Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-05-09
Congressional.
mn. saulsbury,s Amendment.

In the Senate of the United States, on
the 1st instant, Mr. WILSON, Of Mass.
called up his resolution, directing the
military committee to inquire whether
any further Legislation is necessary to
prevent the return Of fugitive slaves by
the military forces"
Mr. SUMNER, Of Mass animadverted
on the course Of Generals Hooker, Nc
Cook, Buell. and HalIeck, in number Of
specified cases Of Interference in behalf
a persons seeking fugitive slayesin their
camps. lie read letter from Assistant
Adjutant General Halsey relative to
Hookers division, and commended the
course Of Gen. Doubleday, who, when
applied to to exclude alleged slaves from
his camp, issued an order permitting
them to come in, and prohibiting them
being sent out. He read letter also de-
failing barbarous case in Gen: McCook's
command in the West, where a colored
boy was beaten out of camp to his master
by soldiers, who were paid $l5 dollars a
piece, and another letter depicting the
trials of the negroes at Louisville, Ky,
under the army patrols.
He read also Gen. Halleck's famous
order No. 3, prohibiting fugitive slaves
coming into his lines, declaring that it
does not belong to the military to decide
the relation of master and slave, and con-
demned it as unconstitutional wanting
in common sense and common humanity
How, he asked, could Gen H. exclude
these blacks, except by first deciding that
they were slaves His order was, there
fore, absurd, and black and discredita-
bic inconsistency. The contrary course
of Gen. Mcdowell and Gen. Wool was
pointed to, and he related the advantages
which they had derived in gaining inlor-
nation from contrabands. The first
knowledge Gen Mcdowell had of the
evacuation of Fredericksburg by the re-
bells was from fugitive slave who had
heard his master report it, after arriving
home,tho evening before, and the first
adyices we had of the fall of New Or
leans, Gen, Wool had obtained through
another fugitive The colored popula-
ton, he said, we're all loyal, and on the
information they furnish great events,
the decision Of a battle, the movement OF
an army. may be decided. He had
great respect for the abilities of Genera
Halleck, but none for his wisdom in ex
Guiding those from his camp who nigh
be oe the utmost service to the nationa
cause
Mr.. SALISBURY, Of Delaware, moved t
amend the resolution by adding to it the
following And what further legisla
ton is necessary to prevent the illega
capture and imprisonment of the FREE
white cissens of the United States"
He said that the Senator from Massa
chusctts has informed us Of many abuses
which, in his judgment, arise from til,
action of the commanders Of our armie
III reference to fugitive slaves. lie die
not propose to enter into the discussion
Of that branch Of the question, but (saiC
Mr.. s. prefer upon this occasion T.
represent the interests Of the free lrhit
citizens of my country, and this resolu
ton gives me the opportunity of bring
ing to the attention of the Senate som,
instances in my own State, where per
sons have been illegally taken and car.
ried out Of the State by military authori
ty. Without attempting anything like
formal speech, | shall proceed simply
With narration Of f9cts.
Some three or four weeks ago highl,
respectable citizen of the town Of Dover
a member Of the bar, a gentleman o
family, having wife and children, wa
in the hours Of the night taken from biz
family, shut up in the courthouse Of tina
town, as | am informed, and the mex
day hurried of by the military anthori.
ties into the State Of Maryland, detained
there for nearly week, and finally dis
charged because the officer bad to say.
like PLATE, that he found no fault in bin.
That man was John b. Pennington.
Unfortunately he was phtte.
At the same time, sir, another highly
respectable citizen of my State, at present
the clerk Of the Senate Of the State, was
taken by the same military authority,
for no cause whatever, carried from the
capitol Of the State into the State of Ma
ryland, detained for week, and then
released because they could find no fault
in bin He, too, had the misfortune Of
being 1hite.
At the same time Mr.. Whorter, a
most highly respectable citizen Of my
State, residing near the capitol, was
dragged away from his home and carried
into the State Of Maryland BY tho mill
tary authorities, there detained fora week
or more, and then dischargod--no fault
found in him. He too, sir, was one OF
that unfortunate class Of the people OF
this country who at the present day,
seem not to awaken much interest, and
TO whose interests not much attention is
paid Ho, too, was lohite. William A..
Atkinson, ex-sherif Of tho county, man
universally esteemed, true friend, no.
bic man, and as loyal to the constitutional
Union Of The fathers as any man that
lives, was al the same time dragged by
the Same arbitrary power from bis family