Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-07-11
TgE coNrRAaANp QUESTION

EnE OSNInAoANb agbSA
On the 4th instant, resolution was adopted by
the Senate, calling upon the President to commu =
nicsie the instructions given 10 commanding
ocefs in pursuance Of The acts passed last July,
setting free the slaves who had been emplf yea
with the consent Of their masters aganiss the
Government and laws Of the United Stats, and
to state what steps have been taken 10 mske the
statutes effective. The following Is synopsis o.
tie voluminous documents transmitted In resporse
to the call
The Secretary Of. war writss to Brigadier Gen.
eral X. Saxton, under date OF the 10th, directing
ntm to assume the charge Of the Department OF
the SOUTH eii the plantations deserted by their
owners, with the Inhabitants thereof with
authority to make such rules pr the cultivation of
the land and the-coprol AID employment Of the
people as circumstances NAV require. He 10
authorted to assams police duties over thsmj
erel commanding; IL allowed such rations as
may be suitable Tor those in want; is furnished
with medical and ordnance stores, and 10 indie.
pendent Of any authority except that Of the com.
The Secretary says.-ft Is expected that By en-.
couraging industry and skill In the cult vation
OF the necessaries 81 life and general self-irii-
ph, o al you VIII q far az Pos:sle Promote
diction.
General Butler, writing from the Department,
OF virginia, May 9, 1851, said he was perplexed
- PROPERTY
the amount of sixty thousand dollars, a portion
OF them women and children, not able bodied
Iaoorers He proposed to credit all the labor
performed, and charge all goods aud rations fur
would seem to be measure Of nsces,ity 70 de.
prive their masters Of their services a. politi-
cal ana question Of humanity can receive the
the children! Ofthe humanitarian aspect have
judge. ="
Secretary Cameron, May Goth, 1861, writes to
Gen Butler that his action isapproved. August
eth he writes again, saying that II was the desire
OF the President that all existing rights In loyal
states should be preserved; but, that In States
wholly or partially under insunectonary control,
these rights frtst necessarily comb under military
authority tha. all slaves should De received, and
vices Of slaves
-, Under date September Goth the Secretary Of
war directs Gen. Wool to send central ands TO
den. Mcclellan, and on the nd orders them to
De returned for service on the Southern coasts
october 9Th he directs one thousand Of them to be
prepared toaccompany Gen. Sherman.
Assistant Secfetafy Scott whites to Gen sher-
man, October 1ith, TO employ fugitives In such
service as they my be ted for either as ordinary
employees, or, II special circumstances seem to
require II, In squads, companies or otherwise, an
you may deem benz fetal to the service; this,
however, not being general srming Of them for
military service.
Major General Wool writes from Fortress
ofcontrsbands He SAYS some Of the officers paid,
on account or the Government, $50 for Iabofefs.
he had allowed SO and subsistence and wished
10 reduce all to that price. The Secretary com.
inundated his approval
General Philips writes from Camp Parapet.
La giving the particulars OF the sending OF
slaves, bag and baggage, TO his lines by Mr. Ba-
billiard La Branche, whe tells them that the
ankees are King here now, and that they must
go TO their Ring for food and sheltsr He
eniafges upon their peculiar condition; COM
ments upon the utter failure Of the Govern
ment to recognize their rights; discusses the
element" OF insurrection existing In Louisiana;
refers to the effect Of the slave labor system on
patton, intimates that a complexities tstll here
after be made with labor, and not with politi.
clans; favors the policy Of immediate abolition;
add closes with u statement OF the wants of the
1ugltves before his lines, and asking fnstruc-
lions. lie says the new article Of war 10 the nrst
support he has had from the Government He
says that Mr.. La Blanche, who PROCESSES to be
loyal, recognizes the emancipa patton an i'm pend
Ing fact
Cen Butler, writing June 1etb, tsss, gives
further details Of the above case, and asks in
structions.
Mr.. stanton, Secretary Of War, on July 3, 1862,
writes to Gen But ef:-He 1.-THE Presidency 10 OF
opinion that under The laws of Congress, thew
cannot be sent back to their master; that In
common humanity, they must not be per
Hiued to suffer for want Of food, shelter, or
other nccessaries Of LIES that to this END they
should Re provided for by the Quartermas tpr,s
tcho are capable Of labor Sksxld be SET to uo,k
ana Pdtd REASONABLE cngss. The President, I'm
oHectlng this, does not assume TO settle any gem
eial rule at PIT sent with regard to the slaves