Volume-- 27,
®jje Centre Democrat.
IS PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY
J. J. BRISBIN.
OJfi.cc in Reynolds' Iron Front, Second Floor. ,
Tkrms. $1,50 if P a 'd * n advance or within six
aonths after subscribing,otherwise $2 will invari
ably be charged. No subscriptions received for
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iontinned, unless at the option of the editor, until
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[From the Tri-States Union. .
The Banner of our Nation.
Tha Banner of our nation
' Ajoud to all proclaims
Our origin and station,
Our purposes and aims.
Its emblems toll the story.
Of toil, and war, and pain,
Of men both young and hoary,
Our freedom to obtain.
The STRIVES reveal • the number.
Of States that did decree
T.j burst their bonds asunder
Ani asand among the free.
Its 6TAits proclaim the number
Sow in this Union band-
Not to i e torn asunder
By Treason's ruthless hand.
Its pep rcvtals the treasure
' Of blood our Father's gave
So bountiful in measure.
Our happy land to save.
The bi.i x proclaims hi w truthful
We ha t ed for the right.—
Though feeble, poor and youthful.
Against the sons of might.
Our kaolb tells the tidings,
That we aloft would soar,
In Freedom's strength, confiding,
'Mid steel, and, 2aniion's roar
Our riii-RTBus BndkrjMiM
show many joined in one-ir
In national communion,
' As rays meet* i n the sun.
Tile WHffK implies that purely
They battled for the right—
That we might dwell securely
In Freedom's glorious light.
In God,, the rock of Ages,
Our fathers put their trust ;
T i y toiled or free o u't- wag s,
' Augured their cause was jtin
"] hese emblems tell the 6tory
Our history unfolds :
01 men both young and hoary,
So strong, and wjse, and bold.
To gain among the nations
A ranjt of strength and fame.
EnXpj' ah honored station,
* A lasting gloricus name.
Wo stand 'tw.ixt mighty fountains,
And reach from shore to shore;
Abound in vales and mountains,
Fare metals, coal and oar.
Q'er all this boundless region
Our banner proudly waves,
While all the many legions
' In Freedoms fountain lave.
The school, and church and college,
* Abound in,all.,our coasts,
And shed the huoof knowledge
Qn ell our numerous hosts
>Yhi'e presses all abounding
bhed wisdom's cheering rays.
To despots how confounding,
While wond'ring cations gaze.
One blot upon our story,
(fives sorrow, grief and pain :
four pi'llions rubbed of glory,
Are bound in Slavery's chain;
pespoiled of Freedom's treasure
To toil in grief and woe,
And suffer without measure—
ilow long shall it be so ?
Then may our Nation's banner
Forever, ever wave,
...O'er oceans, marts and manors,
From dread oppression save,
Till all earth'g teaming nations
The boon of Freedom gain,
Enjoy its great salvation,
Oppression cease to reign. Sknex .
SOLDIER FRITZ.
A oertain bright-eyed boy, whose hibtory
I wish to relate, was known throughout the
whole city of Bradenburg by the name of
Soldier Fritz. He looked, for ll the world
like a little general, and was always chosen
one of the commanders-in-chief when his lit
>t!e friends had mock battles. In fact, every
body said that Fritz was born to be a sol
dier.
When he was- ia his thirteenth year, the
ww with France broke out, and th 3 Prussian
regiments, in one of which bis father was an
inferior officer, received orders to march to
the river Rhine. A sad day was it when that
man took leave of his family and kissed them
all good-bye, perhaps, the last for life. Fritz
cried to go with hia father, but that could
- not be ; he was too young and weak for such
an undertaking..
Siz months passed away without a word
from from the distant father and husband.—
But one morning shortly afterwards the fam
ily received a letter from him, containing in
telligence that be had been in good health,
and had been raised from his humble posi
tion, and made a sergeant. " But what is
the use of this new honer," he continued in
bis letter, "if one has nothing to eat? Oh,
if I only had a single peck of our splendid
potatoes 1 How delioious they would be 1—
We have to hunger here on the Rhine for
three days together; and, indeed, I hr.ve not
had a single potato since lleft home.'
Thia part of the letter aroused Frits so
much that be stood up in the middle of the
door, and would not let his mother read an
other word until she bad read this over again
Ifiree times, nor did be soon forget it- It
pained him severely to think that hia father
% Jamilj Stfospajltr—ptotfr to tajpaittt, literature, geience, fjjt &rts, Ptcjptato, JBarkrts, ©mtation, Ctatral Intiffijtßee, #c.,
bad no potatoes to eat, while their cellar was
full of the choisest kind-
Several days elapsed and Fritz oould think
of nothing else. So, on ope occasion, ho said
to his mother.
" Mother, give me a sock and I will take
two pecks of potatoes to nay father."
" Are you not dieamiDg?" replied his
tnoJher, smiliHg, "just think of it. You
would have to carry a sack of potatoes four
hundred miles on vour shoulders' Away
with such a thought 1"
These words were much quicker said than
obeyed. Soldier Fritz tried very hard to for
get the potatoes, but he could Dot. Wbere
ever he went they would come afresh iilto his
mind. Eyen when he lay on the bed at night
he could get no rust - r and; often ha would
start up in his sleep and say to himself :
" Father, you shall and must have some of the
potatoes in our cellar."
One bright morning evfrybody wondered,
why Fri'z was not down to breakfast, lie
waa always an early riser, and no one ever
thought of awaking him. By-and-by his
mother went up stairs and knocked at his
door. But ehe received no reply. So she
went in ; but "her boy was not thire. She
concluded, however, that he had gone out in
to the iieadov for a morning walk, and wo'd
be home aga'm some time during the morn
ing. But time passed on and Fritz did not
come home. The clock struck twelve —one
—two ; but he was still absent. Fically
nigh came on ; and the only ne-vs they bad
concerning Friiz was ih it he had been-seen
on the road about the middle of tbo afternoon
with a large sack on his shoulders !
"Alas! alas!" exelaimed his mother. "I
shall not eee my son again ! What madness
to think of taking potatoes to his father I"
Then she went up into his room, and found
that his Sunday clothes, his new boots, and
a sack be had begged fr m her three days
before, were ail gone. "He is gone 1 May
the L >rd protect him and bring him sate
home again ! ' After this abort prayer she
wept a* if bar heart would break. It was
the beginning oi many a sorrowful day to
her.
Now! muqt tell you how Fri'z succeeded
in his travels with the sack on his shoulders,
lie did not know the way to the river Ehiae,
but made inquiries of everybody whom he
met. lie had no money; in tact he had
started from home with only nine cents in
Uia pocket, and it did not tako long to find
some use for that. But be thought to him
self, " Wherever I go the people will surely
give mo a loaf of bread. I need only tell
them what "£ have in my bog, and to whom I
am carrying the potatoes. Everybody will
be glad to help me. And after a while I
shall reach my father. What a surprise it
will be to him !' Then will I say to him :
• Father, I have picked out the bast potatoes
in our cellar for you, and here they are.'"
The hopes that Fritz had of being assisted
by other people were all realized, though it
was not a safe plan for him to depend upon
thetn. He found bencf ictors in the inn where
he stopped on ihe first night cf his journey ;
fur when the cjcratng came the guests made
biin up a purse of eight dollars. By means
of this he was enabled, to ride two. days in
the mail coach. But when it was ail gone;h,e
shouldered his sack of potatoes again, and
trudged i n in the direction of the river Rhine.
At another hotel where he halted to spend
the night the landlord asked him where he
was 2oing. FritZt replied by telling bitn that
hia father was in the Prussian avnjy, that he
had, written about his having eaten no pota
toes for six months, and also that he had
said- in his letter he would like so much to
have some of the good ones he had left at
home. V Here's a boy who loves his pa
rents!" said, the landlord ; whereupon he
took a paper and pencil, and raised from his
guests a subscription of twenty-eight dollars.
But Fritz would only take seven dollars, for
he said he would not have a cent more than
would carry him to the Rnine where his
father waa.
Finally, after Friz had journeyed many a
long mile, he saw in the distance the first
seDtinei that kept guard around the Prussian
army.
" Will you be kind enough to tell me
where my fcfhe? is was the question ha
asked of the soldier.
" Foolish boy," answered the Jong-whis
kered sentinel, " how do you suppose I know
\yho your father is, or with what regiment he
is conneqted ?"
" I beg your paidon,"replied Soldier Fritz,
hurriedly. "My father's name is Martin
Bollerman, and he is a sergeant in the Bran
denburg regiment.
" All right, my young friend, you pan pass
on."
Then Fritz walked as fast as he could, un
til he came to the second sentinel ; then to
the third ; and finally to the adjutant, who
took bim by the hand, and, after placing him
self right in front of him, made a striot ex
amination of him. But the more he ques*
tioned the boy, the more friendly and pleas
ant be baoome.
" Come along with me," he said, " I think
we shall be able to find your father without
much trouble."
So they walked on until they came to a
magnificent tent, from the top of which there
floated a beautiful flag. It was made of fine
silk, and Fritz's heart boqnded for joy as be
saw it streaming in the wind. He went into
the tent with the adjutant, and only took his
" WE STAND UPON THE IMMUTABLE PRINCItLES 0? JUSTICE-NO EARTHLY POWER SHALL DRIVE US FROM OUR POSITION."
Bellefonte, Centre County, Penna., Thursday Morning, Aug. 15 186 i.
sack of patatoes from his shoulders whenin
vitod to taae a seat. He was surprised to
see in another corner of the tent,, a man clad
in brilliapt uniform, who was sitting at a
large table with maps and plans spread out
before him. When the adjutant went up to
him he slowly raised his head ; as he did so,
Fritz was convinced tLat he was the general
of the army.
After a few words of conversation hed
passed between thetn, the general motioned
to the adjutant te leave, and beckoned to
Fritz to come up to the table where h9 was.
" What is your name?" he asked, as he
iGoked at the boy from head to foot.
" Fritz Bollerman, but everybody calls me
Soldier Fritz," was the prompt reply.
The general smiled, and inquired further:
" Where did you come from?"
" From Brandenburg."
" What brought yo here?"
" I wanted my father to have some of our
good potatoes, and here is a bag of them for
him."
" Do you eav you have potatoes in that
sack for your father V
" Seeing is believing, respected general—
Here they are, as smooth and round as peb
bles from the brook," answered Fritz, as he
untied the mouth of the sack.
" Very well, my son. They are indeed ex
cellent potatoes, and sharpen up my appetite
amazingly. But do you go in the little room
yonder, and stay until I call you.
your bag here ; it will be safe in my care.
So Fritz lilted the little curtain that served
for a door, and entered the room at the back
of the tent. As the large arm-chair was
empty he sat down in it, and being weary,
from bis toilsome journey, be soon fell asleep
there. He was eaori g loud en >ugh, 1 can
assure you, when the general went in and
looked at him half an hour afterwards. But
while he was 6ound asleep, the general was
busy in arranging for a supper, lie invited
Sergeant Bollerman, and all the highest offi
ce rs in the army, to come to his tent that
evening tor tea. Then he gave the necessary
Oidera to bis cook, as to what he and his
gujsts would have to eat-
The hour for supper arrived. All who had
been invited came in good time, it was a
matter of surprise to the high officers to find
that Sergeant Bollerman bad been requested
to take sapper with the general, as he had
never before received such an honor. Indeed,
the sergeant himself was almost overpowered
when he read the invitation, and at fitst
thought there must be some mistake.
The most remarkable thing on the table
was a large covered dish. Everything else
was banded round, but this was not touch
ed.
Occasionally some of the officers glanced at
it in curiosity. The general noticed it and
smiled at bis adjutant, who was the ODIJI cne
besides himself that knew the secret. Final
ly the order was given to the waiter to take
the lid of the dish: What should everybody
see but potatoes with the skins oh them ! Tru
ly this was not expected. Some greater lux
ury wns looked for. But you could not have
pleased Sergeant Bollerman better. lie
would rather eat a good potatoe than the
richest dainty.
" Thus far in our supper, my friends, you
have beea njy guests," said the general, as a
smile played on his lips. " But for the re
maining Dart of our meal—that is for the po
tatoeß-you are the guests of Sergeant B'oller
lerman!" The officers inquired, wit ll one
voice, how that could be. "Tell us," said
they, " Imw this comes to pass."
"I ? Oh, no. I can't tell a story well,"
answered the general. " But I ha"e a good
historian near at hand. He will satisfy your
wishes. " Adjutant, call our little friend
from my private room."
Everybody was on the tiptoe of expecta
tion. Just now the sergeant seemed to have
caught the whole idea; and he first turned
pale and then red, as the eyes of the general
rested on him. The adjutant entered the
little chamber and in a few minutes he lift
ed the curtain, leading out by the hand a
bright-eyed boy— Soldier Fritz.
"Fritz, sny dear Fritz! llow did you get
here ?" exclaimed the sergeant, quite un
mindful cf the company in which be was.
The delighted boy made no reply, byit
rushed to his father's arms, that were stretch
ed out to receive him. The scene was really
affieetiDg. Even the general himself was
moved to tears. When some minutes of si
lence had passed by, the general told Fritz
to relate the history of his joruney, to the 'com
pang present • I would have been delighted
if you could have heard him k He told every
thing so truthfully and earnestly. When he
had finished, the general made a signal for
the company to retire from the tent. But as
the sergeaDt was about leaving with the rest
be was told that his presence was' further
needed, and was requested to go into the lit
tle room of which 5 have spoken before, So
he and Fritz went in there together.
By-and-by the general came in, holding a
large pieeo of parchment in one band, and a
long purse full of gold pieces in the other.
He then said to Sergeant Bollerman. ." My
friend, here is your discharge from service in
the army, together with the guaranty of a
pension as long as you live. And this purse
contains a little present for your faithful son.
It will help to educate him and fit him for
usefulness."
" General, you are so kind I 1 have not
deserved suoh favors as these," replied the
sergeant, so delighted that he hardly knew
what to say.
" Yes, you, have. Ia the la3t engagement
with the enemy you fought bravely, and re
ceived a wound which will fnllow you to your
grave. More than this, you have a sen whose
affectionate heart and active mind will nerd
a father's sympathy and care. Go home, old
comrade, and bring all your children up as
you have done this one, to respect,and love and
labor for their parents.
The sergeant was deeply affected at there
words. He kissed the gsoeral's hand, and
thanked hiin for bis kindness and attention.
Then tha general turned to Soldier Frhz.
and after kissing him several times he said :
" Be good and industrious and you will be
come an honored man. God always loves a
child who honors his father and mother ; and
he invariably makes such children successful
and respected. Farewell, and may thy Heav
enly Fa ther bless thee I"
I will not wearv your patience by describ*
ing the journey homewards, nor by dw&'.ling
upon the joyful meeting with the loved ones
again, And wh9o everything was revealed,
it was to Fritz that all eyes were turn d.—
They heaped praises upon him, but they did
not make him vain or proud. liis answer
to his parents when they spoke well of bim
was :
" My dear parents, you have prayed much
for me. It is no wonder then that God has
made me instrumental in doing some Utile j
goocL"
V/hen Fritz grew up to manhood, be be
came a soldier, for that was what he had al
ways felt it to be his duty to bp. Step by
step he rose from one position to another.—
Now he is a celebrated and respected gener
al of the Prussian army.
HI,
The Sword Presentation.
In our last issue we made mention of the
presentation of a sword to dapt. Kistler, of
the Westmoreland Blues, and promised, at
the solicitation of numerous (nerds of the
parties who acted in the pleasant affair, to
give a synopsis at least, of the addresses on
the occasion.
Gen. H. D. Foster, happening to be pres
ent, " broke the ice" by handing Gen. Stokes
the sword, to be delivered by him to Capt
ICistler, at ihe same time giving uiteranre
to a remark, which though brief, (character
istic of the gentleman) conveyed a meaning
not 6usceptable of being misunderstood.
Gon. Stokes presented it to Capt. Kistler
in the most original and beautiful address,
which it is, we regret to 3ay, impossible ad
equately to report. He drew the sword from
the scabbard, and said, handing it to the
Captain. " Pake this sword, which I give
you unsheathed, that you may recollect that
it is at once the instrument and the emblem
of war—to be both worn ana used. It is the
only and universal original weapon—conse
crated by valor in !1 ages, and i s blade
shines brightly with glory, from the war
waged by Israel, by God's personal com
mand, to this present war, as holy as that,
and made lor the vindication of the Heaven
born truth of man's equality to man. Success
w as certain as the Divine Omnipotence,
which decreed hell for the first Secessionist.
The argument of the Devil for rebellion was
far bettßr then that of our traitors, for the
Devil Was a scholar aDd a gentleman.—
Swords of hoaor are commonly the rewards
of successful valor, but wo know you, your
officers and men, and we may safely, by pre
senting the weapon now, anticipate a result
certain in the future." Gen. Stokes a;
length continued to examine the causes of
the war and vindicate its justice.
With evident emotion the Captain replied
as follows :
My Dear Sir Language fails ma to re
press my heartfelt gratitude for this beauti
ful sword, presented to me in behalf of the
citizens of Greensburg and vicinity. Sir, I
accept it as a token of their reepeoc and
friendship. Ido most assuredly appreciate
the gift; not on account of its value; not
that I have as yet merited this noble gift at
your hands, but on account of the confidence
plaeed in me—a confidence which I will nev
er betray.
In accepting this trusty weapon I discard
any revengful fueling or desire to shed the
blood of my fellow-countryrneD, but desire
only to wield it in defence of our government
our liberties, our freedom, our homes and
our families.
May the arm be palsied that ever attempts
to wield it in any other than tbe cau3# of
justice and truth—and iu your presence arid
the presence of my friends, I assert my firm
determination to sacrifice my life, if Deeds
be, in defence of that flag that has so long
and so proudly waved its starry constellation
under the broad canopy of heaven, and un
der whose folds, we, as a united people, have
so long been protected and respected.
In conclusion, permit me to say to my
friends that they shall never havo cause to
regret the confidence reposed in me—and I
trust that this valued gift in my hands shall
never be stained with dishonor, but will
grasp it firmly with an uplifted hand and go
forth in tbe defense of tbe Stars and Stripes,
and to aid in the maintenance of tbe supre
macy of the Constitution and the perpetuity
of this glorious Union.
Capt. Trees, of Salem, being present, was
called on, and responded in a few beautiful
romarks appropriate to the oocasioD, which
were well received, at the conclusion of
which the crowd gave three hearty cheers
for Captain Kistler, and three more for Fos
ter, Stokes and Trees. Tbe train having
now arrived the Captain got aboard, and
thus ended the presentation. —Pennsylvania
Argus, Oreensburg Pa.
The Pennsylvania!! Battle Cry.
A.A. —" Gay and llappy."
Hark ! the trumpet jails to duty.
See our glorious flag's unfurl'd.
The Stars and Stripes unite iu beauty,
The pride and envy of the world.
So let the world jog as it will,
We are for the Gnitn still ;
For the Union, for the Union,
We are for the Union still.
If we wish that flag respected,
liie must answer honor's call;
Duty must not be Deglected,
Tho' our dearest friends should fall.
So let the world jog, &.c.
Tr iters have betrayed the nation,
But we will by the Union stand ;
Let every Patriot seek his station,
With tho gallant warlike band.
So let the world jog, A c.
Tho' tho rebels have exulted.
In their treason and tbeir shame ;
Yet the flag they have.insulted,
- Still retains its honored name.
So lot the world jog, Ac.
Long its folds shall float above ire,
While T7e shout ou. battle cry ;
"We will fight for those who love us,
But let every traitor die "
So let the world jog Ac.
Penn3ylvanians to your station,
Boldly meet the traitor foe;
Fight as bravely for the nation,
As you did in Mexico.
So let tho world jog, Ac.
Then your dames shi„ll live in story,
And echoed be from strand to strand ;
Then fight for Liberty and Glory,
Ths Union and yenr Native Land.
So let the world jog, &o.
Compromise.
The veriest spawn of tho 'TFathar -f Lies"
Is that creeping creature called Compromise.
A slimy thing in villainot s guise,
With tho pompous title—Compromise.
The tool of the weak—the scora of the wise—
Oh ! men ! beware of Compromise !
Crooked and dark the pathway lies,
Before the fiend named Compromi o.
Avoiding the gleam of good men's eyes,
Characterless crawls Compromise.
Two cowards at war—one cf them cries,
"Let's settle the matter by Compromise 1"
So wrapped in a screen that detection dofies,
It stalks in umpire—Compromise.
Two thieves that grasp a stolen prir.e,
Divide the spoils by Compromise.
A country groans and a nation sighs
When leavers turn to Compromise.
Though fools may hope to strengthen ties
By cotton bands of C ompromise.
If you wish to soe a nation rise,
Dar J to speak of Compromise
Accursed be he who sells or buys
I. to country's honor with Compromise.
T'.ang him li:g'\ and after ha dies,
IVrite on his tombstone—Compromise !
Can ye never a plan devise
To save your land but Compromise ?
Come to your senses ! Up ! Ariee !
'hire ye strike on the reck of Compromise.
Tlae American Girl.
Our hearts are with our native land.
Our song is for her glory ;
Iter warrior's wreath is-in our hard,
Our lips breathe out her story.
Her lofty hills and valleys grcer.,
Are "shining bright before us ;
And like a rainbow sign ia seen
Iler proud flag waving o'er us.
And there are smiles upon our lips,
For those who meet her foeman,
For glory's star knows no eclipse,
Whou smiled upon by woman,
For those who brave the mighty deep,
And scorn the threat of danger,
We've smiles to cheer, and toars to Weep,
For every ocean ranger.
Our hearts are with our native land,
Our songs are for her freedom ;
Our prayers are for the gallant band
Who strike where honor leads them.
We love the taintles air we breathe,
'l'is Freedom's endless power ;
We'll twine for him on endless wreath
Who scorns a tyrant's power.
They tell of Fiance's beauteous fair.
Of Italy's proud daughters,
Of Scotland's lasses, England's fair
And nymphs of Shannon's waters.
We need not boast their haughty charms,
Though lords around them hover,
Our glory lies in freedom's arms—
A Freeman for a lover.
Slavery and tb,e War.
Many things have seemingly combined to
briDg about the present rebellion ; but all
converge to one point. THE CASSE is SLA
VBRY. The conspirators are endeavoring to
establish a confederacy which shall have
elaverv for its basis. It is so declared by
Jeff. Davis and his fellow rebels. 7hey do
not disguise it; why should wo ? This re
hellion is for the purpose of legalizing, by
strong Constitutional lay," the vilest system
that ever saw the sun,*' and to make it per
petual. This is their ovo declaration.
How long is it expected that the Govern
ment or its soldiers are to stand by and see
the property of Union men in the South seiz
e 1 and c mfUtca'ed, Northern creditors rob
bed ty proclamations and edicts of repudia
tion, and make no retaliation, or to resist
Ciily in'the mo6t refined and delicate man
ner ? Ilow long shall we heed the cry of
Toryism, that they are brethren ard must
be whipped as little a3 possible? How
long !
We are at war 1— Dot only this, but we are
at war with a semi-barbarous, and a most
savage and unscrupulous foe. They stop at
no device to accomplish their ends. They do
not respect a flag of truce, cr even, wounded
soldiers on the field of battle. The hospital
for the wounded, or the green sash of the
surgeon, is not heeded ; but, like other sava
ges, indiscriminate slaughter is their prac
tiae. The field,at Bull's Run has proven this.
The brutal mobs and horrid murders of anr f
fending men at the South, in time of peace,
had proved it long ago, but tho Northern
people were slow to believe. Now we know
the enemy we have "to deal with. We know
that they fight only when entre.nched, and
ia vastly superior numbers, nod act like
cowards and savages whenever they have an
opportunity. They press their Negroes into
servico to build entrenchments, and arm
them to fight in front of their battles,
Is there any longer a necessity for treating
this matter so dp'icatelv ? Wherever slavery
is found Dot only to be the cause of the war,
but is being used in protecting the enemy
and killing lcyal soldiers, destroy it—root it
out—eradicate it. Especially let this be done
wherever whole communities are disloyal and
seek to overthrow the government for the
sake of slavery. We think it is Yattel who
says, when writing on the Law of Nations,
that we " have a right to weaken our eDemy
in order to render bim incapable of support
ting his unjust violence," " to deprive him of
everything which may enable him to make
war, in the manner most suitable to us." In
these statements ail writers on International
Law agree. It is folly to allow an enemy
his greatest source of strength, when we
p Siess power to make that very strength a
source of weakness and certain annihilation.
" To this complexion must it come at last."
The slave drivers are using their slaves to
destroy the Government that has protected
them, aod to destroy the lives of our soldiers
Shall we pot destroy these living engines of
our destruction 7 If a ship should, sail up
Delaware Bay, containing Rebels, firing on
the people aud the property on shore, would
there be any hesitancy in destroying it? If
tbe Rebels fire on our pmple from a church,
will the sacrodneos of the edifice save it from
destruction? If a rich planter has his own
fine house fortified and surrounded by mask
ed batteries, shall (ur soldiers die by his
deadly shots rather than destroy bis beauti
ful villa 7 If slaves build that housß and
fire these guns, shall that kind of "property"
be held mora sacred, than his inanimate
chatte's? By slavery ha is enabled to pur
chase guDs and build earreDchments. Is
there any reason why we should deal with
the effects when we caD, at once, remove the
cause, —both of the defensive works, and the
very thing which he is fighting for ? Away
with thia false delicacy 1- WE ARE AT
Y/AR, aqd let us realize it, and act as if we
were determined to discover our enemy's
weak point and conquer by it. The dictates
of humanity, our instincts of selfpreservation
our love of country, our dpeire for National
existence, all demand that we shail proclaim
liberty to every slave held by a rebel master.
Congress has past an set discharging all who
are used by tbe Rebels in throwing up en
trenchments, or in fighting, from " all obli
gations of service or labor" to their masters.
Let means be taken to proclaim thia in all
the rebel States, and the institution which
has so well nigh ruined the country wiil
melt away like dew before the sun, and tbe
back bone of the rebellion will be broken.—
But every slave, whether used or not for
warlike purposes, who belongs to a Rebel,
should be declared absolved from all obliga
tions to perform unrequited labor. Why
should we hesitata longer ? Let the war be
closed by removing the cause of the war.—
Chester County Times.
General Butler on the Contra
band Question.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF YA. )
Fortress ftloDroe, July 30. j
Son. Simon Cameron,Secretary oj War.
SIR —By an order received on the morn
ing of the 2G,tb of July from Major General
Dix, by a telegraphic order from Lieutenant
General Scott, I was commanded to forward
of the troops of this department, four regi
iments and a half, inoluding Col. Baker's
California Regiment, to Washington via Bal
timore. This order reached me at 2 o'clock
A. u. by special boat from Baltimore. Be
lieving that it eminated because of some
pressing exigency for the defeuee of Wash
ington, I issued my orders before daybreak
for the embarkation of the troops, sending
those who were among the best I bad. In
the course of the following day they were all
i embarked for Baltimore, with the exception
| of some 400, for whom I had not transpor
, tatioD, although I had all the transport force
in the hands of the Quarter-Master here, to
■ aid the bay line of Bteamers, which by the
' same order from the Lieut-General, was di
rected to furnis'i transportation. Up to and
at the time of irder 1 had been preparing
for an advance movement by which I hoped
to be able to cripple the resources of the en
emy at Yorktown, and especially by seizing
a large quantity of negroes who were being
pressed into their service in building the en
trenchments there. I had five days previ
ously been enabled to mount for the first
Number 28
irre, the flr.-t company of light artillery
which X h~*d bee" empowered to raise
and they had but a single rifie cannon, an
iron 6 pounder. Ot course every thing must
and did yield,to the supposed exigency and
the order# This ordering away the troops
fro n this department, while it weakened the
pasts at Newport News, necessitated the
withdrawal of the troops from Hampton,
where I was throwing up entrenched works
to enable me to hold the town with a small;
force while I advanced up Y rk or James
River, in the village of Hampton there
were a large number of negroes, composed,
in a great measure, of wotr.cn and children
of the men who bad fled thither within my 1
lines of protection, who had escaped from
the marauding par'ies of rebels who had
been gathering up ab'>e bodied blacks to aid
them in construoting'their batteries on tho
Vorfc and James Rivers. I had employed"
the ro> n 3a Hampton in throwing up in
trenebmerts, and they were working zeal
ously and efficiently at that duty, saving our
soidiers front that labor under the of
the m'd-day sun. The women were earning
substantially their own subsistence in wash
ing, marketing, and taking care of the clothes
of the soldiers, aod rations were being serv
ed nut to the men who worked for the sup
port of the children. But by the evacuation*
of Hampton, rendered necessary by the with
drawal of troops, leaving me scarcely 5,000
men outside the fort, including the force at
Newport News, all these black people wen
obliged to break up their hemes at Hamp
ton, fleeing across the creek witbin my lines
for protection and support. Indeed it was
a most distressing sight, to see these poor
creatures, who had trusted to the protection
of the arms of the United States, and who
aided the troops of the United States in their
enterprise, to be -thus obliged to flee from
their homes, and the homes of their masters,
who had deserted them, and become not fu
gitives from fear of tbe return of the rebel
soldiery, who had threatened to shoot tho
men who had wrought for us, and to carry
off the women who had served us, to a worse
than Egyptain bondage. I have, therefore,
r. >w within the peninsula, this side of
Hampton creek, 900 negroes 300 of whom
are abie-bodied men, 30 of whom are men
su 1 o antially past hard labor, 175 women,
225 children under the age of ten years, atid
170 between ten and eighteen years, and
many more c iming in. The questions which
this state of facts present are very embar
rassing.
/'n-i-f—What shall be done with them ?
and Second, What is their state and condi
tion 7
Upon these q.ueslluua I desNo the instruc
tions of the Department.
The first question, however, may perhaps
fe answered by considering tho last. Are
these men, women, and children slaves 7 Are
they free 7 Is tbeir condition that of men,
women, and children, or of property, or is it
a mixed relation 7 What their status was
under the Constitution and laws, we all
know. What has been the effect of rebellion
and a state of war upon that status ?
When I, adopted the theory ol treating tho
ablebodied negro tit to work in the trenches,
as property liable to be used in aid of rebel!*
ion. and SJ contraband of war, that condition
of things was in so far met, as I then and
still believe, on a legal and constitutional
bas : 3. But now a new series of questions
arise. Passing by women, the children cer
tainly cannot be treated on that basis; if
property, they must be considered the inoum
brance rather than the auxiliary of an
and. of course, in no possible legal relation
could be treated as contraband.
Are they property 7 If they were so, they
have been left by their masters and ownere,
desered. thrown away, abandoned, like the"
wrecked vessel upon the ocean. Their for
mer possessors and owners have causelessly,
traitorously, rebelliously, and, to carry out
tbe figure, practically abandoned them to be
swallowed up by the winter storm of starva
tion.
If property do they not becorao the prop
erty of the salvors ? bu? we, their salvors, do
not need and will not hold such property and
will assume no such ownership ; has not
therefore all proprietary relation ceased T—
-1 Have- they not become thereupon men wo*
' men and ohildreo? No longer under own*
j ershipofany kind, the fearful relicts of fu
i gitiye masters, have they Dot by their mas
i tors acts, and the state of war, assumed the
1 condition, which we hold to be the normal
! one, of those made in God's image. Is not
every constitutional, legal and moral re
quirement, as well to ttie runaway master
as tbeii relinquished slaves, tbus'aoowered?
; I confess that my cwn miod is compelled by
; this reasoning to look upon them as men and
women. If not free born, yet free, manumit
ted, sent forth from the band that held them
never to be reclaimed.
Of course it this reeeoning thus imperfect
ly set forth is correct, my daty as a humane
man is. very plain. I should take the samo
i care cf these men, women and children,
1 houseless, homeless and unprovided for, as I
! would of the same number of the men, wu
men, and children, who for their attachment
; to the Union bad been driven or allowed to
; flee from the Confederate States. I should
i have no doubt on this question, had I not
seen it stated, that an order had been issued
by General McDowell in his department,
substantially forbidding all the fugitive
slaves from coming within his lines, or being
harbored there. Is that order to he enforced
i i ail mililary departments? It so, who are
to be considered fugative slaves? Is a slave
to be considered lugative whose master runs
away and leaves him ? Is it forbidden to
the troops to aid or harbor within their lines
the negro children who are found therein, or
is the soldier, when his march has destroyed
their means of subsistence, to allow them to
starye because he has driveD off the rebel
master ? Now shall the commander of reg
iment or battalion sit in judgment upon the
question, whether any given black man has
fled from his master, or his master fled from
him ? Indeed, how are the free born to be
distinguished? Is any one more or less a
fugitive slave because he has labored upon
the rebel entrenobmants ? If he has sc
labored, if 1 understand it, he is to be h*r,'
bored. By the rsteption of which are thfi
rebels most to he distressed, by taking those
who have wrought all their rebel masters
desired, masked their battery, or those who'
have refused to labor and left'tha battery un
masked.
I have Tery decided opinions upon thn
subject of this order. It does not becom
Concluded on second j>cgc.