Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-11-08
TIC Cont.aband Question.

The administrator is coming round
rght, after all, on the contraband ques-
zion, though its progress in that direction
has not been very rapid. Secretary Cam
eron, in writing to Gen. Sherman who has
command of the naval expedition which re-
Gently started off from Fortress Monroe,
tells him that with regard to ''persous held
TO SERVICE he is to govern himself by the
principles enumerated in his (the Secreta-
ry's) two letters to Gen. Butler on that
subject; but he adds the rather important
and sensible application that he (the
General) is to avail himself of the servi,
ces of ANY persons, whether fugitives from
lubor or not. who may offer them to the
national government; you may employ
such persons in such services as they may
be fitted for, either as ordinary employees
ori if special circumstances seem to re-
qdre it, in any otEer capacity, with such
orIanization, in squads, companies, or 9TH
srwise, as you deem most beneficial to the
service. This however, not to mean a
GENERAL arming of them for military SER
vices" Tho Secretary goes on to say
further that Gen. Sherman Will assure all
LOYAL masters that Congress will provide
just compensation TO them for the loss of
the services of the persons SO employ
This is a step in the right direction. The
Administration having at last made up its
mind that the army shall employ fugitives
from labor in the performance Of any SER
vice for which they may be fitted, instead
of returning them under escort to their
masters, as has been done heretofore, it
may be permitted to hope that bye and
bye it will go little further and come up
30 the doctrine laid down in Fremont's
proclamation declaring slaves owned by
rebels to be "freemen." That slave ques-
ton is the weak point Of the enemy. So
long as re are fighting slavery and practi-
cling it too,-for that is just what the Gov
eminent has been doing-we need not look
for any termination of this war. When
We once make up our minds to 60 to work
IN good earnest, and to fight the enemy
with all the means of warfare at our com
maRd, then we may hope to he successful,
and not before. The Administration is
evidently getting to be of the same opin-
ion. The world moves"
CAssIUs NJ. CLAY.-It is SAID that Cas-
sius NJ. Clay, our Minister to Russia, has
intimated to the Government that, in view
of tho threatening attitude of the rebels,
be would prefer to surrender his present
commission to Russia, and enter the ar
my in active defence of the Government,
and that the President and Cabinet have
the subject under consideration. The in
domitablo bravery Of Dir. Clay, and his
we'll known character at home, would be
of great service to our cause in Kentucky.
But he would never consent to fight for
anything short of liberty, and that might
net be agreeable to portion of cur army.
IMPORTANT DECISION. - 1t has been de-
eided by Gems. Butler and Schouler, after
very careful investigation, that soldier
is holden from the time Of his signing his
name to the enlistment roll, just as truly
as though he was sworn in;' and persons
who have enlisted and left the service with
out proper discharge, are to be consider
ed deserters, whether they have been
'sWorn in or not