The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-12-13
SIMON CAMERON,
Secretary OF War.
To tho President of the United States.
Imprisonment of Colored Persons in
Washington.

The imprisonment of colorod persons
guilty of no crimo, which seems to hav,
been recently practiced to an alarming ex
tent in Washington, is attracting tho sorioul
attention of Congress and the Administra
ton, and il ia to be hoped that the wrong
will be speedily remedied.
In tho Senate, on tho second day of the
session, resolution was introduced. for IN,
release OF colored persons confined IN prison
in Washington by persons calling themselves
Justices of tho Peacd.
Mr.. Hale advocated tho resolu ution, sayIpp
he thought tho community of Washington
tho most corrupt in the country, and urged
that it was tho duty of Congress to look
into tho administration of Justice ;n this
District
Tho resolution was referred to tho Com
mittoo on tho District of Columbia. TO ro.
port Immediately tho names of all persons
confined in jail in tho city and the causes OF
their commitment, tho names of tho mags.
trates BY whom they wore committed, and
tho names of the persons who made the first
arrest.
resolution was passed that the laws no W
IN forco in the District of Columbia, relating
to the arrest of fugitives from service. 20.
gether with all other laws concerning per-
sons of color within the District, bo referred
to tho Committee on tho District of Colum
bia, and that tho Committee be instructed
to consider Tho expedioncy of atoIishing ala.
very within the District, with compensation
to tho owners of tho slaves.
The following order to Gen. Mcclellan.
upon this subject, has been issued from tho
State Department:
WASHINGTON, Dec. Sd apartment of
state, Washington, December 4, 1861.
Major Genera! George b. Mcclellan,
ashlngton-General | am directed by
tho President to call your attention to tho
following subject Persons claimed to he
hold TO service or labor under the laws of
tho State tVrrginia, and actually employed
IN hostile service against tho Government
o: the Uutcd States. frequently escape from
tho limos OF tho encmys force, and are
received within the limos of the Army of the
Potomac. This Department understands
that such persons, afterwards coming into
tho City of Washington. arc liable to bo
arrested by the city police, upon the pre-.
sumption arising from color, that they are
tugltlves from service or labor. By the
fourth socticn of tho act of Congress. ap-
proved August 10th, 1861. entitled an act
to confscato property used for insurrection.
airy purposes, such employment is made
a full and Sufficient answer to any further
claims &c service or labor. Persons thus
employed and escaping are received into a
military protection of tho United States,
and their arrests as fugitives from labor or
service should be Immediately followed by
mllltary arrest of th0 parties making the
seizure. Copies of this communication will
DO sent to the Mayor of the City of Wash.
ngton and to the Marshal of tho District of
Columbia, that any collision between the
military and civil authorities may be
lyoiced.
am, General, your obedient servant,
(Signed) VIM, Ii. SEWARD.
~ Senator Wilson has just introduced