VT
VOL. 1.
. % .cr:--- ?
9 THE FREE SOOTH.
v BEAOOHT, S.C., JIL\ 1, 1863.
V Agents for the Free Sesth.
Tatloe A Co. Hilton Head, and St. Helena Island.
? C. C. JjtiGii, No. 1 Mercer street, New Tork.
HT Agents wanted in the different Regiments of this
Department, for the Fax* Sorra.
\ Political.
> *
The Democracy of the north are fast
being brought into an attitude of positive
resistance to the further prosecution of
xrar. The Droceedinffs of the oonven
-? ? ?
tians of that party in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa
aad Pennsylvania are apparently the result
of mature deliberation on the part of
the leaders, and they go into the fall campaign
upon the distinct issue of a bitter
opposition to the administration and a de'
aire for a speedy peace.
The nomination of Valandigham * as
Governor of Ohio, shows a willingness to
accept the gage thrown down by the administration
in his arrest and deportation.
His nominfdion has been endorsed as a
wise party act by every democratic convention
held since its occurrence.
. The twenty-third resolution of the Illinois
convention reads fw follows4 .
7 Resolved, ** That the further offensive
prosecution of this war tends to subvert
the constitution and entail upon the coun?11
ovilg nf Q-no-mViv and misrrnlp.."
4AJ ?i i vuv vv?w v* *?**.?
The Ohio convention was no less clear
in the expression of similar views, and
though that of Pennsylvania was more
cautions, it nominated, in Judge Woodward,
a man who has quietly but fearlessly
and frankly shown his sympathy with
-the south from the commencement of the
war. The contest is therefore to be
frankly conducted on both sides, for of
course, the Unionists will shirk no responsibility,
and will adopt for their platform
" sustain the administration and vigorously
prosecute the war."
In Ohio the Union Convention was
large and enthusiastic. John Brough, a
democrat of life-long standing, was nomi-,
nated on a war platform?and there seems
to be a great confidence in his success.
; The Pennsylvania Union convention assembled
on the first of this month. Governor
Curtin is pressed for a renomination,
but it is thought he Trill decline. Much
depends upon the character of the nominee.
The democrats have chosen probably
their strongest man, and the Union
convention must do likewise or be beaten.
Iowa, Illinois and New Hampshire have
held their conventions and are evidently
prepared for a vigorous canvass With
. decent success in the field, the success of
the Unionists may be considered certain,
but without that, the prospect is unfavorable.
Colored Soldiers.
Tim war department has authorized
CoL Wm. Birney, a brother of MajorGeneral
Birney, to raise three Regimints
of colored men from Pennsylvania and
the adjoining States. Every officer appointed
is subjected to a rigid examination
to ascertain his qualifications for the
position sought The question of protecting
these soldiers against the rebel
barbarities threatened, has been under
consideration, and it has been decided
that no other code than that of the war
code of the national army is needed.
This eode declares that as soon as a
man i? arm ad hv a povereicri Government.
and takes the soldiers' oath of fidelity, he
is a belligerent, and his acts of war are
not individual offences. The law of nations
knows of no distinction of color,
and if an enemy of the United States
should enslave and sell any captured persons
of their army, it would be a case for
the severest retaliation, if not remedied
upon complaint. The United States cannot
retaliate by enslavement; therefore,
death must be the retaliation for this
crime against the law of the nation.
CoL Thomas H. Grierson has been appointed
a Brigadier-General for gallant
^nd distinguished services. i
7
THE FREE SOUTH, SAT
Justice to the Blacks the Interest of
the Nation.
At the present time the great question
fot this nation to solve is, not whether the :
Union shall be preserved, for the Union is
indissoluble ; not when the war is He be
(r\f fV?o war will pml wllPTl rpbpl
UI1IHHWI) &V4 VUV\ntM ??*** V*#v% ??
lion ceases ; nor is it any question about
constitutional rights or natural liberties,?
but it is the old, the tiresome, the heretofore
ill-answered question of the position
and treatment of the black race. The answer
given to this question will be the
touchstone of American principles, and
the prophecy of national prosperity or decline.
We have tried one way of treating
them,?that of slavery, which has plainly
been a wrong one, and has resulted in national
corruption, dishonor, and suffering.
Slavery is very near its end. The Proclamation
of the first of January, 1863, is not
a dead letter. It is working like yeast to
leaven the whole lump of the Southern
social system. Already as we learn, upon
unquestionable authority, in the heart of
the blackest States, of Mississippi, Alabama,
and Georgia,?the slaves are no
longer coerced to work. Nor is the Proclamation
a lie,?"to keep the word of
promise to the ear, and break it to our t
hope." It is to be maintained according
to its spirit, and to its full intention, with
the whole force of the government, and
the entire support of the nation. The
new policy that it inaugurated commends
itself daily more and more, no less to the
intelligence than to the conscience of the
people. The enlisting of negroes in North
and South Carolina, in Louisiana, and in
the Western Slave States, the enrollment
of black volunteers in Massachusetts, Kansas,
and other free States; the employ
ment of freed men on abandoned or confiscated
plantations under governmental
authority and inspection, are evidences of
the practical operation of emancipation,
and of the sincerity of the administration
and of the people in the work of freedom.
But although all these and other facts
afford evidence of the destruction of slavery,
and of the establishment of a new
policy toward the black race, there is yet
need of something more. The treatment
of the blacks in the long run must be based
not on the necessities of war, or any emergency
of transient circumstances, but
should be founded on principles of universal
application, and of eternal force. The
nation,?that is, the individuals who compose
the nation,?must learn to treat the
blacks on the simplest principle of even
justice. They are to be treated neither
with harshness nor with softness; not as
a servile class, not as natural inferiors, not
as a degraded race,?but amply as men.
The nation, if it would secure its own
prosperity and happiness, must oonquer
the prejudice, which ,has led, and, if indulged
will lead to outrageous and calamitous
injustice. We put in no plea for
compassion and kindness to a long suffering,
deeply wronged, and blameless race.
It is not on any ground of pity or of compensation
that we rest our claim for the
blacks, but we claim justice for them as
their right and therefore as the only rule
of treatment which will not endanger and
enfeeble the life of the nation itself, and
expose it to inevitable penalties. Self interest
on our part, on the part of the white
race, requires justice to the blacks. Their
work is to be paid for like the work of
other men, if they do a full days work,?
fall wages, not nail wages are tneir due.
If they are idle let them suffer the consequences.
The system of apprenticeship,
or of forced labor* is to be applied to them,
no more than to white men,?that is, it is
to be applied only when there is danger of
their becoming a burden on the community,
and then they deserve pay for their
forced labor in tbe same proportion as
white men would receive it.
?
There is no blinding ourselves to the
fact that, whether w> like it or not, the
blacks are part of tL * i nation for weal or
for woe. If they ar/j treated fairly, like
men, with equal, democratic justice, they
URDAY, JULY 4,1863. _
will as a race soon learn to take care of
themselves, and soon raise themselves from
the depths of slavery to honest independence.
. More than this they will become
a class of immense importance to the
country,"both as producers and consumers.
They will form a laboring class of freemen
such as no other nation possesses, and
ai. t 1, ii.. : A
iiicii rise iruiii uuuuu^c jlumj me uujuvuifuu
of freedom and justice, will involve a constant
and steady increase in the sources of
national prosperity, security and power.
The same free and equal justice that
each one of us demands for himself, is
demanded by the negro. He has as good
a right to it as we have. It is the duty of
every man who loves his country, who believes
in the inalienable rights of man and
who would serve God to help him to secure
it N.
JOF* We are pleased to see, as the hot
summer weeks are upon us, that our
watchful Provost Marshal, Capt. Greenleaf,
has placed the city of Beaufort, its
streets, alleys and environs, its wharves,
ware-houses and public buildings' in the
most healthful sanitary condition.
A strong corps of negro laborers have,
foT many days, been engaged in removing
all the garbage and refuse" matter which,
even in the best regulated cities rapidly
accumulates during the winter and spring
months. It is but truth to say Beaufort,
at this moment, with the single exception
of the dilapidated and defaced appearance
of many of its mansions, owing partly to
the neglect of their original proprietors
and partly from their occupation by armed
soldiers, who could not be expected to be
vety tender in their treatment of rebel
property?especially when fires were to
be made, food cooked and no cord wood
or coal on hand to feed the flame and keep
the pot boiling?is one of the most invi
ting little cities m tne country. i/yspeptic,
homesick officers who have as much
dread of mounting a spirited horse as
they could have of crossing the back of
an alligator; who have been here many
months and still know nothing of the attractions
of the island, of which this city
is but a picture in minature; who fear the
night air of these Islands of the sea as
the " dread simoon," and who will probably
return to their northern homes pronouncing
everything in and about the
great bay of Port Royal, " stale, flat and
unprofitable," are the only persons who
are insensible to the charms of Beaufort
and its delightful environs.
But two years since much of the intilect,
culture and beauty of South Carolina
dwelt in these large old mansions,
strolled along the shore of this beautiful
bay, and under the pale light of the moon,
upon spirited blood horses, dashed up the
long avenues and beneath the arched oaks,
to be found in almost every direction on
this island. W nat soutn uaronna enjoyea
so intensely and so rationally it is now the
privilege of Massachusetts to cultivate if
she will.
To return to our efficient Provost Marshal;
we thank you Capt. Greenleaf for
restoring to us much of the original beauty
and attractiveness of Beaufori
Valuable Prises Takes.
Two more valuable prizes laden with
sea island cotton have just entered Port
Royal harbor. The Brittan ia from Charleston
and the Victory, from Wilmington,
bound for foreign ports, were overhauled
by the gunboat Santiago Dt Cuba, a few
days since, on the coast of Florida, after
a sharp chase of a few hours. These vessels
both run the blockading fleets at their
respective ports without the least difficulty,
but like many others, when once out
to sea, slackened their vigilance and soon
fell into the clutches of our watchful gunboats.
The cotton found on these prizes, is estimated
to be worth several hundred thousand
dollars.
" Captin," said Jack, " one of your
mockumbird's dead?toder too. Fraid to
to tell you of boffat once fear you couldn't
bore it."
\
NO. 1
- 4 i
The Invalid Corps. J
Mnch importance is attached by milita-A :
ry men to the proposed organization of an
Irvalid Corps, and many inquiries haye?
been made from various ports of the conntry
concerning it In order to facilitate
the organization, and to supply the re-" j
quired information, the assistant provost
marshal generals as general superintendents
of the various States, will soon 3
furnished with all the necessary instme-^
tions and blanks. r '
This corps, though a novelty in oor?ervice,
promises beneficial results both ta
invalid -oldiers and the Government, Ihn
term of enlistment is to be for three years,
unless sooner discharged. The oorpe will
be required to perform all duties within^" r*
the limit of their physical capacity, but for
the convenience of service they will be selected
for three grades of duty. Those
who are most efficient and able-bodied,
and capable of using the musket and performing
guard duty, light marches, etc.,
will be assigned to companies of the first
battalion. Those of the next degree of
physical efficiency, including all who have
lost a hand or an arm, to the companies
, of the second battalion. Those who are kj
least effective, and all who have lost a fool ^
or a leg, to the companies of the third \
battallion. These two clases are to be
armed with swords.
In all cases where the physical infirmities
of officers or enlisted men come within,
the provisions which do not disqualify en- |
listed men for service in the corps they
will be recommended for transfer or enlistment
therein, but no one will be admitted
whose previous record does not ^
show that he is meritorious and deserving,
and that he has complied with the provisions
authorizing an invalid corps. V
While the Government is most anxious
to provide for and employ, to the best of
its ability, those faithful soldiere who,
from wounds or the hardships of war, are
no longeT able to perform active duty
the held, yet it can, upon no aoedumTper- . V
mit men, undeserving, or totally disabled* J
to re-enter its service. Those faithful soldiers
whose physical infirmities are too
great to admit of their being of any use in
the Invalid Corps, will, nevertheless, re- ^
ceive the pensions and bounties provided,
by law. It is further announced that no
officer or enlisted man shall be entitled to
receive any pension, premium or bounty
for enlistment, re-enlistment, or service^ ^J|
in tife Invalid Corps. They will receive J
all other pay and allowances now authorized
by law for the United States infantry*
excepting the increased pay for re-enlistment.
Claims for pensions or bounties
which may be due for previous service
will not be invalidated by enlistment in
the Invalid Corps. But no pensions can ^
be drawn or accrue to the benefit crf-UHJ r i y
mon /Invnnrr Vkia oorn'oo in aaviao
IIIUII uium^ UAO oui uu i/ug vvi^o.
It is thought that there are twenty or
thirty thousand soldiers now performing
such duties as could be discharged by men
coming within the provisions of the act
creating the Invalid Corps. Besides, it is |
believed there are over one hundred and \ *
fifty thousand soldiers who have been diacharged
for disabilities; many, however,
of the slightest character. The provisions
of the law extend to marines.
Colonel B. H. Bush is in charge of the
bureau appropriated to* business pertaining
to the Invalid Corps, under the general
direction of Colonel Fry, Provost;
Marshal General.
In addition to the advantages to the invalid
in being placed, in every respect, on
an equality with all other soldiers, he can
feel that he is still in the discharge of dn-\
ty to the extent of his physical capacity;
arirl ran bp napfnllv pmnlnvp/1?no a. ornnrd'
nurse, etc.?with a feeling of pride and
satisfaction that he is rendering an equiv- ^ [
alent for the pay and allowances he receives
from the Government, in the maintenance
of which he became an invalid.
Why a dog waggles his tail. Because
the dog is stronger than the tail. If he
wasn't, the tail would waggle the dog.
I
4