Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1863-02-19
Gen. Banks and the Negroes,

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Gen. Banks and the Negroes,
There is a disposition among the partisans of
Gen. Butler to prejudice and misinterpret Gem
Banks, and most unjust and unfriendly critic
iSms upon his administration of affairs at New
Orleans are made by those who should be his
friends. The following order has provoked
fierce denunciution:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF
New Orleans, Jan. 90. 1853.
General Orders, No. II. The proclamation
of the pres den; Of the United States, dated
January |, 1868, is published in general orders
for the information and government of the off
GERS and soldiers OF this command, and all per-
sons acting under their authority. 1t desg-
mates portions of the state of Louisiana, which
are not to be affected by its provisions. The
laws OF the United States, however, forbid Off
GERS OF the army and navy to return slaves to
their owners, or to decide upon the claim Of any
person to the service or labor of another: and
the inevitable conditions OF a state of war un-
avoldabIy deprive all classes of citizens of much
OF that absolute freedom of action and control
OF property which local law and tie continued
peace OF the country guaranteed aud secured
To them. The torcibe seizure of fugrives from
service or labor by their owners is inconsistent
with these laws and conditions. nasmuch as it
leads to personal violence and the Disturbance
OF the public peace, and it cannot be permitted.
Officers and soldiers will not encourage or as
sIst sl'ves to leave their employers, but they
cannot compel or authorize their return by
force
The public interest peremptoriv demands
that all persons without other means of supnort.
be required to maintain themselves bv labor.
Negroes are not exempt from this law. Those
who leave their employers will be compelled to
support themselves and families by labor upon
the public works. Under no circumstances
whatever can they be maintained in idleness.
or allowed to wander through the parishes and
cities OF the state without employment Va
grancy and crime will be suppressed by an en-
forced and constant occupation and employ
ment.
Upon every consideration, labor is entitled to
some equitable proportion of the crops it pro
duces. To secure the objects both of capital
and labor, the sequestralion commission is here.
by authorizedland directed, upon conference
with planters and other parties. to propose and
establish a yearly system of negro labor, which
sh9ll provide for the food, clothing. proper
treatment and just compensation for the ne.
groes at liked rates, or an equitable proportion
OF the yearly crop as may be deemed advisable
II should he just, hut not eXo' bitant or onerous
When accepted by the planter or other parties
all the conditions of continuous and faithful SER
vice, respectful department, correct discipline
and perfect subordinaton, shall he enforced on
the part OF the negroes by the officers of the
government. To secure their payment the
wages of labor will constitute a lien upon its
| products.
This may not be the best, but it is now the
only practicable system. Wise men will Go
what they can, when they cannot do what they
would. 1t is the law of success In three
years from the restoration Of peace under this
voluntary system Of labor, the state of Louis
lana will produce threeiold the product OF its
most prosperous year in the past.
The quartermaslers department is charged
with the duty of harvesting corn on deserted
fields, ana cultivatiag abandoned estates I'm
employed negroes will be engaged in this SER
vice under the control of suitable agents, or
planters with n just compensation in food,
clothing and money, consistent with the terms
agreed upon by the commission, and under
such regulations as will tend to keep families
together, to impart self-supporting habits to
the negroes, and pro ect the best interests of
the people and the government.
BY command OF Major Gen. Banks
RICHARD b, IRWIN, Lieut-Col. A. A. G. !
This is reasonable and right in every respec, |
1t is within the limits of the law and The presi
dents proclamation. 1t sens TO be thought by |
some of Gen. Banks abusers that it was his |
.uty in some way to disregard and defeat the |
exceptions made in the proclamation. ard as |
sumo the power to declare the slaves free in |
the excepted districts. To such unreason there
is no need of reply. In the above order Gen |
Banks simply declares that in the excepted dis |
trics officers and soldiers must not interfere
with slavery in any way, neither by seducing
hn 81 hair -
them il they escape. In fact the owners them |
selves are forbidden to break the peace by |
forcible seizures of their runaways, which makes |
slavery there pretty much II voluntary matter |
while military rule lasts
In the rest of his department, where the
slaves are free under the proclamation. Gen
Banks wisely provides for organized and pro- |
tecled labor. If the slaves will not work for
their old masters on wages, they must he com
PEELED to work for the government they will |
not be allowed TO become vagrans, or be sup
ported in idleness by the government and il i,
right and kind in Gen. Banks to tell them so.
Wherever the slaves are actually freed in con-
siderable numbers by the proclamation, the
government will he under the necessity of reg
ulating the new system, and mediating between
employers and employed ill the dangerous pc
riod of the great social revolution is passed.
II the freedom of the slaves is made to include
freedom from work, the government will have
the whole population of the recoyerrd districts,
white and black alike, to feed. We believe
Gen. Banks knows what he is about. and that
he is fulfilling the duties assigned him by the
government in accordance with his instructions,
and with a wise discretion and torelhought.-
Why anti.savery men at home should wish to
msrepresent him and excite prejudice against
him is more than we can explain on any theory
honorable to them. Ii they have personal re-
venges to satisfy they should be m0gnOnimous
and patriotic enough TO wait ill they can do it
without injury to the national cause,-Sprjng-
Jield Republican. l