Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-09-12
From the New York Tribune.
The Truth OF History.
WHO FIRST CALLED THE NEGRO "coNTRA-
n.Nn y

WHO FIRST CALLED THE NEGRO "coNTRA-
BAND"
One of Gen. Buffers laurels, and by no
means the least, is in danger. When in
May, 1861, the complications of the slavery
| question and the rights of slaye-owners un-
| der the constitution began to be seriously
felt in the prosecution of the war, and there
was disposition to shuttle over the matter
| by giving to the men who were making war
| upon the government all the rights they had
| forf ed by their hostile acts, Gen. Butler
| bein- in command at Fortress Monroe,
startled the country with proclamation or
| general order issued to his command de-
clarlng negro slaves contraband OF war. and
| as such cOnfscated to the government.
| The public mind was very sensitive upon
the slavery question. The party which had
/ just arrived at power had profusely promised
| not to interfere with slavery in the States,
| and the administration hesItated even in
| the terrible, unforeseen emergency that had
been precipitated to do anything that
would look like a breach of faith. But it
was manifest that in the new con-
ditions which had arisen it would
be impossible to carry out any such un-
derstanding or promise without at once Civ
ing up the struggle. 1t was perhaps the
most serious problem that confronted the
government. Gen. Butler had been
Breckenridge Democrat. and when he is
sued his ringing general order on that sub
ect the whole North hailed it as deliver
ance and him as deliverer; for it came
from quarter which forbade the charge of
breach Of faith on the part of the party in
power, and it solved the problem in an in
slant.
1t was as much due to the suddenness and
unexpectedness Of the change in his own at
titude upon the great question Of American
pOlltIcs-whlch was taken as an indication
Of the revolution in public opinion that ac
companied the great uprising-that the
PRONUNCIATION of the order was received
with such grateful enthusiasm. For his
keenness in discerning the opportunity and
his bOldness in embracing it he deserves
great credit, and we would not detract from
1t one i0ta. But he has had the credit also
for readiness of invention, fertility Of re-
source, and the genius of craftsmanship, TO
which, il the story lately published bya cap
tain who was in his command at that time is
true, he is not fairly entitled. This gentle
man, who served in the Mexican war and in
the war Of the rebellion. and whose standing
and yeraclty are vouched for, relates how
he, being Il captain under Gen. Butler at
Fortress Monroe in May, 1851, had in his
service a slave named Luke. who, with
great many others, had escaped from their |
masters and come into our lines. Lukc's !
master, Col. Mallory, sent to Gen. Butler !
and demanded his rendition. to which the !
General consented upon condition Of Nal /
lgry' taking allegiance. Luke hearing of |
it rushed terror-stricken to the captains |
quarters, and told him the story with much |
excitement, saying he would kill himself, |
his wife and children. rather than be sent |
back. The captain quieted him, and then /
asked him where he came from when he en- I
tered the Mon lines. Luke replied that /
he came from Sewall : Point, where he had |
been put at work on the Notifications by /
his master and cruelty treated. The cap /
tain, who was a lawyer, questioned him |
closely. and on being convinced that he had |
really been at work on the rebel iortiica- l
tions. assured him that he was in no danger: /
that neither Gen. Butler nor President Linz /
coin himself could send him back TO his /
master.
Luke went away reaSSurcd. and Of course I
circulated the story among his fellow con- /
trabandS. Ii having come TO Gen. Butler - /
ears the next morning there came an order .
10 the captain ITO report at headquarters .
instantly Upon reporting be found the /
general and his staff and some officers Of the /
Fourth United States artillery 80 ifthere is /
any mistake about it these gentlemen /
can correct it, around him. The captain /
says.
went directly to the general, made my |
salute, and said, II am Capt. r. am |
ordered to report at headquarters, and re-
port accordingly
The general sat with his arms crossed on /
his chest head up, and countenance fall OF I
genuine fury. Then in loud and aggra- /
waited voice he said
Il understand, Capt. T, that You .
have been telling the negroes here that they /
can't be sent back to their masters. Noc. /
SIR, want to know by what authority you /
have told them so?'
Looking the general straight in the eye |
that was on duty at the time, | said. by .
what authority, Gen. Butler By the aa
thority Of common sense.
At this the general broke out with roar
like n lion.
"W hat DO you mean by that, ,ir2'
So. invited or ordered. the captain pre-
sented his argument in the case, concluding
with the statement that he had told his SER
want that be was - c0HfrGtdHd Of urqr. con-
f>cated to the United States and freeman,
and entitled 70 protection as such from the
United States At the first mention Of
the phrase, contraband of war, " the cap
tain continues. " Gen. Buffers whole de-
meanor changed. his hands fell upon the
table before him, and his head was thrown
forward so that | could not see his face and
50 directed the most Of my argument at the
top Of his head" Nothing more was said
for some minutes, till in answer to the cap
tain's inquiry if there were "any further
orders, the general very mildly replied,
" No, captain; you can 20 if You wish. '
And the next day the famous proclamation
was issued.
And 50 it seems that Gen Butler Is not /
entitled to the credit of inventing the appl- |
cation of " contraband to the slaves lie |
is entitled, however, to the credit of know |
ing good thing when he sees it, - and of |
doing a very bold and timely thing when
some one else suggested it. That fairly be-
longs 10 him.