Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-18
CIRCULAR LETTER FROsGTHE STATE
DEPARTMENT.


DEPARTMENT.
The Attorney Of the United States Gov
ernmeut for this District was served,
few days since, with the following circular
note Of instruction. We observe from our
Southern exchanges, that similar instruc-
lions have been issued 10 the Attorneys in
various Southern States
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WAsHINGToS,
Oct II, l6e6.--T0 tse Attorney Of he United
States for de Middle District ef Tennessee
SIR: The Department has received informa-
ton that measures are in progress for the
purpose Of inducing freedmen 70 move to
foreign countries, especially to Peru, BY
promises Of high wages and other induce
menls. There is reason 10 believe that these
promises will not be performed, and that the
condition Of the freedmen would not, 10 most
instances, be improved by the change, and It is
deemed TO be the duty Of the government to
prevent them by all legal and moral means
from being thus imposed upon.
This circular is addressed to you for that
purpose, with the assent Of the Attorney
General. You will do anything which You
properly can towards causing it to be carried
into effect.
I am your obedieut servant,
VIII. SEWARD.
The Government having never authorized
a scheme of colonization for the freed popu-
lation Of the Southern States, and the legis-
lation of Congress having made that class of
people wards Of theGoTernment the action
of the officers at Washington in the premises
stated in this circular, may be regarded as
proper, in 20 far as it is intended TO protect
and prevent imposition upon them. 1t is
perhaps the duty, also, Of the Government
10 act upon the the information it has re-
ceiyed There can be no objection to due
precaution and promptness in relation to
question so fraught with the elements Of ex-
element and mischief as that pertaining to
the rights and status Of the coiored race, but
such a step does not forbid comment upon
the subject, or inquiry whence and why the
Information" which is made the basis Of
this official action, was received.
In effect it is an arraigument Of the good
faith and intentions Of the Southern people
towards the freed colored race in their
midst, and to their obligations TO the Gov
ernment which, no matter bywhom the "in-
formation" was furnished, has no foundation
in fact. We venture nothing in saying,t that
every line that has been received at WASH
ington regarding measures to cOlOnize freed
men in Peru, or any where else, is the concoc-
ton Of some single Radical brain, or is part
Of system set on foot by Southern Loyal
ists"to further heirinfernal political schemes.
We doubt il there is freedman in Middle
Tennessee who ever heard Of Peru. We
have no doubt, that the story that any num-
Der Of them haYe been rendered
propositions or inducements to emigrate to
that or any other foreign country, is an I'M
mitigated fabrication, and we have as little
doubt that it was sent TO the seat Of Govern
ment from bad motives. As the Govern
ment has assumed the guardianship and
keeping of these people, it is, as we have
said, in the line of duty, in investigating
these charges and performing its trust; but
the people of Middle Tennessee can safely
invite scrutiny into their conduct in regard
to the freedmen, and the Peruvian bug-a-bOc
will be found to have as little truth in it as
there was in an instruction by the negroes
in this city, Of which but one negro ever
heard until the circulation of the report
The air of Washington City is black with
slanderous rumors TO the prejudice of the
Southern people, and the officers of the Gov
eminent, civil and military, are burdened
with stories of imagined plots and reyOlts.
It would relieve them Of a vast deal of
anxiety, and the country of a great nuisance,
if some means could be adopted to punish
severely the insidious fOmenters Of mischief
who give them origin and circulation.