Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-02-06
Condition of the Contrabands.

circular letter 10 tnose having Charge OF
negroes within our military lines in the
South, asking information as TO their
condition and capacity for self-suppori
The replies are published, and the gist of
them all seems to be in the language of
Gen. Saxton, that the Contrabands are
intensely human They exhibit, in ad-
dition to the well known characteristics
of the race, the natural effects Of educa-
ton in slavery, but are not so degraded
that they do not readily yield to the
came motives as operate upon hurlan
nature under white cuticlc. We quote
enough from the replies of the contra
band agents to indicate their present
needs.
Capt. Z. W. Hooper writes for Gen.
Saxton as follows:
Gen. Saxton estimates the number
of contrabands in the department of the
South at about $4,000. In the State
of South Carolina alone there'.are now
within our lines not less than 10000
contrabands. The number at Key West,
St. Augustine, Fernandina and Other
points in FLORIDA isssabout COCO, accord
ing to the best estimates we can now
make. Considering that a reasonable
certainty of enjoying fair harvest is
the only natural inducement, other than
thlt Of absolute necessity, for any man
to work, think that the negroes in this
department have so far shown as much
willingness TO work as white men would
have under the same circumstances
Except in rare instances, there seems no
disposition to go North. AS long as life
can be made even tolerable to them in
the South, they prefer to stay In their
old homes. The desire to learn is al.
most universal. Their desire is SO great
that they learn very quickly--the teach
ers all say, as quickly as white children.
Few could read when they came within
our lines--now many can read"
Rev. Samuel Sawyer, at Helena, Ar
kansas, writes there are now 1000 con-
trabands within our lines there. In an
swer to several questions, he says:
There is scarcely any iutemperance
among them. Their chastity will com
pare favorably with that of the whites,
and it is at least thirty per cent. better
than that among the whites at Memphis,
Tennessee. In the event of emancipa-
,ion there would be no disposition to 90
North. Emancipation fully carried out
and secured, they would nearly all much
prefer to live in the South. They have
faith in God and in the promises Of His
word-but they are great ways back
Their docility, subordination and kin
bred virtues are without a
parallel in the history of the race. They
seem TO wish well 10 their masters, but
fear that it will not be we'll with them in
the next world, however they may far
here. | have been thrown so much with
the poor whites Of the South during nine
years ministerial labor in East Tennes-
see. and since the progress of the war
have seen and learned so much of them,
and | am clearly of the opinion that the
eonrabands would and could not make
worse progress"
All the contraband agents testify that
the negroes are badly treated by some Of
our officers and soldiers, and that they
need protection against those who should
be their friends, quite as much as against
their old masters. There is also every
where a lack of system as to the en-
plOyment and pay of the negroes, which
should be rsmedied. All the facts broi
out go to show not only that the philan-
thropists of the North have a great work
before them in the care and training OF
the freed negroes, but also the necessity
Of wise and comprehensive system on
the part of the general Government,
which will soon have on its hands hun.
dreds of thousands Of those helpless
grown.up children.
The proposition of Mr.. Elliot of Mas.
sachusetts for bureau of emancipation
in connection with the war department.
seems io-be timely. The bill provides
for commissioner at salary of $4,000,
with assistants and clerks to have the
of all matters pertaining to
The freed negroes, their employment,
support and protection. Tho negroes