The national Republican., 1861-09-11
Geo, M. Weston. Editor.
"wednesday, september II, 1861.
. sDv,ous OFFENCE COM ulTTED d !
~ GEN. ROSSEAU.

A correspondent of the New York Tribune,
writing Sept p from Camp Joe Holt"
which Is on the Indiana side Of the Falls Of
the Ohio. and opposite Louisville, gives the par
ticulars of the surrender of q black man by
Gen Rosseau being substantially as tele-
graphed some days since. We had hoped until
now that there was an error in the telegraphic
accounts, as the transaction described was not
only unlawfu. and disgraccful to the American
army, but so nearly approaches treason as to
be with difficulty distinguished from It.
1t seems that the black man, Goree, had been
the slave and body servant of Col. Bob. John.
son, Of the rebel Camp Boone, that he had es-
capped that service aud reached the Ohio river,
and that in attempting to swim that river, he
became exhausted, was rescued from drowning
By some of the soldiers of Camp Joe Holt"
and was by them brough. into that Camp"
Add thereupon Gen. Rosseau ordered him to
be carried back, by file Of men, to The Ken.
lucky side Of the river This is stated to have
been done for the express purpose of his re.
delivery to his former master, aud If not done
Tor that purpose, will doubtless result in that
as a matter OF fact.
The conduct of General Rosseau involves
many and Hlgrant violations of law, and was
IA insolept defiance of the will of the nation, a.
expressed by the Congress during its session
latey closed.
As military officer, Ros:eau had no discre.
ton in respect to this black man, but to receive
him into camp, or not to receive him. 1t is nc
part of the duty of The army of the United States
TO capture fugitive slaves for the benefit of their
owners, loyal or disloyal. That was always
true, but it has now received the sanction of an
express vote of the House Of Representatives.
Rosseau, in this act, violated the sovereignty
cl lrG.aIa in q vital particular. There are
special legal modes Of procedure, for the de
livery up Of slaves escaping from one State
into another, under which the fact Of slavery
may bc established by trial. Military officer,
have no jurisdiction in such cases.
Ii the facts in this particula, case are given
correctly, it is by no means clear. that Colonel
Rob. johnson could have sustained claim tc
this black man, Goree. 1t is not yet judicially
settled, whether a man in arms against the
Government of the United States can go, BY
himself, or agent, into the State of Indiana
and enforce the return of fugitive slave, undel
the provisions Of the Constitution of the United
states. We do not ourselves believe that th,
judicial authorities would lend themselves tc
the enforcement of any such pretension from
snch party. AT any rate, it is an undecided
question and General Rosseau has assumed 9
very grave respons; bility in anticipating it,
decision.
Such acts as this one Of Gen. Rosseau mus
be most embarrassing to the political admins
tration Of the country.
Army officers will do best by combining them
selves to their appropriate functions, aud b,
not presuming to adjudicate the right to per
sonal liberty of black men over whom the
have no jurisdiction.
The reasonable aspect of this conduct {
Gen. Rosseau consists in the fact that 1t wa
giutng aid and comfort to the enemy to restor
10 him the valuable services of slave.