The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-08-22
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The Contraband sIoya ona.,;o.

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The Secretary of War has oiver +bo FOL.
lowing instructions 10 Gen. BntIer n roGo4io,,
10 c0ntraband slaves: e-'''i0 =
" shtNGToN, Aug, 1861 General The
Important question of the proper disnos;t;on ~
DC made OF tugitives from service i, tbo Cta.ao
IN lhsurrection against the Federal Co[or,,ra1
" "hlcn you have again directed nv aftont;a,
Al Your letter OF July 90 has received NV n,ost
astei!tiVe consideration. 1t is the desire of,bo
Ieslueff mat all existing rights in the States
be fully respected and maintained Tba -"
now prosecuted on the part of the FedaraI ca.
eminent IS a war for the Union, for the Drcsor
Natlon OF all constitutional rights Of the States
ana the citizens of States of the Union Havoc
no question can arise as to fugltives from SER
vice within the States and Territories in which
me authority Of the Union is fully,acknowledr.
cd. The ordinary form of judicial proceedings
must be respected by military and civil author
Tues alike for the enforcement of LEGAL forms
But IN the States wholly or in part npder in.
SIQiiectonary control, where the laws of the
United States are so far resisted and opposed
tnat they cannot be effectually enforced, il is
OBVIOUS that the rights dependant on the eve
cutlon OF those laws must temporarily fail and
IL is equally obvious that the rights denendent
on the laws Of The State within which sInilitarv
operations are conducted, must be necessarily
subordinate to the military exgencies created
~ the instruction, II not wholly forfeited by
tue treason OF the parties claiming them. To
this, the general rule of right to Services forms
an exception. The act of Congress, approved
aug. o, 1861, declares that if persons held to
! service shall be employed in hostility to Tho
United States, the right to their service. shall
be forfeited and such persons shall be discbnrg.
ed theretrom. 1t follows of necessity that no
claim can be recognized by the military author
ny OF the Union for the services ofsuch persons
when fugtives FN'''''7
more difficult question is presented in re.
spect to persons escaping from the service of
loyal masters 1t is quite apparent thatlthe laws
OF the State under which only the services of
such tugltives can be claimed, must needs he
wholly, or almost wholly suspended AS to the
remedies by the instruction and the military
measures nacessitated by it, it is equally appa-
rent that the substitution of military for judicial
measures Tor the enforcement of such claims.
must be attended with great inconveniences,
ADVERTISEMENTS and Injuries Under these cir
cumstances, it seems quite clear that The snb-
stantlai rights of local masters are still best pro-
leeted by receiving such fugitiyes as we'll as
iagluTes from disoyal masters, into the service
Oh the United States, and employing them un-
uef sVch organizations and occupations rs cir
culhstanccs may suggest or require Ofcourse
o record should be KEEP showing the name and
description OF the tugitives the name and the
0HtsI "CtS4 ~ INC masters, as loyal or disOyal,
and such facts as may be necessary to correct
under5 andiDg Of the ciicumstancesof each case,
liter tranquility shall have been restored. Upor.
lie return OF peace, Congress VIII. doubtless
property provide for all persons it has received
INTO the service Of the Unionand for A lust com
pensaCon to loyal masters In this way only.
II would seem, can the duty and safety of The
government and the just rights Of all be fully
reconci!ed ard barmonized.
You will therefore consider Yourself instruct
ed TO govern your future action III respect TO
the iugtiyes from service, by the premises here
III stated, and will report from time to tine.a and
at least twice iii each month your action in the
premises, to this department You will how
eVeI,neIther authorize NOR permit any inteIfer-
ence by the troops under your command with
me servants Of poaceable citizens, in house OF
heId, nor will you in any way encourage such
servants to leave the lawful service Of their
masters, nor VIII y II, except in cases where
tile pubic good may seem TO require it, rre-
vent the voluntary return OF any fugitive to the
VICE from which he may have escaped am
very respectfully, your obedient servant,
SIMON CAMERON, Secretary Of War
10 MJar General Butler commanding depart
ment Of Virginia, Fortress Monroe.