The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-11-19
SLlIERY 80 80 -.

TIE line of policy which should le pur-
sued IS tie Government Ii reference "a
Slavery. i . ljcct about Which there is
maea difference u opinion Us might nat.
uraliy BE- expected from The magnitude,
the iniricacy aed tie importance Of The
Issues involved.
Tia, lac Administration hare thus Ear
adhered aiih suic, fidelity 10 tie policy
contained IN the PRESIDENTS Inaugural,
Nis. that il was the purpose Of the Gov
ornmcni 10 make no ogg,essions upon The
local Institutions Of any Of the States, can.
MOI be- doubted.
~ he extra session Of Congress, tie
following important enactment was passed
in reference q this subject:
Whenever hereafter during the pres
cnt insurretlion against the Government
d the United States, any person claimed
10 be held 10 labor or service under the
law Of any State shall be required or per-
mitled by the person 10 whom such labor
81 service is claimed 10 be due, or by the
lawful agent Of such person, 70 take w
arms ogaiaa he United States o. shall be
required OF permitted by the person 10
whom such labor or service i claimed to
le due, or bis lawful agent, 70 icork o. 70
n Employed Ia 81 upon oag .tor. nary
ya,d, dock, ormory, ship, ehtrencimeat, Or
ia any military or naeaf serrice 'odatso-
ercr, against The Government and lawful
authority 81 The United States, then and
IN every such case, the person 10 whom
snch lab0r or service is claimed 10 be due,
shall forfeit bis claim to such labor, any
Law Of The State or Of the United States
notwithstanding
This statute evidently emampatcs only
such slaves as have been employed IN the
rebellion, by exercising some Of tie overt
acts specifically enumerated in the law !;
and as a large majority Of the slaves are
pu to other occupations, il Of course ap-
plies TO bat small number Of the slave
population.
The celebrated proclamation Of Gen.
Fremont vas n measure much in advance
Of the above mentioned act. Il proclaim
ID freedom 10 oil slaves Of rebels, rs fol-
lows.
The property, renl aud personal, of
all persons in The State Of Missouri, who
,hal take up arms against the United
States, or WHO shall be directly proven 70
have taken active part with their enemies
IN the field, Is declared to be confscaied
10 the public use, and TIER slqreS. II ony
they haee orc hereby dcciared free men,"
This proclamation, if enforced, would
have undoubtedly emancipated a large
majority Of the slaves in the State Of Mis-
sour, But by order Of The Presid nj,
The fnal clause Of this proclamation was
ordered 10 be construed so as TO conform
with and moi TO transcend the provision Of
the above mentioned act Of Congress.
The policy Of the Administration in
reference 10 the disposition Of fogi,i,es
escaping TO The federal camps is announced
in the instructions to Gen. Butler, August
j, as follows
Such slaves nre to be received into
the service of the United States, and en-
ploycd under such organizations and in
such occupations as circumstances may
sugges, OF require. You
will not authorize nor permit any interfer-
cnce by the troops under Your command
with The servants OF peaceable citizens in
the house or field, nor will you in any
manner encourage such servants TO leave
the service Of their masters"
And again Secretary Cameron In his
orders to the Naval Expedition, says in
reference to this subject q You viii EN-.
ploy soch persons lfugiIives) in such ser
VICES as they may be fitted for, either as
ordinary employees, or, il special circum-
stances seem TO require i, in any other
capacity, with such organ cations, 10 squads,
companies, OF otherwise, AS you may deem
most beneficial to the service. This do 8
noi, however, mean a general arming 81
them for military service. You will as
cure All loyal masters tina, Congress viii
provide Jast compensation 10 them for the
los Of the services Of the persons 70 en-
ployed."
Again, Gen. sherman, IN his proclana-
so8 70 the people Of South Carolina, says
BET We hasc No desire 70 harm your