[Washington, June 24, 1861.]
Success attends me everywhere. I left Saturday P.M. for
Fortress Monroe. Mr. Blair gave me a letter of introduction to General Butler,
concluding with, “I like him and think you will.”
This put me in direct communication with him, and we had a
free talk on the way to Newport News and back. He took me with him in his
despatch-boat. Butler's views coincided with Blair's, and mine so far. He
says that the freedmen must be removed when they press on him, but that is not
yet. They more than earn their rations. There are about 350, including 60 women
and children, there; but have not increased lately, because, the masters having
first run away from the neighborhood of our troops, the slaves remain and live
on the best of the rebel plantations, and work or play as they choose. As he
keeps those who come to him at work they prefer to live at home in the absence
of their masters, and do as they please. He says there is now $250,000 worth of
sweet potatoes in the ground near Norfolk, and no market for them. These will
keep the slaves until the cold weather; then we must take care of them.
I have had a long talk with Sumner to-day, or rather I
talked to him an hour, he listening attentively, and then, being interrupted,
we adjourned it to this evening. The result of this conference you will learn
on my return home.
SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public
Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 252
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