAroin. then within loes 36ls children too
young to be classed hands able
your first question fully.
In answer to your second question: will say that after
having lived the plantations for nearly light months with
good opportunities for observing the conduct OF negroes
flee bore it 10y personal conviction that the negroes in
this Department. almost without exception would readily be-
industrious and productive sborer under any liberal
system should offer fair and reasonably certain
psnssiion proportioncd work actually dous Consider
ins tina, reasonable certainty Of eDoyngs fair harvest is
The only natural nduceea: other that Of absolute
cessity for to work think that the negroes In ids
Department have 20 far shown much willingness TO work
o. white would have under tho came circumstances
Although the negroes here very ready spend their
money for clothing and the ordinary comforts of life
although many of fond OF hoop aud jew.
y
that the negroes form marked exception in these matters
the rect OF humanity.
As regards profanity aud ntemperance think the negroes
except where they have learned Dad habits from soldiers
are mared exception the human family generally. be-
heve however that ably managed dsu-Snops should be
established at suitable poats these islands the negroes
would acquire the habit of nteperanee and thus all
distinctions Of in this respect would beswept away
A to chastity it is my opinion, formed entirely since
/ IN IL,
great regardless OF the ceremony OF marriage did
not wholly take Away their brthght Of modey the idea
o. hdeiity between and wife
Ia answer to your third question would say that except
IN rare instances there disposition to North As long
a. lie eau be made tosrsbe South they
prefer 10 stay in their old homes
The desire is almost upivsr.aI THAR ds.,. q, az
great shat they learn quckly-the teachers all say az
quickly a. white children Few could read when thew came
within our lines now many read cannot ansver Mi.
question fully
The religious element in their show. i,sal IN faith
rather THAI in practice. They more pious than moral
Their condition a. slaves was undoubtedly to uch
development Of the religious element and the STYLE 81 %
teaching which prevalent iu the South did M,
in wsy. Freedom penicou. doctrlns,p NJ Ih
ers Christianity will believe develope the moral eeme,
Their Of morality appears chiefly common bsbi,
Of lying and stealing
came to this Department without any knowledss Of Me
negro character prepared 20 ssvag.s no. only
thiros for the horrors Of serye instruction quite
ready 10 tear me limb from limb unles could succeed in
making myself agreeable to them have since found
Q. very general rule gentle and ready to obey reasonable
de-smoa gentle in many CASES TO stand up for he
own rights have very seldom any disposition
venss upon their masters
believe that nearly all the able bodied persons both male
and fsmae have been employed to ses'er OF less extent
BY the Government its officers during the past eight
months The agricultural operations carried on at r' by DIR
Pierce and then under Gen SaIton gave employment
be,wsen four and Eve thousand lsboe 9th other able
bodied persons within lines there probably very fe"
who have been employed to extent either In thu
usrtesmaster Commlssarys department, OF private
s.vsn TO officers and civilians Although there is good do
snd for labor 10 not very steady demand The aborer
sn io.s much In the intervals between one job and
smother.
Tho ossrmssers Department pays to common lab0rer'
i've dollars per month, beside giving each laborer s'odie'
sslioo mechanics eight dollars per month beside VIC 10