New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-17
KENTUCKY REDNAPPERs.

KENTUCKY KEDNAPPERs.
1t is not yet many months since slave hunt
ing was common practice in the Union ar
mics. There was no evidence of loyalty so
unimpeacbabe as to claim on the one side or
to surrender on tho other a fugitive black.
The business grew gradually less reputable, was
frowned on by public opinion at the North,
aud finally prohibited by act of Congress. Kid
mapping, even in its mildest and most Christian
variety, ceased to be generally regarded with
favor or to be pursued as an essential means
of cOnciIiatng the Border States. Kentucky
herself finds the zeal Of her servants and sons
in this branch Of philanthropic effort rewarded
now by no official encouragement There are
two recent and notable cases.
Col. John McIienry, jr., Of the 18th Ken
lucky (loyaD Volunteers saw fit to issue an
order that all slaves should be removed from
his lines within a specified time, aud by the
terms Of the order their owners, irrespective
of 10y atty" were politely invited to call and
tory TO that eminently disinterested and pat
riotic loyalty which finds such distinguished
representatives on the floor Of Congress US
Wickliile who yehemently complained few
himself had lost not less than ten of hs Afri-
can chattels. But, unhappily for the owners r-
respective of loyalty the President differed from
Col. McIIenry, and responsive TO the Colonel's
order went forth the following from the War
Department; that I" Col. John Mcllenry, IT,,
of the 18th Kentucky Volunteers, having issued
all order dated October q, 1862, 10 his regi.
ment, which order is IN violation OF the article
of war, approved March 10, 1862, ia, by di.
recton of the President. hereby discharged
from the service OF the United States" And
so the country has one colonel the less IN its
army, and the owners. irrespective of loyalty
are bcreayed forever Of the much more valuable
services OF the negroes whom TIL. order finally
." discharges' from labor claimed TO be due
and RENTS henceiorth TO the solitary duty OF
supporting only them-elyes.
The second case is that Of Gen. Boyle, who
also issued an order. as follows:
HgAparAKrER, op rmz DI,4Aicr - wE,rsnv
KEsTrcX, LouisvuLs. Ky 1lufstay. nov. ~ lat.
An officers serving la mi district rre ordered
permit 4ny slaves t. the camps end
all ocers aud pfvates forbidden o. inter
NEEDLE with the slaves IA ANY way.
This on its face is only milder version OF
the unwise Order No. 3 emitted by Cen
Ilalleck. Ii is cautiously wordod, with the
evident purpose OF avoiding au issue under the
article of war above referred h.. But the
Government seems TO be dealing in tbs matter
with facts; with substance, not shadows.
Tho practical effect OF the order was to no.
tify oil saye-Owners that the lines Of the
Union armies afforded no protection 10 fugi
tiyes, and to recognize their inalienabe right
to pursue and arrest their chattes wherever
found. 1t was 80 considered at Washington,
for Gen. Boyle, as recent dispatch Informs
us, was promptly warned that his actlen Was
disapprOyed, and, on pain Of dismissal, must
be forthwith reformed. The hint was not lost
on the Kentucky General He discharged
from prison the negroes there held to await their
claimants and put them on work to Government
service.
1t is urged in behalf of Gen. Boyle that Be
did not bring himself within tho terms OF the
article, and that if be Lad been guilty to any
extent, he should ana would have been % sun.
marily disposed Of as Col. Mcllcnry. We
should have been far from Directing ii the
President had acted with much greater seger-
ty, but for once lenient reproof seems to
have been eiicctual. 10 is idle 70 say that the
order does not practically employ the Union
forces in kidnapping work. Under it, the slaves
were held in prison. if no worse. They UNDER
stood and their masters understood its meaning.
Before it was issued the fugitive blacks with
in the Union lines were free. To eject them
was to reenslaye them; to deny them the pro.
lection of the flag which was the pledge OF
their redemption. Gen. Boyle was a kidnap-
per in heart and act The Government granted
him days of grace, and he does what le may
to deserve It's mercy. We shall watch his iu-
ture proceedings with interest, aud not with
out hope that his repentance may be rs sincere
90 it was unseiish and as stoada.t as it was
sudden.
susrrsrs-Ns<Hss
GEN. BURNSIDE.