The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-08-21

to Gen. Butler by the Secretary of War. eaed
Washiny toa. ANN, ~.


The following letter has just been disn.,.,.,
TO Gen. Butler by the Secretary of War. 'eaed
washington, August. lss,
GENERAL The important oae.;io,
proper disposition 10 oe made OF ius;,;, V 'ae
service in the States in insarrec,on s,,:, .on
Federal Government, 10 which YOU bsva Ms
directed my attention in your letter az ii,
has received INV most attentive con.;,aS"
Ii is the desire of the President tha, an a.oa.
rights in all the States be fully rrsns,,.ss
maintained. The var nov pro,ecatsa ~, c
part OF the Federal Government is a xs, Ie
Union; tor the Preservation of all cons,:,r,;.
rights in al Tue States, ANA the citizens 81 :,
states in the Cnion. Hence Ito qaesro1 we
atse as 10 tugitives IRON service With,
States and Territories in which the autho,;.l'as
the Union is fully acknowledged, and the ~
nary forms of Judicial proceedings mus, h.
spected by military aud civil authorities .hl.
the enforcement Of legal forms Bur In ~
States wholly or ia part under insurrec,,o,.-s
control, where the laws OF the United Sta,s..
80 far opposed and resisted that they csnpo, -
effectusly enforced, it is obvious tha, the ,ss'.
dependent upon the execution OF those =.
must temporarily laIl, and it is equally oa,,o..
| that the rights dependent on the laws os a.
State within which military operations are A..
| Quoted must be necessarily subordinate !, -.
military eXigencies created by the insurrec,;o.
| II ut wholly forfeited by tie treasonabls o..
duct Of parties claiming them. To this the -.
eral rule vi night IL services forms uo .,e..
| ton. The act OF Congress approved AuyuSs
| 1861, declares that II persons held 10 serr;o,,
shall be employed in hostility TO the Urnss
States, the right 10 their services shall he g..
eted, and such persons shall be d,sch.,,as
theretrom. Ii follows, OF necessity, that no clsn,
can be recognized by the military authority q: n.
Union to the services OF such persons When m.
gitves.
A more difficult question is presented in r..
spect 10 persons escaping from the service al
loyal masters. IL is quite apparent that thelax.
OF the State under which ouy the service of sueh
tugitiy.s can DC claimed, must Ice wholly. or Al.
most wholly, suspended by the Instruction. A.
To the remedies aud Tie military measures nece..
STATED by it, it is equally apparent that the sub.
.titu,on Of military Tor judicial measures for he
enforcement OF such CLAIMS must be attended h,
great inconvenlences, enbarrassments aud mia.
ries. Under these circumstances IL seems a.,,,
clear that the substantial rights Of lo,al master.
are still best protected 10y receiving such iug
lives. as well Us those OF dislo,a al masters. n,o
inc vi Aht NlaAtc, tuiplOklg
them under such organizations and occupaliu.
as circumstances may suggest or require O.
course a record should be kept showing q name
and description 81 the iugiiyes: the name and
the character ss loyal or d-loyal, OF the ma.,,f
aud such facts as niay he necessary 10 a corse,
understanding oi the circumstance. ot each case
after tranquility shsl. have cen res,oi.d Cpoo
the return of peace Congress will doubtless prop.
erly provide Tor all she persons thus received
into the service ~ 'h, Union AID tor lust com.
pensation 10 loyal masters. IN TN, way onl, !,
would seem can the duty and the safety Of the
government and the just rights o. all be fully re.
CONCEDED and hsinonzed.
| You will therefore consider Yourself instructed
Ia govern your future action ia respect 10 fuei
tive- from service by The pre- uises herein stated
| and slll report from time tu time, and al less
twice Ia each month your acton in the premises
to tbs department lol viii, however, neithsr
authorize nor perrin, any interference by ih,
troops u der ycur command with the servants o
peaceful citizens IN hous- o. field nor will you
in snv way, encourage such servants tn leave ID.
lawful service q; their masters; nor will YOU, en
ce?t in eases where the public good may seem
require 1t, prevent the voluntary return of an,
might've to the service from which he NAV hav,
escaped. | am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
SIMON CAMERON.