Weekly Trinity journal., 1863-05-09
Contrabands to be Made Useful.

When the rebels forced the Government of the
United States to deprive them of their slaves to
prevent JEFF. Davis Co. from employing them
to raise all their supplies, construct all their de-
fences, do all the labor and much of the lighting
In prosecuting the war against the Union, the
question presented itself as to what use the Gov
ernment should put them after their manu-
mission. This problem is now about to be solved
in manner that will prove satisfactory to all
The remarkable powers of endurance possessed
by the sturday Africans, their great physical and
muscular power their habits OF labor. their do
ciltv. their ready obedience to the commands OF
their oyerseers emnently qualify them to perform
all the rough and laborious part of camp duty,
and to construct bridges, forts, trenches, roads,
canals and 10 make other internal improvements.
As soldiers they undoubtedly will be found use
full, particularly in the Gulf States where the
masmas fevers and other disease incident to
the hot and humid climate OF those States would
soon destroy white men from the North, and then
they have the advantage of knowing the lay OF the
country, the trails and byways, and of being ac-
cimated.
The successful expeditions under Gen. Mont
romery with his black brigade, into the densely
peopled slave districts of Florida, and their
numerous engagements with vastly superior
forces of rebels, in which they compelled the
chvary to fee like like sheep before them, dis
proves the theory entertained by many that
the nggers would not be of any account as
soldiers. In that region of country the cost OF
supplies is comparatively nothing, az the contra
bauds are used to plain food and can suhsist of
the enemy and on the spontaneous productions
of The land. AS they advance into the interior
their ranks are constantly swelling from the vast
accessions, from the freed men, instead of being
constantly diminished as in the case of white in.
vaders Like snow ball starting from the top
of the mountain which constantly increases till
ii assumes the vast proportions OF mighty
avalanche this African force will enlarge us il
rolls on through the bamboo thickets of South
Carolina, the swamps and everglades of Florida
and the cotton fields OF Alabama and Mississippi
till no vestage of treason is left to perpetratG its
enormities or tell the tale of its former existence.
But those not required for this service, which
are found struggling upon the borders Of Vir
ginia, Kentucky, Tennessee Missouri and Texas,
without employment. should at once be engaged
in making internal improvements. The Pacific
Railroad, by the employment of these contra
bands, could be completed in three years, which
would be Of incalculablc advantage in the speedy
settlement of the entire Pacific slope. The in.
eXhaustabc mineral resources OF Nevada Terri
tory, Washington, Oregon and California would
attract hther population Of ten millions within
five years, were this road completed so as to en-
able them to get here. Within the next six
months over one hundred thousand immigrants
will arrive, overland, and probably fifty thou
sand by water, which is a small number in com
parisOn with the vast crowd that would come an
nually were the Railroad in operation The
suggestion of Gen. Fremont of using the con.
trabands for the immediate construction Of this
great National road, should receive the earliest
attention of the Government, as it undoubtedly
is, next to the suppression Of the Southern DEM
ocratic rebellion, the most important and stu.
pendous work of the age, and its accomplish.
ment would contribute more to the general wei
fare Of the United States than any other. BY
this means the road can constructed at very lit
tie expense, and will bind the Union together in
bands Of iron which no enemies of free govern
meut can permanently sever.