Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-09-03
Important Letter from Secre-
tary Cameron TO Gen Buttler
Aug. ii. 1861.

WASHINGTON. Aug ii. 1861.
0ENERAL-Thel nI ortant questi ufthe
proper dlspGsltitn tn he made of fugitives.
tr"m servic" III the States In Insurrecristt;
against the Federal Government, 10 which
y'u have again directed my attention ia
your eiter "f July 20rh has received my
IN st active consideration. Il is the desire,
Of the President that all existing rights in
all States be rsspee;itRily ma intaiped Use
war t,.w / i. ~ q part IL The Fs.5
serai1ti INN wlstsisr s,ff q ]. M
Tor the Iresrrvation nf all Constitutional
rights "i States, ard the ciiizrns Of the
States in The Uninu. Hence no QUESTION
can arise IA To fugitives from service with
III the States and Territories in which the
authority of the Union is fully aeknowl-
edged. The ordinary form of official pro,
ceedings must he respected 10y civil AID
military authorities alike for the enforce
ment Of legal forms But in the States
wholly or III pant under insurrec.ionary
control, where the laws If the United States
are so far opposed and resisted that they
caunut be efectually enforced, il is obvious
that that the rights dependent upon the
execution OF those laws must temporarily
iaii, and it is equally obvious that the
rights dependent on the laws Of the States
within which military operations are con
Quoted, must he necessarily subordinate tu
the military ex gercies created by the in
surrectinn, II MT wholly forfeited hv the
treas"nable conduct of the parties claiming
them. To THIS general rule of right 10
services fnrms an exception. The act Of
Congress, approved August G. 1861. de.
clares that if persons held IT, service shall
be employed in hostility to the Uu,ted
States, the right tn their services shall be
forfeited. aud that such persons shall be
dIsci arged rhereir"m. 1t fullpws, cf ne
cessity. that n" claim can he recognized by
the mil airy OF the Union for the services
OF such persons when fugitives
more difficult question is presented in
respect tn I.ers"ns escaping from the ser
vice o. loyal masters 1t is quite apparent
that the Jaws of the State under which
only the service of such tugitives can be
claimed. must needs he wholly, or almost
wholly suspended As IT, the remedies by
the lnsurrectI"u and military measures ne.
ccssiated by 1t, it is equally APT aren't that
the substitution ut military for judicial
measures for the enforcement uf such claims
must be attended by great incorveniences,
advertisements aud inquiries. Under
these circumstances it seems quite clear
that the substantial rights of lrcal masters
are still hest protected by receiving such
tugltives, ~ well as fugitives from disloyai
masters, int" the service of the United
States, and employing them under such
organizations aud such occupations as cir.
cumstamces may suggest ur require or
course record should be kept, shuwing
name and character, as loyal ar disloyal.
of the master, and such facts may be ne
cessary t. a correct understanding of the
circumstances OF eacn case. arrer traudufIS-
Try shalt have restored. Upnn the return
vi Irace. Congress will, doubtless, property
provide iur dil the persons it has received
Intu the service If the Union, and for
just compensation to loyal masters. In
this way, 1t would seem. can the duty ard
safety III the government and the Just
rights OF all be fully recunciled aud har-
mnnIZPd
Yon will, therefore, consider yourself in
strurtrG to govern youI future action in
respect to fugitves from service by the
premises herein stated, aud will report
from time t. time. aud at least twice in
each month y"ur action in the premises to
this Department You will. wever,
neither authorize nor permit any interior
ence by the troops under your command
with the servants ct peaceful citizens in a
house "r field. nor Will you in any way
encourage such servants to leave the lawful
SCI vice 81 their masters nor will YOU, ex-
cept IL crses where the public gnrd may
seem to require it prevent the Voluntary
return nt any fugitive to the service from
which he may have escaped | am. very
respectfully, v ur nhrdient servant.
SIMON CAMERON.
Secretary of War.
To Major General Butler, commanding
Department of VIRGINIA Fortress Monroe.