The national Republican., 1862-01-22
rRE SURRENDER OF FUGITIVE
SLAVES.

Mr.. Diven, member Of the Houec, from
New York, and somewhat conspicuous for his
opposition 10 what are characterized as extreme
Republican views, has just written letter 10
one Of his constituents, in which he says:
"You cav prohibit military officers returning |
runaway slaves. Now, II by this you mean |
that our military officers shall not become |
slave catchers or executors Of the Fugitive
Slave Law, am with you. But, II you mean
that our army, In Kentucky. for instance, shall
be employed 10 deprive loyal men Of their
slaves, l am not with you. We have large
army 10 Kentucky, and We have, In Kentucky,
most loyal supporters Of the Government who
are slave.owners A very large majority Of
the people Of this State are loyal as you or l.
Now. suppose our army encamps among The
plantations Of Kentucky, would you use the
camp as a means Of depriving the master Of
every slave who could get 10 Il? II you let
slaves In the camps and don't let the masters
in 10 take them by virtue Of the laws Of Ken
lucky then II must be plain that you use your
army 10 overthrow the laws OF Kentucky, and
to deprive Kentuckians OF their slaves, how
ever loyal they may be. That certainly Is not
what our army has been created for"
As will be seen, Mr.. Diven confines his re-
distance 10 something that has never been done,
proposed, or thought Of by anybody, while he
admits the justice Of the entire complaint made
by Republicans, in respect TO the treatment of
fugitive slaves by army officers.
Even General Lane, who is the embodiment
of everything terrible In the eyes Of conscrva.
tsm, said that loyal slsveholders should have
the same remedies Tor tho recapture Of theil
slaves, within bis camps, as If his camps did
not exist. The idea Of denying to loyal mas
ters any legal rights, or judicial process, te
which they are now entitled, Is, 10 truth, an
idea of Mr.. Owens own conjurins up. Wha
Republicans, and indeed men Of all parties
who are in favor Of a real and earnest prosecu
ton Of this war, have complained OF, Is, thai
army officers have usurped judicial functions
have decided the questions Of law and fact In
volved 10 the claim Of one man to the service.
Of another, and have made themselves "tht
executors Of the fugitive slave law" That il
the thing complained Of, and which the souni
portion Of Congress have been In vain endeav
oring for weeks to correct by legislation, being
thus far baffied by a Pertinacious opposition
availipg itself Of parliamentary rules to stsvs
eff action.
Dir. Owen says Iurtner:
Make prize and capture Of just as many ol
the enemy's slaves as we can, and colonize
them, or dispose of them in any way consistent
with humanity. That is my whole slave pol
ICY"
That may be Mr.. Owens policy, but 1t i,
not the policy upon which this war has beer
carried on.
Just before the advance was made, whicl
terminated at Bull Run, an order was iseuet
from the military headquarters here, directin,
that no fugitive slave should be admitted int
the lines Of our army then preparing for IT
ION to Richmond march. As II is now, an,
may always be, matter Of dispute, who con
trolled the military operations here In July las
we cannot be suspected Of making an sttac
upon particular persons, in saying, that nOthin
less than jus. such shameful repulse as "
suffered at Bull Run, could have been expecte
under the leadership Of men who advertise
their own want Of brains or sincerity, by az
companyiDg an attack upon slave-holdin
enemy, by the reputation in advance Of o.
aid from bis slaves.