Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-08-29
, THE SLAVERY CONFLICT.
TIE WAR In IT'S RELATION TO
SLAVERY.

To tie editor of tie ". y. Tribune:
Sm:-Our country is opening up new
page in the history of governments. The
world has never witnessed such o spon-
taneous uprising of any people in support
of free institutions as that now exhibited
by the citizens Of our Northern States.
l observe that the vexed question Of
slavery has to be met, both in the Cabinet
and in the field. 1t has been met by for
mer Presidents. by former Cabinets, and
by former military officers. They have
established a train OF precedents that may
be well followed at this day. | write now
for the purpose of inviting attention to
those principles Of international law which
are regarded by publicists and jurists as
proper guides in the exercise of that des-
potic and almost unlimited authority call.
ell the "war power" \ synopsis Of these
doctrines was given by Major General
Gaines. at New Orleans, in 1888.
General Jessup hal captured many fu
gitive slaves an Indians in Florida. and
had ordered them to be sent ives, of the
Mississippi. AT New Orleans they were
claimed by the owners. under legal process;
but Gen. Gaines. commanding that mill
iary district. refused To deliver them To the
sheriff. AMI appeared in court. stating his
own defence.
tie declared that these people (men wo-
men and children. were captured in war.
and held as prisoners Of war. That as
commander Of that military department or
district, he hell them subject only to the
order of the National Executive. that he
could rerognize no other power in time OF
war, or by the laws of war, as authorized
to take prisoners from his possession.
He asserted that. in time of war. all
slaves were bcliserent as much as their
masters. The slave men. said l... cult
vate the earth and supply provisions
The women cook the food. nurse the
wonnie'i AMI sick. and contribute To thu
maintenance Of the war. often more than
the same number al males. The slave
children equally contribute whatever they
are able To the support Of the war. In
deed. he well supported General Butler
declaration, that slaves are contraoand OF
war.
The military officer. said ne. can enter
into no julirial examination of the claim
of one man to tho bone and muscle OF an
other as property. Nor could he. as a
military officer. know what the laws Of
Florida were while engaged in maintain
ing the Federal government by force o:
arms. In such case, he could only bc
guided by the laws of war; and whatever
may be the laws of any State. they must
yield to the safety of the Federal govern
ment. This defence of General Gaines
may be founl in House Document No. 2295
Of the Second Session of the 18th Con-
gress. lie sent the slaves vest, where
they became free.
Louis, the slave of man name,l Pache.
CO. betrayed Major Dalc's battalion. in
1886, AMI when he hal witnessed their
massacre he joined the enemy. Two ,ars
subsequently he was captured Pachcco
claimed him; General Jessup sahl if he had
time he would try him before court mar
tial and hang him, but would not deliver
him to any man. He. however, sent him
west. and the fugitive slave became free
man. anu is now fighting the Texans.-
General .Jcssup reported his action to the
war department. and Mr.. Van Duren. then
! President. with his Cabinet, approved it.
Pacheco then appealed to Congress. ask
ing that body to pay him for the loss OF
his slave; and Mr.. Greedy will recollcct
that he and myself. AMI a majority of tn
House Of Representatives. voted against
the bill. which was rejected. All concur
red in the opinion that General .Je,sup did
right in emancipating the slay., instead oil
returning him to his master .t
in 1888 General Taylor captured mum.
! Der of negroes said to be fugitive slaves
tritizcns &c Florida learning what hal beer
do..e, Immediately ga,nv.S-a AROUND 10"
camp. intending 70 secure the slaves who
had escaped fr, m them General Taylor
| prisoners Of war" The claimants then
desired to look at them in or,er to deter.
mine whether he was holding their slave,
as prisoners. The veteran warrior replied
that no man should examine prisoners FOL
such a purpose, and he ordered them t.
depart. This action being reported to the
WAR Department. was approved by the
Executive. The slaves, however, were
sent west and sot free ~ hs'liisYt sria
1 Ia 1886 General Jessup wanted gunlc.
and men to act as spies, j. lie therefore en-
gagged several fugitive slaves to act as such
agreeing to secure the freedom Of them
selves and families if they served the Gov
Esrnmeht faithfully. They agreed to dose
fulfilled their agreement. were sent ives
and set free. Mr. Van Buren's adminis
Itrstion approved the contract, and Mr.
1Tylcr's administration approved the man
ner m which General Jessup fulfilled il b,
setting tho slaves free Frs .sies's go
~ IN nccember. 1874. General jackson
impressed large number Of slaves at AM
near New Orleans. and kept them at worl
lerccting dcfenccs. behind which his troops
won such glory on the 9Th Of January
A lS15..: The masters pemonst ratcsl. s. Jack
i son disregarded their remppstrsaces, On.
kept the slaves Il work until pany O
them were killed bv the eDesAY's shots
4 yet his action was approved Mr.. Madiso
and Cabinet. and BY Congress. which ha
,eY@ tafussd to Pay the masteEs for thei
Losses. .s,st 8; ..f... sfs,-.. ff.F
I. But in all these, cases the masters. ver
profcssedly friends of the, ,Governmen,
and yet our Presidents and Cabinets an
'pGsncrals have not hcsisated to etnancipat