Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-12-24
PROVISION FOR FREEDMEN.

AuoWn W all t"dI JUST 30 IaI as our aihcS aufnnoo
and occupy the land, the relation Of master and
slave practically ceases to exist. The masters re-
treat to the South with portion of their slaves,
and the rest flee to our lines for shelter and pro-
lection, The plantations cease to be cultivated,
and, as has been we'll said, Gall the machinery
cety is not in a great measure broken up"
OF the slaves who come to us, we take the
able-bodied and convert them into soldiers and
laborers, and then there remain the women and
children. These are slaves who, as q necessary
result of our military policy in regard to the blacks,
have been deprived of their masters, and among
these unfortunates are wives and children whom
We have deprived of their husbands and fathers.
In view of this military conscnption of the able
bodied blacks at the South, the New York Times
justly argues national responsibility for the safe
keeping and sustenance Of the black families thus
left without their natural guardians and supporters.
To this effect our contemporary says:
at must be remembered that for the peculiar misfor-
tunes of these wreched families the nation is not only
motely but prOximatey responsible In the little compa
MES of refugees which continually entered nes there
sufficient number Of able bodied to have sup
ported both the rfrm and the children. But the military
exgences required the services of the men, and they
forced received into the army As natural
sequence their families were left dependent public
support Still, with this unfortunate result of
invasion, there need have been absolute pauparsm
suffering bad there been any proper organization for the
care and MANAGEMENT Of these poor people They we're
left however, to the chance merces of the officers aud
Of the armies, and the only directors placed over
them, believe, certain chaplans, wh0 whatever
their disposition, had, of course, police sanitary
powers and authority to organize labor Gen. Grant
like true soldier, has always shown himself most humane
and consderate toward these unfortunate refugees bat
what can General at the head Of hundred thousand
in face of the enemy, do in the management and set
tement of some of the most intricate social questions
that the proper treatment Of poverty and the of
the myriads of these black castawaysf"
The account, given by army chaplains and
others with regard to the suferings Of this depen
dant class are of the most narrowing description.
They represent that thousands upon thousands Of
slave women and children, together with in6rm old
men, are scattered about on the banks of the Mis-
sissippi, in rough camps, under no supervision,
suffering from sickness, exposure, and often hun
ger, and dying in startling numbers. Their camps
| or settlements have no sanitary police; they are
unprovided with proper clothing or medical atten-
dance they depend for food on the charity of the
army officers and no machinery for providing them
| the dreadful scenes which have accompanied this
war, probably none have exceeded in pathos and
suffering some of those displayed in the freed
mems camps" on the banks of the Mississippi
The reader will find moving appeal under this
head in another part Of to-day's paper, from the
pen Of the Rev. Mr. Fiske, who speaks from per-
sonal knowledge of the desttution and misery he
seeks to relieve
Various plans have been suggested for the pro-
per organization of labor among the freed slaves
as means of making them self-sustaining The
Emancipation Commission have proposed sys-
tenn of local superintendent under a national
superintendent who shall have charge of the sani-
tary condition, moral welfare, and industry of all
the freedmen Of the oountry--the whole, we sup
pose to be responsible directly to the Secretary Of
War. The details of this complicated plan were
spread before our readers some months ago. Mean
while the Secretary of War, in his recent Report,
benevolently recommends that they should be main
tanned as wards and pensioners Of the GovAr.-.
To this effect he says:
"The fortunes Of have brought within our lines
large number of oolored women children and aged
persona lner and protection
rest solemn trust upon the Government Their neces-
sites have to extent been supplied by the order Of
this Department, but general and permanent system
their protection and support should be speedily adopted
by Congress Even If they are to be regarded in
degree burden upon the Government they greater
loss to the enemy. Every and child from nine
old to sixty has TO the rebel planter high market
value. Their labor in the cotton field of profit
to him. Is it not better that should feed them than
that they should support the rebel master who in
| against usf"
The whole subject is fraught with many embar
easements, but we must not forget that while men
are celebrating on the subject in Washington the
negroes are dying by hundreds in Mississippi All
a,ree that something must be done for their relief
It is not question Of party but Of humanity. Itis
| idle to say that the negroes should not have been
reduced to this forloru condition. The past cannot
be recalled, and the present hour has its duties and
responsibilities which all humane men are bound
to meet, without distinction Of party. Especially
is the Government called to devise ways and means
for coping with exigencics which it has created by
its military policy.
| We are enabled to state, on reliable authority,
that letter published In the New York Tribune a
dav or two aoo nurnortinr to be a letter from