Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-07
Gen. Sherman on the Negroes.

IN THE FIGLD, SAVANNAH, Ca, Jan. Is, 1868. !
SPECIAL ORDERS, No. l5.--l. The islands from
Charleston south, the abandoned rlce-6eds along
the rivers for thirty miles back from the sea, and
the country bordering the st. John River, + lor-
ida, are reserved and ret apart for the settlement
OF the negroes now made Tree by the acts OF war
and the proclamation Of the President OF tho
United States
II. At Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah,
Fernandina, ~. Augustine and Jacksonville, the
blacks may remain in their chosen OF accustomed
voeatiORs but on the islands and in the SETTLE.
ments hereafter o Dc established, no white per.
son whatever, unless military officers and col
ders dstailed Tor duty, will be permitted to 70.
side, and the sole ana exclusive management Of
affairs Will to loft to the freed people themselves.
subject o1ly to the tniiad States military au-
thorty ana the acts IL Congress. By tho laws
o. war, and orders Of the President OF tho Uni
ted States, the negro il freq, ard muss be dealt
With az such He caonot b0 subieoJed 70 con-
scripton OF forced military service save by the
written orders OF thr highest military authority
Of the department, under such regulations IS
the President or Congress may prescribe. Do
nestle servants, bscesmiths, carpenters and
other mechanics will be free to select their own
work and residence but the Young and able
bJded negroes must be encouraged to enlist as
soldiers in the service OF the Uni ed States, 70
contribute their sh9re toward Maintaining their
own freedom and securing their rights as citizens
Of the United States. Negroes so enlisted will
be organized INTO companies, battalions and reg
inents, under orders Of the United states mi.
| tary authorities, and will DO paid, fed and
clothed, according to law The bounlies paid
on enlistment mag, with tho consent Of the rf-
cfut 70 20 assist his family and settlement 10
procuring agricultural implements reed, tools,
boats clothing and other articles necessary for
their livelihood.
Ill. " heneyer three respectable negroes,
heads OF fsm.I,es shall desire 70 sattia 90 land,
and shall hsys selected Tor that purpose an
island or a locality clearly defined, within tho
/ limits above deagnAted the Inspector Of Set
tltmenIs and Plantations will hms0f or by
such subordinate officer n 10 may appoint, give
them q license 70 settle ouch island OF dslnct,
and afford them such assistance az ha oln 70
enable them 10 establish peBc'a5Ie egrIcnltl'
raj settloment tho threo parties named viii
su odivide the land under tho supervision 81 tho
| Inspector among themselves, and suca others
az NAV choose to settle near them, 80 that each
family shall have a plot Of not more than 10
scres Of ullable ground, and when is borders
on some water channel, with NOT moro than 500
/ feet front, 10 the possession OF which land the
military authorities will afford them protf cton
until suoh time as they can protect themselves,
or until Congress shall regulate their title. Tho
QuartermasteF may, Oh the Ttquslucu If the
Inspector Of Settlements snd Plantations place
at the disposal OF the Inspector OBS or more OF
the captured steamers, to ply between she settle
mcng and one IT m-fe OK tle commercial points
heretofore named IN orders, to afford TIE se,tlel
the opportunity to supply their necessary want'
and to sell the products Of their land and labor
" Whenever negro has enlisted in the mil
itary service Of the United states be may locate
his family in any one Of the settlements a.
pleasure, and acquire homestead and oil other
rights and privileges OF settler IS though pres
ent in person. In like manner uegr0es may
settle their families and engage on ard the
zun-boats or in fishing, or ia the navigation OF
che island waters, without losing any claim 20
land or other advantages derived from this sys.
TEN. But no on, unless an actual settler IS
above defined, or unless absent on Government
service, will be entitled % claim any right 10
} iauu VI ploPfltN Nv aHf NVtti'hoh'i ~ ''it"V ITO
those orders.
! v. In order to carry out this system OF Set
clement, a genera officer will be detailed % lr.
spector Of Settlements and Plantations whose
duty it shall be to visit the settlements, 20 res
ulate their police and general management, and
I who will furnish personally 70 each head u q
family, aublee, 90 the approval OF Tho l'ftsId, OF
Of the United State possesslry title in writing
giving as neu A. possible the DESCRIPTION oi
boundaries, and who shall a1just al claims OF
conflicts That mag arise under lhs same, subject
TO the like approval, treating such titles alto.
gether as posssssory. The tame genera oficer
will also be charged with the enlistment and or.
ganiRltiOn OF the negro recruits, and protecting
their interests while 80 absent from their settle.
ments, and will be governed by the rules and
regulations prescribed by the War Department
for such purpose.
VI. Brighter. X. Sax.on ia hereby appointed
Inspector OF Settlements and Plantations, and
will at once enter on tho performance OF hir
duties. No change 10 intended or desired 10 tho
settlement now on Beaufort Islands, nor vii
any rights to property heretofore acquired b,
affected thereby.
BY order OF Maj ten ". I. Sherman.
The above is Gen. Shermans Effort to ,olyt
ons Of the difficulties resulting necessarily iron
the emancipation Of race which has been iol
moro than century ken. in state OF degrading
and brutAlising slavery and this order certainly
lisa great advance On the Banks system OF an
forced service in Louisiana. II recognizes 10,
oegros value as soldier, and his rights as
man. Sherman ssys-and therein he touche
the true spring to unlock this difficulty +" n
negro IS FRI, and must Re dealt nth as such.
This is the whole argument, ard, like most o
SheTman's logic, is unsnswsrable.
The order ia open to the objection that it in
ferentially asserts that negroes and whites cIpno
live honestly and quietly together but whetbe
Sherman inserted this condition because lie ha,
no faith in the good character, honesty, and in
telligcuce Of the negro, or Of the white mao, doe
not appear Th,rs is no doubt, however, tbs
he considered that the negro would be better Of
without the presence Of a race superior, il il
nothing else, in every ont for expressing, over
reaching and iefrauding people grown veal
in intelligence and 10 self-reance, by genera
tons Of oppro,aoo, But ne doe not do a
Banks did in Louisiana, make this superior Graf
and cunning and dishonesty Of the white race
preteSt for budding the negro as an apprentice a
the mercy of that same craft and dishonesty
but he recognises his manhood, gives him
homestead allows him to s,lec, his own wor
aud residence, and nvite,-pot orders-him +
Join the army, aud contribute his share towar
maintaining hls own freedom. aud securing h