Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-13
Cen RnnI-s nnd die NeEroes.

" - Publishers of Leader.
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GEN. hanks and the Negroes
The Unionists of New Orleans miss
Gen. Butler. The rebels also miss him,
but they are glad of it. Butler kept them
well under-now they can come to the
surface and blow, like social and pOliti-
cal whales. When Butler heard the cry
athere she blows" he was after them with
a barpoonl Banks tries to coax them to
come to his Union ship. The former was
the effective way; the latter ineffective.
But in the contest between the Unionists
and the disunionists, the poor negro has
hard task. He is treated most unjustly
and eruelly-not by design upon the part
of the Federal commander, but as a
natural result Of his lenient considera-
ton of the master. We have hitherto
made mention of the fact that since Gen.
Butler left, the order was issued that all
NEGROES found out Of doors after half-past
seven o'clock P n, must be arrested and
thrust into Jail unless they had their free
papers with them to exhibit Such an
order created the utmost CONSERVATION
among the blacks. Il was return to the
old days Of rebel rule. Mulitudes Of ar
rests were made, and hundreds Of the
colored men and women had to suffer. An
aggravating feature of the regulation was
that it was put in force before knoWl-
edge of its existence had been circulated,
and thus very many offended ignOrantly.
No cause could be assigned for this pro-
oeeding-the negroes had been dOcile and
quiet.
On the 29th of January, Gen. Banks
issued an order accompanying the Presi-
dents Proclamation of Emancipation
This order is argumentative, and, thus
far. sound, but it did not meet the ex-
pectations Of the UniOnists. Its principal
provision regarding the status Of negroes
We the following:
GOmcers and soldiers will not encourage
OF assist slaves to leave their employers,
but they cannot compel or authorize their
return by force"
That this is a singular comment upon
the Proclamation we need not say to our
readers. The Proclamation says distinct
II that all slaves Of disloyal districts shall
be free. 1t leaves no option with either the
masters or the slaves. Neither does tim
pose any part Of the work of making them
free upon the army. It is not necessary
for the officers OF soldiers to encourage or
assist" the slaves to be free-they are so
already. The lastclause of this paragraph
is IS Objectionable as the first. To say that
the soldiers cannot compel the return Of
the slaves "oy force is to say that they
can use any other means which comes to
hand. They may argue the case and as
sure the ex-slave that it is his duty to re-
turn; they may use strategy and inveigle
him into return, but they may not use
force. We need not say that this is
contrary to the spirit of General Orders,
No. !" but also to the instructions adopted
by Congress declaring that the army shall
not be used to return fugitives.
In its provisions for the control and care
oftbe negroes, this order says nothing Ofthe
arbitrary arrest of which we have spoken.
The colored population, not understanding
this omission and feeling aggrived by the
injury done them, prepared respectful
address which they sent to the Military
Governor, shepley, setting forth that they
were free persons and natives Of that State
and city, and all of them born free as well
as their parents before them; that they
are loyal citizens Of the United States and
devoted to the Constitution that many Of
them are property holders in the city, and,
consequently, taxpayers, and that among
them are to be found many descendants of
those brave men Of color whom General
jackson did not hesitate to call his fell
low citizens" and to summon to his aid to
repel the enemies of their country. They
pray the Governor for relief from these
arrests and for due respect for their rights.
At last advices no response had been made
to this very reasonable request, but we hope
to chronicle change for the better As
things now exist the secessioRists are en-
eouraged and the UniOnists dOwncast.