Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-07-24
slavea in Time OF War.

l-iAbOAAAlS kAtHeeosteJ - h'S, Gun $40
the people Of the South to be fully post
ed as to the laws Of war regarding the right
and power Of the federal authorities 70
abolish slavery if necessary to the public
peace and welfare:
Gen. Butler having put about sixty Viz
cinia slaves to work, who escaped from
their owners, and took refuge in the Fed
eral Army, distressing howl is kept up
in Southern newspapers, and the cry of ne
gro-stealiug is raised against the Federal
troops, AMI their commanding officers.
This brings up the principles Of nterna-
tional law, and the several presidents that
Butler seems to be following A synopsis
Of The doctrine was given by Gen. Edmond
p. Gaines, at New Orleans, in 1888. Gen.
Jessup had captured many slaves and In
dams IN Florida, and had ordered them
west Of the Mississippi. At New Orleans
the slaves were claimed by the owners I'M
der legal process; but Gen. Gaines COM
handing that Military District, aud man
who was never tainted with Aboitlonism,
refused to deliver them to the Sheriff, and
appeared Id Court, making hisown defense,
the following synopsis Of which was given
at the time in the newspapers. And among
other papers il appeared in the Knoxville
Register, and we Leave the impartial reaeer
to say whether or no Gen. Gaines does
not support Gen. Buffers declaration that
slaves are contraband Of war:
"He declared that these people (men,
women, and children,) were captured in
war, and held as "prisoners Of war; That
as commander Of that military department
or district, he held them subjectonly to the
order Of the National EXECUTIVE; that he
could recognize no other power in time Of
war, or by the laws Of war, as authorized
to take prisoners from his possession.
'.IIe asserted that in time of war all
slaves were bellieerents, as much as their
masters. The slave men, said he, cultivate
earth and supply provisions. The women
cook the food, nurse the wounded and sick
j and contribute to the maintenance Of the
war, often more than the same number 81
males. The slave children equally contrib
ute whatever they are able 10 the support
Of the war.
"Nor could he, as a military officer,
know what the laws Of Florida were while
engaged in maintaining the Federal Gov
eminent by force Of arms. In such case
he could only be guided BY laws Of war;
and, whatever may be the laws ofany State,
they must yield to the safety Of the FEEDER
al Government"
This defense Of Gen. Gaines, both able
and conclusive, may be found in House
Document, No. 225, Of the I'd session OF
the 18th Congress. He sent the slaves
west, where they became free, and
was sustained by the then Democratic Ad-
ministration. Among the men in Congress
from Tennessee, who sustained the course
Of Gen. Gaines, were Hugh L. White and
Felix Grundy, Of the Senate, and John
Bel and James X. Polk, Of the House.
These men we're not Abolitionists, be-
cause the reign Of Secession had not set in /!
Lincoln was not then President, and his
Massachusetts, General bad not set q gang
Of Virginia negroes to work
In 1888, Gen. Taylor captured mum
Der Of negroes, who turned ont to be fugi-
tive slaves. Citizens Of Florida, who de-
clared themselves to be the lawful owners
of the slaves, rallied to the Generals camp,
and made their demands. Gen. Taylor re-
piled that he had no prisoners but "prison-
ers OF war;" The alleged owners desired
to examine them, but the veteran General
told them that no man should examine his
i prisoners for any such purpose; and he or
dered them to leave his camps. Complaint
was made to President Van Buren, and his
Cabinet, and Taylor was sustained, while
the slaves we're sent west.
In 1886, Gen. Jessup wanted men to act
act rs spies and guides, and he engaged some
fugitive slaves, STIMULATING that if they sery-
/ Ell the Government faithfully, he would Sc
cure their freedom. They fulfilled their en-
gagement-t they were sent West and liber-
ated--and Van Boren's Democratic Cabi-
net approved the contract. Not only so,
but the same question came before John
Tyler's Administration, and Gen. Jessup's
contract was again endorsed. The excuse
for these several endorsements of more Ill
ira measures than Gen. Butler has resorted
to in Virginia, is that Secession had not
then commenced its wicked work
But here comes knock -down argument.
In December, 1914, Gen. Andrew Jackson
seized upon a large number Of slaves at and
near to New Orleans, actually in the pos
session Of their lawful owners, and kept
them at hard labor, erecting defenses, be-
hind which his troops won the victory Of
the Sth Of January, 1915. The owners re
monstEtted Jackson for usur-
per and tyrant. Jackson disregarded their
remonstrances- paid no sort Of attention to
Their abnse-kept the negroes at work, un-
til many of them were killed by the enc
my's shots. The case went before Madison
and his able Cabinet, was approved BY
them, and by Congress, and when the
owners applied for pay for their slaves,
Congress refused pay, and that, too by
Southern votes. These slave owners were
the friends Of the Government. and were
4 thus treated, because done IN the exercise Of
the war power. And If Butler shall send
back, as he will, the slaves Of men il rebel
lian .,,yainet tho Government ha viii laraya