The Black Republican., 1865-04-22

M slaves may be enticed from the service OF
Il their masters by general or special means
ID v neither any particular soldier has, at any
|. time, enticel any particular slave into the
n United States Hines Is entirely unknown to
81 me. Such may on may not be the fact.
Il But, as soon as the slaves Of our families in
u town, and Of the plantations in the country,
81 III the vicinity Of the camps, became aware
s that they would be admitted into the Gus
II tom-house, the hospital, and the encamp-
fs ments and forts, there fed and supported,
u and permitted to depart when they pleased,
81 a most demoralizing effect was at once pro
3 duced upon the slave population, and a
n most injurious one upon the minds OF the
"a masters for the fact operated as general
!. entlcement to the slaves to abandon their
e masters service while the master no lon
b ger knew when he could command his SER
Il wants labor who might at any moment
n leave, without the possibility of recovery
u thus filling the masters mind with doubt,
u kanXlety, disappointment and resentment.
E The remedy for this evil seems tometO be
s. simple With regard to admission and
d maintenance within the United States lines,
n place ali persons upon the same footing
s1white or black, bond or free; and admit no
u one into the camps or stations who has nos
h Especial business in which the United States
n HGovenment is interested: and when that
n business IS finished, let him depart as he
q came. Next, take no slave from the service
AOt MS master for military purposes or
q needs when white person can be hired to
u perform the work. Such d course would ut
q once tranquilliZe the public mind and pre-
"a pare 1t for submission to the Government Of
D the United States, even in the absence Of
\, military force.
u Sometimes, in justification Of the course
:5 5pursued by the military authorities IN refer
81 ence to slaves, an act Of Congress is referred
sto, which, it is stated, forbids any military
II man to restore to his master slave escaped
u into the United States lines. This act have
anever seen, and therefore cannot undertake
Ato criticise or eXpound. Let me saw, how
Il ever, that the Commanding General, by his
y proclamation Of martial law, and the es-
II tabllshed practice under it, has set aside en-
81 tlrely the Constitution of the United States :;
II and, therefore, an act OF Congress seems no
AmOre than gnat 10 strain at. under the cir
Tcumstanccs. You and | have never most
u assuredly, Wavered i'll our attachment to the
s Constitution and Government of the United
j States; vet either Of as could tomorrow be-
& tried for an Ottense involving our lives or
g liberties, without an Indictment by a grand
4 jury, and without a trial by iurv Of our
Il peers. My house could be searched. as is
& almost daily the case with others, on infor-
smation given by any vile or malicious
y creature: and property could be taken
n without due course Of law. There
I
q tuition Of the United States in favor OF the
sa citizen / could tall back upon as a protec-
& ton from the military power. They have
b ali been swept away; and. let Us admit
3 unnecessarily and wisely, by proclamation OF
D the law martial, which has no standard but
y the will OF the Commanding General No
sxdoubt it is good policy, at present that such
q should be the case; but if my slave leaves
5my service, and goes among the soldiers at
S the Cust0m-hOuse or elsewhere, Immediately
& law Of Congress is quoted as being in full
x VlgOr to repeI my reclamation. This seems
n to me TO be iniudiciOus. The shareholders
" find that ;sll the clauses Of the Constitution
i and laws Of the United States in their favor
q are abrogated, while q single law. inter
n preted much against them, is maintained in
q full force. You must be convinced, my dear
q sir, that such 2 condition of things as is
i here described is highly injurious to the
X Union cause; and could change be effected
4 the happiest results would speedily ensue.
3 Lndqr contrary influences, more Uni4n'
sEunder the present system in year.
81 Let me next invite your attention to tLe
Il established system Of oaths, licenses. per-
itmits passes ana passports which is ccr-
atainly veAatiou-., and, in my Judgment
III hOperates uIurousIy 10 the Union cause
ts No one is allowed TO leave the city for any
.T Part Of the state, even such part as is uniar
athe control Of the United States military
4 forces. nor any point beyond the lines nor
III for any point IN the loyal States, without a
ia passport; and to obtain this, the applicant
5Emust take aa oath of allngiancc tOthe United
f States. But any one may come into the city
I: from tins or amy Of the adjoining states
III lwith0ut passport. The effect Of this TegU-
9alati0n is 10 cnec6 and almost DESTROY that
4 free communication between CITY and cGun-
h try, winch, II permitted, would greatly tend
EEtO aCCUstOm mems minds To the new order
- H. +,~5s1 81
Tin specially injurious manner F0rinstance,
A:one Wllo Is faithful 10 The Union desires
tA to leave town: but should he be known TO
M have taken the oath Of aliegiance his per-
Is son, even his life world be in danger from
81 the predatory bands beyond thelincs. This
Erequirement, i'm such a case strikes every
Eonc as being unreasonable: since the alI.
R thorities require the performance Of an act.
8against the consequences ofwhich they can
ESnot shield the party upon whom IL is i'm
opposed. Such restriction seems. also. necu-
Mliarly Unnecessary within the portion OF
,M Louisiana possessed by the United States
Mtr0oDs The citizens of New Orleans. and 81
-E the adjoining parish of Jefferson, circulate
%freely, without pass orpcrmit through both
kkparishes, as far as the cities Of New Orleans
Sand Jefferson extend, and by the canals and
'Mrailroads to Lake Pontchartrain: while tc
@go mile beyond, passport must be had
#As far as can be seen, this system works nc
i
Mminish the number of secessionists and NAL
-Hcontents in the city, and every one know:
lit ldoes not prevent their having free and
Efull communication with their friends in the
8country. 1t is, therefore, rather felt as
MveXatiOus restriction than wholesome
Mregulation.
H. Again, no planter can send produce tt
Mtown without permit, provisions ex
4 fXcepted; and no supplies can be sent to hin
tb.A ai4 Tn1a
#permit granted only on the applicantt
mtaking the oath Of allegiance to the United
Estates Government. This, undoubtedly
2operates to the injury Of the commerce o
j the city; and you are well aware, that what
ever checks commercial intercourse retard
q reconciliation, and Injuries the cause Of th'
] MUnion.
Good policy, in my opinion, would die
4 tate that the United States Government
v and all in authority under it, should distin
1 guish the population of the portion of Loui
~ Msiana which is divided into two classes
e 81 which ought to consist not of such as com,
t forward to take an oath of allegiance to tn
e 81 United States, and such as fail to compl
E ~ with that formality-since bad men. for tn
Hsake of personal advantage, will readil
a take any oath, while good men, and such a
/, Mfeel a high sense of honor and delicacv, evel
# f&where they are sincerely attached to tn
III Union, are reluctant to take AN oath, which
D. 81 being attended by profit and gain to them
Mselyes, may seem to be done for that caus
!, Monty The population should rather b
/ &classitied into those who are or have been i
Z Farms against the United States. tocethe
4 s5with such as adhere to their enemies, givin
It &them aid and comfort; and, on the othe
| Mhand, those who, unarmed and quiet. II
4 M main at home and pursue their usual avocf
L SGons. And with regard to the latter, a
eEaction affecting them ought 10 be found-
4 II ION the presumption that they are liable /
D s Eno penalty, punishment or restraint. unit
II yMtound guilty OF some crime defined by net 0
= Congress
- Let me Illustrate. A sugar planter on til
Mbank Of the Mississippi, at some distanc
-es from the city, thinks that slavery is a divin
.dm dmnstitution. He would prefer to live, if Ii