Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-05-29
ServiIe Insurrections How They
should be Treated OBJECTS of the

ServiIe Insurrections- How They
should be Treated Objects of the
War. ea
Governor ANDREW of Massachusetts,, in let
ter to Gen. BUTLER took occasion to censure the
latter for rendering his aid to Governor Hicks of
Maryland to suppress servile instructions. He
remarks:
If / rightly understand the telegraphic dis
patch, think that your action in rendering to
Gov. Hicks the assistance of our Massachusetts
troops to suppress a threatened servile insurrec
ton among the hostile people of Maryland, was
unnecessary. hope that the fuller dispatches,
which are on their way from you. may show rea
sons why / should modify my opinion concerning
that particular instance; but in general i think
that the matter of servile nsurrection among a
community in arms against The Federal Union, is
no longer to be regarded by our troops in polit
ical, but solely in military point of view, and is
to be contemplated as one of the inherent weak
nesses of the enemy, from the disastrous opera
tions of which we are under no obligations of a
military character TO guard them, in order that
they may be enabled to improve the security which
our arms would Afford so as to prosecute with
more energy their traitorous attacks upon the
Federal Government and Capital. The mode in
which such outbreaks are to be considered should
depend entirely upon the loyalty or dsloyalty
the vicinity of Annapolis, can on this occasion
perceive no reason of military policy why force
summoned to the defense of the Federal Govern
ment, at this moment of all others, should be
offered to be diverted from its immediate duty, to
help rebels, who stand with arms in their hands,
obstructng its progress toward the city of Wash
ton.
In response, Gen. BUTLER dispatched to Gov
ernor ANDREW the following admirable reply 1t
contains sentiments not only just in themselves,
but they will 60 far to disarm the prejudices of
the Southern against the Northern people, and to
restore that feeling of amty which existed in the
early days of the Republic. and satisfy the former
that there is no disposition on the part of the
great body of the conservative citizens of the
Northern States to trespass on any of their con-
stitutional rights or interfere with their domestic
institutions. Gen. BUTLER says:
The telegraph, with more than usual accuracy,
had rightly informed your Excellency that had
offered the services of the Massachusetts, troops
under my command, to aid the authorities of
Maryland in suppressng threatened slave insur-
rection. Fortunately for us all, the rumor of
such an outbreak was without substantial foun-
dation. Assuming, your Excellency does in
your dispatch, that / was carrying on military
PoafrGnce was to be waged, my act might be a
matter of discussion. And in that view acting in
the light of the Baltimore murders and the appa-
rently hostile position of Maryland, your Excel
lency might, without mature reflection, have
come to the conclusion of dsapprobaton ex-
pressed in your dispatch. But the facts, espe.
cally as now aided by, their results, will entirely
justify my act, and reiIstate me in your Excel
lencys good opinion.
True, landed on the soil of Maryland against
the formal protest of its Governor and of the
corporate authorities of Annapolis, but without
any armed opposition ON their part, and ex-
pecting opposition only from insurgents assem-
bled in rotous contempt of the laws of this State
Before, by letter, and at the time Of landing, BY
personal interview, had informed Gov. Hicks
that soldiers of the Union, under my command
were armed only against the insurgents and dis
turbers of the peace of Maryland and the United
States. / received from Gov. Hicks assurances
of the loyalty of the State to the Union, assur
ances which subsequent events have fully justi
fed. The Mayor OF Annapolis also informed me
that the city authorities would in no wise oppose
me, but that was in great danger from the ex
cited and riotous mobs of Baltimore pouring dowr
upon me, and in numbers beyond the control o.
his police. i assured both the Governor AND
Mayor that had no fear OF Baltimore or othel
mob, and that, supported by the authorities of thu
State and city, should repress all hostile demon
strations against the laws of Maryland and the
United States, and that would protect both my
self and the city of Annapolis from any disor
derly persons whatever. On the morning follow
ing my landing l was informed that the city o.
Annapolis and enyirons were in danger from an
insurrecsion of the slave population, in defiancs
of the laws of the State. What was to do
l had promised to put down a white mob and
to preserve and enforce the laws against that
Ought / to allow black one any preference
in u breach of the laws? / understood tina
was armed against all infractions of the laws
whether by white or black, and upon that under
standing acted, certainly with promptness an'
efficiency. Your Excellency's shadow of disap
probation, arising from misunderstanding OF th
facts, has caused all the regret l have had TO
that action. The question seemed to me to b.
neither military political, and was not to be 81
treated. 1t was simply question of good faitl
and honesty of purpose. The benign effect o
my course was instantly seen. The good bu
tmid people of Annapolis, who had fled from
their houses at our approach, Immediately re
turned; business resumed its accustomed chan
nels, quiet and order prevailed in the city; conf
I dence took the place of distrust, friendship o
enmity, brotherly kindness of sectional hate, an
| believe to day there is no city in the UnOl
more loyal than the city of Annapolis. think
therefore, may safely point to the result for m
justification. The vote of the neighboring coun
ty of Washington. few days since, for its dele
gate to the Legislature, wherein 1000 out O
5000 votes were thrown for delegate favorabl
for the Union, is among the many happy fruit
of firmness of purpose, efficiency of action, an
integrity of mission. believe, indeed, it wi
not require personal interchange of views, a
i suggested in your dispatch, to bring our minds j
accordance; simple statements of the facts wi
snfice.
But am to act hereafter, it may be, in an er
, H.
the question may arise as il has not arisen, q
well in a moral and Christian, in a polite,
and militry point of view. What shall i the
do? Will your Excellency bear with me mt
ment while this question is discussed.
appreciate fully your Excellencys suggestio
as to the inherent weakness of the rebels, arisn
, from the preponderance Of their servile popu
t ton. The question then is. in what manner aha
) we take Vantage of that weakness? By allo,
ing, and of course armng that population, to ri,
upon the defenseless women and children of Il
country, carrying rapine. arson and murder-a
the horrors of San Domingo, million of tim
magnifed, among those whom we hope to r
unite with us as brethren, many of whom are a
ready so, and all who are worth preserving, vs.
be, when this horrible madness shall have pass,
away or be thrashed out of them2 Would yo
Excellency advise the troops under my commal
to make war in person upon the defense,ess W
men and children of any part OF the Union, u
r companied by the brutalities too horrible to
Il named? You will say, "God forbid" If '
r may not do so in person, shall we arm others
to do, over whom we can have no restraint. exc
: else no control and who, when once they ha
9 tasted blood, may turn the very arms we put
the:- hands against ourselves, as part of the o
: pressin. white race? The reading of history
o familiar to your Excelency. will tell you the b
terest cause of complaint which our fathers h
q against Great Britain in the war of the revol
ton, was the arming by the British Ministry
n the red man with the tomahawk and the scalpi
knife against the women and children of the co
o nies. so tha, the phrase, NAV we not use all t
T means which God and nature have put in @
u power to subjugate the colonies?" has passed in
n legend of infamy against the leader of tl
o Ministry who used il in Parliament. Shall
= tory teach us in vain ? Although with arms
! our hands amid the savage wdness of camp a
!. ] aaIi ha..a hl.atod &c tha Gs