Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-09-16

REcExr intelligence from Washington
states that Gen McClallan has issued or
ders for the arrest and detention in camps
and prisons of fugitive slaves, to await re-
clamatiou By their masters. We nre not
Informed how long it is expected they will
have to wait for the presentation of the
claims of rebel masters, or what it will
cost to feed the negroes until that period.
Much dissatisfaction, it is said exists
among Leading men at Washington in con-
seoneuce of this action. 1t is regarded us
in contraventiou to the spirit of the letter
addressed by the Secretary Of War to Gen.
Butler on this subject and it is plainly in
direct antagonism 20 the policy proclaimed
in Missouri by Gen Fremont
Under existing circumstances, the great
army threatening Washington, the deter
mined ferocity of the rebellion, and the i'm
minent peril of the country, 1t certainly
wonld not be saying too much to assert
that the grand army of the nation has
something else to do than TO devote its ex-
ertions and attention to catching the rnu"-
way property of the rebels whom they are
sent forth to subdue, and some other use
for its camps and rations than subsisting
that property and taking care of it.
The masters of slaves, when they enter
ed into the rebellion, incurred the risk of
losing them in the chances of war, AS
they took the chance of losing any other
property. Had they remained loyal they
were safe, and wherever masters are loyal
their slaves are safe yet. We do no: ask
that the army of the Union shall ever be-
come an army of emancipation; we hope
it may not, but tue conjunction of cir
cumstances almost forces it to become
such in some instances. Only let it 90 on
in devoting its energies to the prosecution
of the grand object on the successful "c-
compIishmeut of which every thing hinges,
the suGjugatiou, not of the South, bnt of
the rebellion wherever it may be found,
and the vindication of the Government;
aud to do this successfully, if the terrible
necessity is forced upon us, as we believe
it has been aud to-day exists, let the Laws
of War be vigorously enforced. 1t is no
time for courtesies now, especially when
they are all on one side. The issue is -
towering one, and must override small
considerations that would be proper under
different circumstances.
This action on the part of Gen. Mcclellan
seems ill-timed, if not mistaken. 1t will
esuIt in no good and may result in harm.
The sentiment of the country bal settled
down upon the conviction that the policy
declared by Gen Fremont the true
solution of this Intricate question. This
counter movement by such high authority
g.. will do but little to maintain unity and
harmony among the friends of the Gov
ernmcnt. 1t may even lead to n diversity
3 of opinion among them in reference to this
subject, which will result in two parties,
each of which will have its own pet
scheme for the prosecution of this war.
Such division ought to be scduIonsly
guarded against, for it would be, to say
the least. very damaging.
fa' ATHEIST this contradictory action cannot
fail to keep before the country Il question
which like all others collateral to the
grand question OF vindicating the Repnb-
lie, ought to be sunk for the time.
We have said before and see no reason
to recant it, that Fremont with the instinct
of genius which acquired for him in the
Rocky Mountains the title of FAITHFUL
err has struck the key note of this inft-
nous rebellion. He has Invested the qucs-
ton with one bold stroke of all its cover
ings and presents it as bare issue. He
says by his act that war is war, and not
child's play; that the prosecution of the
war is either jus. or unjust. Tfunjust it
ought to cease ut once if justit ought to
be prosecuted on war principles. And we
have understood all along that the govern
ment endorsed the action of Fremont aud
would sustain 1t.
But .et the policy of the commanders be
what it may, it would seem that it ought
be Uniform and then tile people need
not be divided and their attention distract
ed by side issues, aud drawn Oft
from the one great question to be determi-
ned.
DOH"hA - t"S 'iS'Li"S' Va SV"e ~"
Kentucky, has, since his departure from
Washington, been engaged in milking Sc
cessiOn speeches in his Congressional dis
trict. The Louisville papers report one of
these meetings held last week, at which
Burnett regretted thatthe army of the ar
my of.tbs United States was not anuihila=
led az Bull Run. he Il also very violent
in .denoppeiugY the German population, land ,
said that he would be unwilling to. live in
the Southern ConFederacy uuloss foreign
ers were forever excluded from It's borders.
O,.sor ,ba T.ouisviIIa nsners vary psrii.