Year: 1862

Apropros of home matters, see state
ments put forth by Maine journals that the
course of the administration is not sustained by
the army. Now, while even the one in your
city, though 1t has eyes to all quarters of the
political heavens, puts forth such things, l. as
an army correspondent, take this opportunity
to remind the journal aforesaid that such is
not the case. That proclamation, though it
has furnished text to the great discourse on
the negro, is nothing new in practice. Like
everything of its kind, it is to be limited to the
direct authority of the government, as mill
tary measure. l doubt the entire correctness
of the theory upon which it is supposed by
some to have been based. do not imagine
that it can affect military operations beyond
the natural province of military rule. 1t does
not add one new feature to the condition of
the question, as left by the Contiscation Act,
wherever that act has been enforced. l rest
this statement upon the known expressions of
the directing spirits of this war.


There are no more contrabands following In
the rear of the army than there would have
been without the proclamation. That is I; reb
els in arms or not, are Just as secure in their
property to-day in New Orleans as they were
two months ago; for wherever the army es-
tablished itself practically, slavery was dead
dead as question of physical force, dead as
question of military necessity. Nor can it be
doubted that the question of all future bear
ings OF slavery upon the war and upon the
government will depend still on physical forces
or rather, perhaps, upon where physical forces
leave 1t.


The conservative" journals of Portland
have urged in time of peace, that slavery was
a question of soil and climate"-it existed be-
cause it was profitable to those Immediately
concerned, and highly constitutional and prop
er generally-in word, it was matter of
trade and understanding between all the par
ties to it; and now, that this revolution has
come, and the institution, from necessity, must
suffer, how much more in the nature of special
pleaders, come forth its supporters. 1t must
not die nor suffer like all things else. Thous-
ands of young lives may be given up and thous-
ands of hearts bleed for long years to come
all the sacred ties of affection that belonged TO
happy people may be ruthlessly broken by
the accursed authors and abettors of this war
for the commercial and political agrandize-
ment of slavedom; but the radicals" must
not be heard, the President must not take sex
treme measures"


Come down here, and, from the records of
the courts scan how men, who dared to look
with gladness or even complacency upon the
old flag as it came up the river, were hurried
away from wife and children, and many times
consigned to nameless graves without even a
hearing; or look over the condition of hun
dreds and thousands whose only crime was
that they could not forget their loyal homes
and you will see why the army believes, at
least, in the fair trial of the Proclamation, or
anything else that promises to crush treason.
If any Editor in Portland thinks that the ar
my is about to rebel, or its officers resign, on
account of radical measures, perhaps he had
better come and electioneer Gen. Butler, or
write 3 confidential, or advisory letter to Gov
Shepley; perhaps he had better publish card
to the hundreds of thousands who only ask to
be allowed to fight" or any other man." But
Icannot talk further of these things than to
say that, although at present JEFF. Davis can
not avail himself of any such aid and comfort
as have referred to, do not doubt that he
would gladly offer them at least, Mountain
Department" Still, do not profess to love
such characters SO well as those whom they
serve, although, they are, no doubt, somwhat
more loyal. 1 eel towards them as the sable
matron did towards one of her children who
was little lighter colored than the rest: 81
never could bar dat ar brat; he show dirt SO
easy"


Yours, &C., K.