Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-02-13


Ths Negroes IN The South.
In Quartermaster General Meigs' able and
interesting report, as lately printed, We hnd
the following statements in reference TO the
negroes Of the South, and the military oper-
atoms of oars sarait:
Much difficulty has been feared 10 dealing
witBtbe eelofed population in the Southern
Slafee Thus far, fhfs department has not
been oppressed with them. In The field Oper-
ations IN Virginia, The supply Of ableb died
negras laborer has not exceeded fhe demand =
il has, Father, been difficult 10 6il the rvqni-
sitions for such labor.
Upeal f0rtifeations, as drivers Of teams and
ambufances, as hosfers, as laborers ia the
Quarterinasfer's Department. repairing rail-
roadsand military roads, all who have OF red
have found ready en- ployment.
The labor of able-bodled men. with that ~
womeH able to wash for The hospitals, has sup
ported'ail who have come directly undrr charge
of this department upon the Potomac.
AtlH;1rison's landing body Of lhouSand
negroes, organized by Colonel Iugalls ipto
gangs, were most Ell Give in landing stores
iron de Transports, bearing fatigue aud expo
sure in that unhealthy climate much longer
than the white soldiers and lahorors, who soon
broke down aiong=il3 Of them Their asst :
taBce was there Of the greatest yalae to-the ar.
my. a
On the southeastern coast, Ia -ge numbers
Of them were employed by the QHarIerlnaster,
Department in the necessary iabur of tF posts.
This left The more cos " soidF.r TO his purely
nIilitayF.6afipss
With all.the people Of lie Southern States
united. through choice or military conpuI-
sion, as fhe white are said to tc, Il might be
well d,Afbttd wIielher 50 great a rebellion, ex
tending etcrso vast territory. copId be puf
d d,wn. But, as in the great rebellion in India.
the people are or more than one race, and 'hp
task before 9lie country, if proper Use is male
here as there Of the aid ofa.l who are leEal
oil who are willing 10 contend On cur side. will
be ghtebed by their divisions.
The re6elion dues not cover wider terrific
ry, is NOT more bar'5arous and li.rociaus is not
supported BY stronger prejudices Of race AMI
caste, does not embrace u greater or more
unilcd population is not better supplied with
arms or fortified by climate, and had not al its
commencement large body Of lraDcd soldiers
than that which, only a few years since. our
cousins ofGreat Britain Put down, thoug!
separated from their chief seat of power hy
two eontiutnts and half the ocean. This Ii s
a, our doors, assailab!e along a frontier by
sea ard BY land of three thousand miles, eye
ry-where under cur control.
Great Britain looked not at the color Of tlie
recruit; she accepted the aid of every. of red
arm, and was successful Courage, resolution
ard wisdom win accomplish 10 the West what
they did in the East.
Oar leopIe are being slowly schoolcd t
arms, ahd The warlIhas far singularly free from
the outrage which m other countries lad at
tended civil eomm6ti0ns, bagins at length,
by is inevitable d siructioa Of property aud
life, TO bear upon the territory We occupy With
a portion Of tile fearful weight necessary to
crush r,briiioro
The labsrgf the cal5rcd man supports the
rebel soldier, enables him to cave his plaata-
tion to meettonr armies BULLS his firtifca,
lions, cooks his food, and sometimes ai,is him
on picket by rare skin with the rifli.
Ia all these ttiedes, it is available to assist
our army, and 1t IS probable that there will be
less Ouirase,qoss oflife. by freeing tacse peo-
pie, ifpnt Under strict military control. than il
NV VI iedfH SLOWLY titat WIZ udS f'intNeu tHe
white men who have heretofore held them in
check, and to yield at last to the temptation
TO insurrection aud massacre.
Had the GoTernmnht been prep lrcd TO meet
promptly, with the overwhelming force vii cl,
the loyal s;htes could have supplied, the fist
rebel armies, the rebellion might have been
crushed without a long and desolating war. and
without disturbance OF the relations between
the two races in the South.
That time IS past; the destruction Of the reb
el armies, and. the gradual occupation ef the
country By foftifying ard garrisoning lis c'.ici
strategic and commercial points, are the only
conclusion 10 lie war.
In his work, the loyal inhabitants of the
country, white or black, must be compelled to
assist, and iisis impossible 10 cast aside the
millions Of recruits who Will of4r themselves
for the work, aeeastomcd 10 the climate, nar
ed TO labor. acquainted with the country, and
animated by ahe strong d sire not merely for
political, buteflr personal, liberty.
Respectfully submitted.
NJ. c. MElGS, Qlartcr,nas:e {; neral