, 1861-08-14
Important Letter from Secretary
Cameron 10 Gen. Butler.
WAsHIEETnN AurTst fl tAft

GEEERAL-The Important question Of the
proper disposition to be made Of fugitlyas from
service in the Suites in insu1rectlon against
the Federal Government, to which yo1 have
again directed my attention in your letter Of
July 20, has received my most active CON
e1deraticn-. It is the desire Of the President
that all existing rights in ell the States be
fully respected and maintained. The war now
prosecuted on the part Of the Federal GoT
trnment is war for the Union, for the pres
ervztion Of all Constitutional rights Of
States, aud the citizens Of the States In the
Union. Hence no question caa arise as to
fugitives from service within the States and
Territories in which the authority Of the
Union IL fully acknowledged. The ordinary
+ firm Of official proceedings must be respect.
ed By military and civil authorities alike for
the enforcement Of legal forms. But in the
States wholly CT in part under tn8urcectionary
control. Wheze the la@B Of the United States
are 60 far opposed and resisted that they can-
! not be edectually enforced. 1t is obvious that
/ the rights dependent upon the execution Of
| those laws must temporarily fall, and it is
equally obvious that the rights dependent on
the LAWS OF the State within which military
subordinate to the military exigenctes Gre
ated By the msurrect1on, If not wholly for.
feited by the reasonable conduct of parties
claiming them. To this the general rule OF
| right TO- services forms An exception. The
act Of Congress, approved August {, 1851, de-
l ~
employed in hostility to the United States,
the right to their services shall be forfeited,
and Ench persons ehall be discharged there
from. It fonowe, Of necessity, that no Calm
can be recognized BY the military authority oi
the Union for the services OF such parsons,
! when fugitiTes.
| 4 more difficult question is presented In re
spect to pessons escaping rom the service o1
| loyal masters. It il quite apparent that the
laws Ct the State under which only the ser
vice Of such fugitlyes can be claimed, mus
needs be wholly, or almost wholly, suspend
, ed. As to the remedies BY the instruction
and military measures necessltated by it, it il
equally apparent that the substitution OF mill
tary 1cr Judicial measures for the enforcement
, ofs1fch c:alms must be attended By great fncon
: yenlences, emba1rassments and inquiries
Under these circumstances it seems quit
te1e are still bsst protected by receiving sucl
1ueitives,. as,weH as fugitfvee from disloys
masters, into the service Of the United States
and employing them under such organiza
ticns and such occupations as circuu
. stances may suggest or require. O
course record Ehou1d be kept showing nam
l. | AID description Of the fugitives; the nsm
ard the character, as loyal or dis1oyal, Of tn
master, and such facts Us may be necessary t
8 correct understanding OF the circumstance
OF each case, inter tranquility ehali hare bee
restored. Upon the return Of peace, Coz
gIets Tul doEbt1eEB, properly provide for a
The persons it has received into the service
The union, and fer q just compensation
t. loyal masters. In this way only, it Woul
seem, can the duty and safety Of the go7ert
ment and the just rights Of ali be fully recos
tiled SID hafmouizsd.
H. You Will. therefore, consider yourself il
st1ncted to govern youc future action in r
tpect to fDgiItVeess from service by the premise
herein stated. and will report from time t
s. time, and at least twice in esch month, yor
action in the premises, to this department
You vii, however, neither authorize nor pc
NIT any interference by the troops under yol
command with the servants OF peaceful cit
zens in house or field, NOT viii you in ar
wayeneourage saeh servants to leave the 1a'
, ful service Of their masters nor will you, e
Z cept in cases where the public good may see
to require it, prevent the voluntary return
any fugitive to the service from which he nj
J., hare escaped. ! am, very respectfully, 20
:: obedient servant. SndoN CAMERON
% -: Secretary Of War.
q To Major General Butler, commanding I
nj pa1tment Of Virginia, Fortress Monroe.