Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-04-28
Extract from the Speech of Gen Thomas at
Lake Providence, La.

On the first day Of January last the President
issued bis Proclamation declaring from that day
forward all the slaves in the States then in rebel
lion should be free. You know that vast num-
bers Of these slaves are within your borders, in-
side the lines Of this army. They come into your
camps and you cannot but receive them. The
authorities in Washington are very much panied
to hear, and fear with truth in many cases, that
some nf thess poor uniortunatos have d,hctent
occasions been turned away from US, and their ap-
plcations for admission within our lines have been
refused BY our officers and soldiers. This is not
the way to use freedmen The question came up
IN Washington, What is best TO be done With
this unfortunate race ;" 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 prejudices Of the Northern peo-
pie against receiving large numbers Of the colored
race. Some States have passed laws forbiddng
them TO come within their borders. At this day,
in some States, persons who have brought them
have blen arragned before the Courts TO answer
for the violation Of the State cnactments.
Look along the river and see the multitude Of
deserted plantations upon its banks. These are
the places for these freedmen, where they can be
sefsustaining and setsupporting. All Of you
will some day be on picket duty ahd ! charge
YOU all II any of this unfortunate race come with
in YOUR lines that YOU do not turn them away but
receive them kindly and cordially They are to
be encouraged to come to US. They are TO be re-
ceyed with open arms they are to be fed and
clothed they are 10 Be armed.
This is the policy that has been fully determin-
ed upon. am here to say that ] am authorized
to raise as many regiments Of b1cks as ! can. |
am authorized to give commissions, from the high
est to the lowest. and desire those persons who
are earnest in this work to take hold Of il. ! de-
sire only those whose hearts are in il, and to them
alone will give commissions ! don't care who
they are or what their present rank may be. do
no, hesitate to say that all proper persons will
receive commissions.
While am authorized thus in the name Of the
Secretary Of War, have the fullest authority to
dismiss from the army any man, be his rank what
il may whom find maltreating the freedmen.
This part of my duty will most assuredly per.
form, il any case comes before me- lwouldrath-
er do that than give commissions, because such
men are unworthy the name Of soldiers.
| hope to hear that in this splendid division, as
know il to be, veterans, as Napoleon would call
lhem-ior you are veterans-l hope to hear be-
fore leave that shall be able TO raise at least q
regiment from among you. don't want to STOP
at one, nor at iiro. must have two at least. II
is possible that can procure four. | would like
to raise on this river twenty regiments at least be-
fore 20 back. | shall take all the women and
children, and all the men unfit for our military
organizations, and place them on these planta
tons then take these regiments and put them il
the rear. They will guard the rear effectively
knowing the country well, and familiar with al
the roads and swamps, they will be able to track
out the accursed guerrillas and run them from
the land When | get regiments raised you ma,
sweep out into the interior with impuniiy. Rec
oeci, for every regiment Of blacks raise, ras'
regiment Of whites to face the foe in the field
This, ielow.soders, is the determined policy o
the Administration You all know full well wher
the President of the United States, though sale
to be slow in coming to determination, when HI
once puts his foot dovn il is there, and he is no
gong to take it up, lie has put his foot down
| am here to assure you that my official influence
shall be given that he shall not raise il.