This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
JULY 1862 DOUGLASS' MONTHLY. 685 GOV. STANLEY AND HIS PROCEEDINGS IN NORTH CAROLINA.– The absurd and tyrannical conduct of this office is reprobated with a degree of unanimity and vehemence seldom attained among the Northern people. It is said that he has been apprised that his course does not meet the approbation of the administration at Washington, and that he is expected to permit the schools of Mr. Colyer to be reopened. On Sunday evening Mr. Colyer delivered an address in Dr. Tyng's church, New York, giving an account of matters at Newbern, particularly with reference to his own operations. The Evening Post says: Mr. Collyer referred to several interviews he had with General Burnside, and expressed the deep regret with which that gallant officer regarded the aspect of affairs. The statement of the General's final position on the question of rendition namely that the act of Congress, that no officer of the army should assist in returning a slave to his master, must be his law, was received by the audience with enthusiastic cheers. Gen. Burnside admitted, however that Governor Stanley had sufficient power to order his whole division wherever he chose. The speaker gave an interesting account of the services which have been rendered to the Union cause in North Carolina by the negroes; of the journeys, from three to five hundred miles, they had made with information of the enemy's movements; and of expeditions against the rebels which were made under their active guidance. He also made a full report of what he had done in North Carolina; and the account contained many interesting statements we have not space to refer to. In addition to the five thousand contrabands who had been provided for by the government, he had relieved more than four hundred white families, loyal and disloyal, some of whom, but for the rebellion would have had large amounts of available property. They could not however, obtain sufficient food for their daily wants.– Mr. Colyer has been engaged for the Young Men's Christian Association, and a portion of the time also as a Missionary for St. George's Church, since the battle of Bull Run; and has distributed books and stores of the aggregate value of $17,500. The address was listened to with deep interest and frequent applause. The conduct of the rebel authorities in regard to Col. Corcoran is marked by a perfidiousness and meanness of which savages would not be guilty. Repeated promises have been made that he should be exchanged, but all have been broken, and the gallant patriot, who suffers uncomplainingly, is still retained in the foul prison in which he has so long been immured. Several months ago he was by lot selected as a victim for rebel vengeance in case the pirates were executed by the federal government. The latter having been placed on a footing with prisoners of war, negotiations were opened and concluded for an exchange; and in pursuance of the agreement the rebel prisoners were forwarded to the vicinity of Richmond. But again rebel perfidity shows itself and Col. Corcoran is still retained for some purpose not avowed, but at the expense of honor, if the rebels can be said to have honor left after repeated violations of their agreements. The last intelligence is unfavorable to the release of Col. Corcoran until the federal army liberates him, which we trust may happen very soon. It cannot be long before we shall have Richmond and along with it we hope General McClellan will secure the tyrannical rascals who assume to form a government and keep the country at war. Let the mercy they have shown to Col. Corcoran be visited upon Jeff Davis and the rebel magnates who surround him! PUBLIC SENTIMENT IN MARYLAND.– A correspondent of the Philadelphia Press writing from Frederick, Md., says: 'The people agree that our government has been far too lenient towards the rebels in the valley of Virginia, and that the government, if it expects to conquer the rebels, must treat them in far different way than it has done heretofore. They think that, after the treatment our forces have received, no measures are too harsh for the rebels, and the sooner we stop 'playing war' with them the better for ourselves and the country. On the negro question a great change has come over this part of the country, and those who were a year ago counted our most ultra pro-slavery men, are now on the other side and do not hesitate to declare that if the ultimatum must come at least, either to free and arm the slaves, or let the Union be dissolved, they are willing that the former plan should prevail. I was talking to one of the richest and most respected citizens of the place today, and in answer to the question what he thought of the President signing the bill for the abolishment of slavery in the District of Columbia replied somewhat as follows: 'Well, sir, one year ago I was very ultra on this question and would not rest till I had denounced any proposition made, to free the negro in any place. I was then as good a Union man as now. But I have had my eyes opened, and having seen the barbarous way the rebels have treated Union soldiers, I do not hesitate to say that I would do anything in my power, even to arming the negroes, to crush out this rebellion. President Lincoln is honest, and I believe that when he signed the bill for the abolishment of slavery in the District of Columbia, he did it with the consciousness that the majority of the people would approve it, and therefore I approve of his course.' This is only one in a hundred cases of like character that I have come in contact with, and goes to show the wonderful change now working in this part of Maryland. Verily the world moves.' RECOGNIZED AT LAST.– For many years the friends of Liberia have labored earnestly and patiently for recognition of its independence and sovereignty by the Government of the United Staes, but until now in vain.– The influence of the Southern pro-slaveryism has always been so powerful in the federal administration that the measure has found no favor with the Executive, and Congress has, under like influences, been equally averse to it, but the world moves, and public sentiment advances, however much some men may seek to impede the march of progress. The President of the United States recommended and the Senate and House of Representatives have adopted a bill providing for the recognition of Liberia and Hayti, by establishing diplomatic relations with those two republics. Justice has been done to those two nations, tardily so as far as the government of the United States is concerned, promptly so far as regards the present administration of that government. In after years men will marvel why this was not done by the United States at least as soon as it was done by other powers, and will honor the President and the Congress that supplied the omission. It is understood that Liberia, at least, and probably Hayti, will appoint a white man to represent her at Washington, although we are not aware that she has any authority to expect an equivalent on her side. That part of the business, however, will regulate itself in process of time, and as commercial benefits accrue from the increased facilities of international intercourse. The benefits of this recognition will be very great in a commercial point of view, and they will unquestionably have also very important social results. THE SERVICE RENDERED BY SLAVES.– While the slaves are forcibly set at work digging trenches and otherwise assisting the Rebellion, they avail themselves of every opportunity to assist voluntarily the Union army, though every man of it is a perfect stranger to them. A son of Dr. Jewett of Chicago, who is in Gen. Mitchel's army, writes to his father how one of these despised black men saved a squad of our soldiers: 'A squad of twenty-six men had been sent to guard a bridge. Nightly they set their watch, while those of the squad not on guard found comfortable quarters in an old log-house near the bridge. On a certain day a negro found means to communicate to them the fact that it would not be safe to occupy that building another night, as he had learned that the Rebels had planned the capture of the party, and the next night the plan was to be executed. Thus warned, they abandoned the house, and the whole party secreted themselves near the bridge and prepared themselves to welcome any reasonable number of callers. True to the information received, the log-house was surrounded about midnight, and from their places of concealment they could hear the demand of the Rebels that the supposed inmates should surrender themselves or suffer instant death.– Finding at length that our boys were not there, they approached the bridge and were welcomed by a shower of bullets. The fire was returned and kept up, though neither party could distinctly see the other. After two hour's fighting the Rebel's withdrew, leaving one of their number dead. A negro subsequently informed our party that they (the Rebels) carried off six other dead, and had a number wounded. Eight of our boys were wounded – none mortally. After learning the facts, Gen. Mitchel paid a handsome compliment to the Sergeant who commanded our party, and his brave companions. What had been the fate of our boys but for the timely warning of the negro? Chas. Jewett.' ANOTHER BRAVE CONTRABAND – The New York Times' Newbern, N.C., correspondent in a letter dated the 2d, gives the following incident: A private belonging to the 51st New York, whose name I have not learned, was drowned yesterday while bathing in the Trent. His cries for help attracted attention on the opposite shore of the river, and a colored man plunged in and swam with all haste across the river to rescue the drowning man. Before he could reach the spot, the poor fellow sank to the bottom. Intent upon his heroic errand, the colored man, on reaching the place where he had seen the struggling form of the solder, dove down, finding the body lying upon the bottom, place his head beneath it, and in another moment was seen bearing the lifeless form upon his shoulders to the shore. WASHINGTON, Friday, June 6, 1862. GOV. STANLEY'S ACTION. Mr. Vincent Colyer arrived here from Newbern today, and was introduced to the President and Secretary of war this evening by Senator Sumner. The interview was long, and the conversation covered the whole subject of Gov. Stanley's action in close Mr. Colyer's school for loyal blacks, and in returning fugitives from Rebel bondage to their masters. Mr. Colyer gave a comprehensive view of the condition of things at Newbern, and of the relations between the soldiers and the white citizens and blacks. He gave it as his opinion that the army in North Carolina was rapidly becoming Anti-Slavery. The President having been made fully acquainted with the proceedings of Gov. Stanley and their deplorable consequences, seemed to be deeply interested and expressed himself strongly. He said that nothing in Gov. Stanley's instructions, written or oral warranted his action. The President also reiterated the declaration which he has frequently made that no slave coming within our lines for protection should ever be re-enslaved, and he intimated that he should communicate these views to Gov. Stanley. Mr. Colyer before leaving Newbern offered to resign the position of Superintendent of the Poor, but retained it at the suggestion of Gen. Burnside, who gave him leave of absence for ten days, and very kindly expressed his hopes that the schools might soon be reopened. Mr. Weeden, of N.H., was today, upon the recommendation of the Hon. J.P. Hale, nominated as Commissioner to Hayti.
Transcription Notes:
Reviewed
See instructions re formatting - there is no need to include details of italics, bold, etc. nor lines, columns etc. unless it is a table.