New-York daily tribune., 1863-07-31
Protest Against mastering and Arm
ing Negroes.
The Rebels Have Used Them Only
to Dig Trenches.
A Threat that They Will be Used Is
Soldiers in Retaliation.

Is rae AditoT Q Jht ~ \. tribune;
SIR: In the almost vain hope Of helping to avert
horrors of war from which the soul OF every
Christian citizen must shrink-with Tue Pi~yeiiu
wish, rather than with the expectation OF saving your
people and mine, your Government ana mihe, your
cause and mine from crimes pohtica ana nintary
700 terrible 20 contemplate without shudder, ask
you lay before your countrymen certain most grave
facts affecting st their character and their ex-
is.ence as q nation, and coming home with a most
kindly warning to the business and the bosom" Of
every among you who has interests to appeal
TO- conscience 10 rouse, or a heart 10 touch. And
ssk The n. Y. TRIBUNE thus 10 speak for the hu.
nsDe among us to the humane among you, for two
reasons: frst because that journal is the exponent
Of the doctrines OF the Federal Administration, OF
the dominant party in the United Statesi aud then,
because, abomnsble as those doctrines must ever be
70 uscrue are your counsels, impracteable as is
your lapguage-THE TRIBUNE has at least been from
abe beginning consistent and courageous partisan,
fair open foe-Heitber asking nor giving favors,
playing fantastic political tricks nor bidding Tor
ali sppiauses ct once.
How came by the knowledge of the facts which,
in the very esgerDess of patriotic fear take this
extraordinary means of impsrtiDg TO your party,
your rulers, and your people, is neither here nor
there" Let it suffice TO you-and kRoU
you will believe me-that my opportunities have
been as sure as the use l make Of the u is pure.
Let me comfort you with the assurance that
shall serve these facts to you in form compact
as possible; for indeed, l have but little to hope
from the chances of this letters ever reaching you.
Az TO the peril 10 myself--that is nothing.
On the 81 day of July, 1868, the Hon. Alexander
c. ,Ia do,
States Of America, ran down from Richmond in a
Confederate steamer, under flag of truce TO The
mouth of the james River, where he had conference
with Acting Rear Admiral s. i. Lee commanding
your blockading squadron, 10 certain matters Of
state. i need not occupy your space Tor at least
your time, Sir with formal dilations. You know
there wss brief correspondence between our Vice
President and your Government. Mr.. Stephens de-
sned audience for the purpose of presenting to the
consideration of Mr.. Lincoln certain propositions
bearing upon the spirit aud conduct Of the war.
NJ. Lincoln declined TO eoDfer with Mr. Stephens,
and Mr.. Stephens returned to Richmond. Not to
waste words in controversy, that, Mr. TRIBUNE,
wSs, believe, the end Of the expedition.
But not the end Of specuations as to its real Oh
ject. The guesses Of your journals have been far
moro numerous than the possibilities. propose TO
disenchsnt you. Therefore this letter.
The Vice-President of the Confederate States was
seSt u ask the President Of the United States 10
operste with the former Governu,en, in measures
conducive TO the of humanity, TO the cultiva'
tiOD Of the most Christian shapes Of wsrfsre-such
measures in tie fret place, as might be agreed upon
between them to tighten the troubles Of prisOners,
snd alleviate the pains Of the wounded. And had
n Ca. Aaa forfn To = fl.
audience lie so frankly and simply sought, l. for one,
believe that the mercy Of his errand would have
net with proper recognition. This, however,
secondarily.
Tie primary object Of the Vice.Presidents mission
was 70 protest, i'll the name Of bis Government and
people, against the musteripg and arIniDg Of the
blacks, which now constitutes almost tie only clear
feature Of your policy lie came TO implole you, in
the name Of people whose resources must have
surprised you, Of q Government whose ability you
have frankly owledged, Of soldiers whose couI-
age and devotion aud endurance you have felt, TO
this copsumnation not 10 come 1t last. He came 10
ASSURE you, on the good faith Of his Government, on
the simple truth Of bic feiow-countrymen, that not
one angle regiment eOrp' Of negroes kas ever teen
brought into tho Confederate servlee, 10 be tarned
armed against you. He 10 remind you that
such negroes as have from time 10 tine been found
OIL breastworks and in trenches have been caught
with spades only or picks in their bands-that such
n have been found In regnents-an Insignificant
number-hsve been in all cases body-servsnts some
times Of officers sometimes Of prvates, who Of their
own will, Of the love which you know they bear
us have chosen " follow their masters " the death.
And these you have found among your prisoners.
He could have told you, II diplomacy permitted sem
timent, God rave the mark Of many such " chat
tels," some Of them white-hared, begging stealing
fghling their way home again, TO the -" ole missus
and the old place with all nst was left Of young
masss"--a lock Of hair or u trukst.
But po matter for that. lie came TO talk TO you
Of self-preservstion, Of retaliation and all that s
shocking in the meaning of that word. lie came to
tell you Of the native devil that las slept long TO
be awoke at last, in the bosoms of simple, depend
ent, ahectionsle race. lie came to implOre you III
the nape Of God not TO do this abonliuabie thug.
Else be would have 10 fall back upon statistics
and the gIim phraseoogies Of war; and remind you
that the 400 OoO OF negroes that appear in the tab
let's Of your ceLsus Tor 100 are the working hands
of both sexes only. That number does mol include
the supersnnua.ed, or the infants. Out Of these
1000, 900, at least 900 abe-bodied fellows, low
ing and trusting their masters, and ready to follow
them up " the mouths Of your cannon (ah do not
continue 10 beoo yourself that question Of ties
can be enrolled, armed, drilled, in three mouths.
They can be oficersd in every grade by their own
masters, those who have seen most service, and won
mos, honor. They can be segregated regiment byreg'
iment, with tue white troops. In all the departments
the qnartsruasters, the comrAssariat and the
medical, white officers can administer for them.