Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-12-06
THE GOVERNMENT POLICY.


the treatment of fugitive slaves. And 1t
must be confessed there is an apparent
basis for the pleasantly when we see
Secretary Cameron arise at banquet
and advocate a certain course, and then
see Secretary Smith follow and repudiate
it on behalf of the administration. The
position of the first, at the head OF the
War DEPARTMENT, would seem to be con-
elusive that his war policy must be the
policy of the government. But on the
other hand, the uncquiyocaI and undls-
puted declarations Of the second are Ger
tainlv entitled to all the weight they
claim, and we must infer that it is he who
speaks by authority. Indeed, the oBittai
record of Mr.. Cameron is to tie same
effect. In bis letters to Gen. Butler and
Gen. Sherman, he states the true position
of the government and it is probable
that the views Of Col Cochrane have
lately commended themselves to his ind-
yidual Judgment, but have not been OIL
ciaIy applied, and will not be so long as
the President and rest OF the cabinet adj
here TO the course in which they show
no signs of change The oratorlcal dis
agreement of the Secretaries, therefore,
is Objectionable rather as an exhibition
not in good taste, than as afl'ording any
ground for want Of confidence in the wis
dom or steadiness Of tie administration
on this practical subject. But it is due
to Secretary Cameron to add that later
reports materially modify the radical SEN
timents attributed to him at first.
But when we come to the disagree
= ments in policy Of the commanders Of
departments, an additional consideration
is to be taken into account. Each COM
naader,by military law, is voregn with
= in his sphere, subject to the Commander
= in Chief, to wit, the President of the
u United States-and his department may
in his judgment, require peculiar poll.
e ely on that subject. Thus Gen. Fremont
. issued his famous proclamation. But the
: President overruled it in certain features
leaving others intact, and thus acknowl-
edged the martial law instituted by the
- commanding general, in all respects save
y where the two authorities differed as tC
y the local exigency. AT the present time
- we see wide disagreement. Gen. Woo
at Fortress Monroe appears to be follow
ing up the precedent of Gen. Butler il
the treatment of fugitives, except, it i
!" said he styles them Migrants instead 0
10 contrabands. Gen. Sherman OF Soul
So Carolina will doubtless govern himsel
u by Secretary Cameron's orders, receiN
:" ing, employing, and in some exceptions
o. cases arming the fugtives. Gen. Di'
Is in sending out an expedition to easter
ry Virginia, accompanied it with a proofs
al nation forbiddng slaves to come with
~ the military lines. Gen. IIalleck, j
Missouri, has issued orders to the sam
Ne effect, and has excluded all the fugitive
as within the army lines at the time he a
are snmed command of the department. Ar
oil Gen. Kelley, in northwestern Virgin
"a" is said to 90 so far as to return fugitive
she even to secession owners; but we cam
regard the intelligence as authentic.
Here, certainly, is considerable varie
md of practice. But we are not prepared
mp say that it should be entirely remove
by Gen. Buffers plan evidently worked w
al on the western shore of the Chesapea
and the good result of Gen. Dix'5 pl
the on the eastern shore is equally evide
to The two fields were quite different, a
/ of perhaps required different policies. Fl
Zee, mont did not have chance to test
e a plan, and it will be impossible to say wi
on will be the fate Of Halleck's. 1t is We
oes, likely that what would work well tn,
ev- would not answer at all in South Ca
the lima. Perhaps, therefore, the best t
but can be done by the government in
ant present stage of the crisis is to fix on
tain broad, general principles-such
'ys are indicated in the Secretary of WI
n in official orders-and then allow the CO
ut OF manders Of departments TO give thel
rom local application, subject, Of course
cket the approval of the President. The g
will eminent in that way will be e%perim'
ang, ING toward just solution Of this n
mps. difficult problem. We have no dc
,hev that in a few months the present pra
cal discrepancies will all be reconci
and one fan. humane, and effective t
eat cy will preyail.-Boston Journal.
They -----..--
my Gsy' A lady of our town was trave
them a short time since with a Southerner,