Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-11-19
MORNING LEADER.
The contrnband Queslion.


What shall be done with the contra
bands, that class of persons within our
lines, lately slaves, but now free, is a
question, equally urgent perple1iDg and
important. There are now about one mil
lion Of these emancipated people seeking
employment and support. Is it "cOnsti-
tutiOnali for the National Government 10
aid them? It viii not do to quibble over
this and kindred questions. Here is new
state Of things. There is no precedent
The Government must make one. These
people must be subjected to immense suf-
fsring, unless aid can be furnished to on
extent impossible to reach by private ben
efsctions. Individual efforts and contri-
butiens can do much, and the efforts Of
seltmOved, and self-Organized assOcia-
tions should not be pretermiited. The
Government must move in this behalf, and
lead snd guide, organize and systematiEe
efforts in their behalf. 1t might be proper
for States to move for the relief of their
own suffering poor. But in the insurgent
States, there are no State Governments to
do it. consequently the work is National.
These people are not to be supported in
idleness. Means for their employment
must be devised, and they can soon be
made to be self-supporting. But now, in
their transition state from slavery to free
dom, destitute Of food and clothing and
all thiDgs as they are, they must be helped
temporarily, till employment can be found
and some system of free, compensatory Ia
Dor devised. This done, soon these freed
men viii be able to take, care of them-
selves.
1t matter that appeals fOrcibly to
the Executive and Congress Of the Nation,
Is well as to individual benevolence. 1t
81 case that admits Of no delay. Winter
f. at the door. There is suffering and it
must be relieved. The opening of Southern
spring agricultural work is not far in the
future, and work should be provided on
some just plan for all these people. They
have the same susceptibility as other
people, and they should have the induce
ment and stimulus to labor which com.
psnsation affords. Compensation, gradu-
sted to the work performed, will develop
their energies, and call out their industry.
While the sble bodied negroes may be
sailed to the service of the country in the
various employment Of camp and field TO
which they are adapted, the women and
children, the youth, and the more advanced
In years can all labor on plantations and
become self-suppOrting, and more too.
What better can be done than TO act up
on the Cooper Institute idea Of Bureau
Of Emancipation" through which a sys-
TEN Of compensatory, free labor may be
organized to bring forth the productions of
Southern fields and farms, abandoned by
the insurgents, or oOnAscAted, justly for
feited to the Government, by the crimes
and treason Of the late owners and pro-
pristOrs.
If this view of Government action, in
the establishment Of Bureau of Emanci- |
patton meets the approval Of the people,
should not petitions to Congress be cirCu
lated for signatures that at the opening |
Of the session, their attention may be
called promptly to the urgency of this i'm
portant matter.
The current of events, having opened
the prison house of bondage, and delivered
to freedom so many of its inmates, great
additional responsibility is cast upon the
Government and the people. Let it be
met -