The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-07-03
Hunters Reply to Wicklife !!
FROM THE RAM FLEET.
Three Rebel GunbOats Burned !
Washington Items.


WASHINGTON, July 2.
Information has been received from the
American Consul at Martinique. that under
the present law all goods admitted into France
are also admitted into its Colonies Pro-
ducts of the United States imported into Mar
Unique in American vessels having certificate
of origin countersgned by the French Consul
are admitted upon the same condition as under
the French flag.
The Secretary of War sent the following to
the House to-day:
PORT ROYAL, June %, 1862.
To Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War
Sir-I have the honor to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of a communication from the Adutant
General of the army. dated June Is, 1862. re-
questing me to furnish you with the informa-
ton necessary to answer certain resolutions
introduced into the House of Representatives
June o, on motion of Hon. Mr.. WickfifIe of
KY, their substance being to inquire
LIST. Whether had organized or wrs organ
izing regiment Of fugitive slaves in this de-
partment.
me from the War Department for such organi-
zation.
3. Whether l had been furnished by order of
the War Department, with clothing. uniforms.
arms equipments, DC, for such force.
Only having received the letter conveying
these inquiries at a late hour Saturday night,
and being obliged to urge forward my answer
in time for the steamer sailing to-day Monday,
this haste prevents me from entering as min
uitely as | could wish upon many points of de-
tail such as the paramount importance of the
subject calls for; but in view of the near ter
minatiOn of the present session Of Congress-
and the wide spread interest which must have
been awakened by Mr.. Week.-Mrs. resolution,
prefer sending even this imperfect answer to
waiting the period necessary for the collection
of fuller and more comprehensive data.
To the first question, therefore reply that
no regiment Of fugitive slaves has been or is
being organized in this department There is,
however, fine regiment of persons whose late
masters are fugitive rebels, men who every
where fly before the appearance Of the nation
al flag, leaving their servants behind them to
shift as best they can for themselves. So far,
indeed, are the loyal persons composing this
regiment from seeking to avoid the presence of
their late owners, that they are one and all
working with remarkable industry to place
themselves in position to join in full and eff
fectiye pursuit of their fugitive owners and
traitorous proprietors.
The second question l have the honor to
| answer, that the Instructions given to Brig.
Gen. I. w. Sherman by Hon. Simon Cameron,
late Secretary of War, turned over TO me by
| succession for my guidance, do distinctly au-
lnpliZt W tupicN all iONdi DtFSOnS OUpf1nX
| their services in the defence of the Union and
for the suppression of this rebellion, in any
manner might see fit, or that the circum-
stances might call for There is no restriction
| as to the character or color of the persons to
| be employed, or the nature of the employment,
| whether civil or military, in which their ser
| vices shall be used.
i conclude, therefore, that have been au-
! thorized to enlist fugitive slaves as soldiers,
could mr. trci bo fnun1 In tha
No such characters, however, have yet appear
| ed within view of our most advanced pickets.
| The loyal slaves everywhere remaining on
| their plantations to welcome us and aid us and
supply us with food, labor and information.
1t is the masters who have in every instance
been the fugitives running away from loyal
slaves as well as loyal soldiers, and whom we
have only partially been able to see with their
heads over ramparts or rifle in hand lodging
behind trees in the extreme distance. In the
absence of any fugitive master law, the de-
| serted slaves would be wholly without rene
| dy, had not their tune Of treason given the
| right TO pursue, capture and bring back these
persons OF whose protection they have been so
| suddenly bereft.
To the third interrogatory it is my painful
| duty TO reply, that / never have received any
| specific authority for issues of clothing uni
forms, arms, equipments, etc, TO the troops in
question. My general instructions from Mr..
| Cameron to employ them in any manner that
l might find it necessary in the military ext
gencies of the department, and the country be-
ing my only, but in my judgement sufficient
| Justification; neither have / had any specific
| authority for supplying those persons with
shoyels, spades and pick-axes when employing
them as laborers nor with boats and oars when
using them as ghtef-Inen. But these are not
| the points indicated in Mr.. Wicklffes resol,i-
| ton. To me it seemed that liberty to employ