The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-13


paper, and if the practice were in accordance with
the precept there would be no ground of COM
plant on that score. The people of Mary
however, well know by painful experience that,
SO far as they are concerned, neither the State
herself nor the citizens of the State are permtted
to enjoy those constitutional rights which Mr..
CAMERON, speaking in the name of the President
asserts that it is the object of the war 10 preserve
AS consequence of this reverential respect FOR
CONSTITUTIONAL obligations ono question:" we are
assured, 'can arise as to fugtives from service
"within the States and territories in which the
authority of the Union is fully Acknowledged
1.-The ordinary forms of judicial proceeding. which
must be acknowledged and respected by military
authorities alike will suffice for the enforcement
el iegal calms." What bitter mockery there
Is In this talk of respect for constitutional obliga
lions, and of subordinating the military to the
civil authorities, we all know but too well. Does
any one suppose that Mr.. CAMERON means what he
says? If SO, let him read what follows; nIn
Estates wholly or partially under insurrectionarv
"control," continues the Secretary, "ripbts de
"pendent on the laws of the States within which
military operations are conducted must ba no
cessariiy, subordinate to the military exipencies
created by the lnsurrecton if not wholly forfeited
by the reasonable conduct of parties CLAIMING
them. To this general rule, riqhts to services co,
form no exception" In other words. nronertv of
all Kinds In States wholly partially in insurrec
uon, Is 10 DO contscated. Mr.. CAMERON, in support
OF this position, quotes the act of CONGRESS IN
that effect, which was approved August 9th, 1861
All this time, however, Mr. CAMERON has been
beating about the BUSH The cou6scation and
manumission of all persons held to service or
labor, who shall be employed in hostility to the
united States, has indeed been declared by the
congress which has just closed, and the law so
passed has received the sanction of Mr.. LINCOLN
we need not say that, by the terms EMPLOYED,
the forfeiture embraces every field-hand engaged
IN raising corn, cotton, or tobacco, well as those
whose services are used in throwing up fortiica-
tons or breastwerks, or in any other military
occupation. A negro who raises corn to feed the
Confederates or cotton to provide revenue for the
Confederate Government, is as much EMPLOYED in
hostility to the United States as if he were actual
ly in arms against it. Such was the intent and
meaning of the act when it was passed, and it is,
therefore, what il was declared to be on the floor
OF the Senate Chamber-"sweeping in its pro-
"visions." With this act, however, we have not
to deal, further than to indicate its scooe and
object. 1t is something beyond this upon which
MIR. Secretary CAMERON proceeds to treat. 1t is.
to quote his own language, Gin respect to persons
escaping from the service of loyal masters. "
What shall be done with these? tsThe substan-
"tial rights of loyal masters" we are told,
'wll be best protected By receioing such fugives,
as well as fugitives from disloyal masters, into the
"serUice Of the United States"
To be returned to their owners? MOI To be
held until the war closes and then-to be manu-
mitted. But how are the loyal owners to be COM
pensated for their losses? They must petition
some future Congress. They must haunt the
lobby at Westinghouse elsewhere-they must
button-hole Congressman and Senators. After
living for many years on hope deferred they may
probably obtain some trihng indemnity-more
probably none at all. Whenever, therefore, there
is military occupation of Observation-Disclosures
all that Mr.. CAMERON says about constitutional
rights, and respect for the laws-fugitives from
labor cannot be reclaimed. But, o: course, con-
| cludes MIR. CAMERON, in his letter of instructions
to General BUTLER, which letter applies to all
other military commanders OF course, "you
twill neither authorize nor permit any interior.
''ence, by the troops under your command, with
1.-THE servants of peaceful citizens, in house OF
"held, nor in any way encourage such servants
'to leave their masters; nor will you, except in
ceases where the public safety may seem 10 require
ut, prevent the voluntary return of any fugitive
ITO the service from which he escaped" We
may safely assert, then that no servant, even
though he belong to peaceful citizen, will be re-
turned-the proviso guards against it, In the first
place 1t is to be voluntary act on the
part OF the fugitive; and in the second,
| it is only necessary for General BUTLER OF
| any other officer to say that "the pub
''lic safety requires that the fugitive shall be
restrained from going back to his MASTER and
there the matter ends. How the scheme has al
ready worked in this State will be better under
stood when we state that regiments on their way
| home are known to have harbsIed fugitiYes and
| to have carried them off with them
Mr.. CAMERoN's letter then establishes the fol-
| lowing regulations:
All persons held to service or labor in the sece
ded States are confscated, and may be taken
| into the service of the United States wherever
found. All fugitives from disoyal masters are tc
be received and treated in like manner-the RICH,
| to their future services being forfeited.
A similar rule is 10 operate with respect
to the fugitives from loyal masters-with
| this ditference-the latter may solicit Con.
gress for Indemnity for his loss, and may
| expect to be paid somewhere about that fancifu
period called-the Greek Kalends.