Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-10-01
WHOLESALE ABDUCTION IN MARYLAND.

WHOLESALE ABDUCTION IN MARYLAND.
An intelligent resident of Washington, just re-
turned from brief tour on the Eastern Shore of
Maryland, communicates the following account of
what he saw and heard in that oppressed portion
of the State. We can only express our extreme
surprise that these most irritating and injurious
violations of the laws of the State and the rights
of its people by military subordinates have not
been put stop to by the Government
THE abduction of slaves from the Eastern Shore of
Maryland went during the whole of last week with
elentng vgor and energy and all notwithstanding the
exerons of prominent loyal citizens and alleged pledges
made in high quarter to the contrary. Amongst thoee
who are reported to have had interviews with the civil and
military authorities of the Government in order to have
soppage put to the ruthless abduction of the abe-boded
slaves essential to the agricultural operations Of the
Eastern Shore Ex-Governor and Senator Hicks held
prominent place Rumor has it that he successful
ia obtaining from the President promise that the spoil
alton suffered by the farmers of the counties of the
Chesapeake Bay should not be continued but that from
the Secretary of War the most that could be had that
the threatened visit Of negro ment-compOsed part
Eastern Shore their former homes, should
BE- delayed two three weeks
"Certan it is that the worst anticipations seem
hose mcst likely to be realized The steamboat Cecil
was every day last week busiy engaged in gathering
10 slave property along the coasts of Queen Annes,
Talbot, and Dorchester counties About six hundred
slaves have been carried away against their owners
wills from Talbot alone and on Friday last the Cecil
transported from Cambridge to Baltimore about one
hundred slave negro men who gathered from Dor
chester county Scores of farms have been suddenly strip
ped Of their best labor, whilst few bat helpless
and children left behind for their to
feed and support best they On estate where
the negroes numbered about four hundred all the adult
males have been begued forced away, aud three hun
dred and children lett to shift for themselves
What renders this the more embarrassing to agricultural
proceedings is the total absence of white labor which
might fill the place of the slave peasantry large por
ton Of most fertile and valuable region must 90 untitled
the next year. and great private and public losses be the
consequence.
1t is stated that promises of considerable Of mo-
ney TO the negro men, with other seductive offers,
among the most used to ence them from
their in force menaced for the pur
pose Thus farm will be visited after nightfa by
officer and two in military uniform The owner
will be notified that bis servant has volunteered and that
military party have to take him off, Of course re-
the part Of the master is out Of the question:
a. he is always caught unawares.
The bounty usually promised to each male negro slave
hundred dollars whilst the white who recruits
him gets two dollars for his share 10 the proceeding but
there is doubt whether the white parties into whose
hands the bounty placed always deliver to the recruited
slave the full amount designed for him by the original pro-
vders Of the fund, whether they be official or Gas some
avery society in the North which has been formed TO
gather money for the special adjustment Of slavery in
Maryland The amount collected by the company is un-
to reach 800 0O0 and tina. it is Of this fund
that the newspaper and other aders and abettors Of these
slave abductious paid for their labors.
1T is worthy of remark that these in
roads and injuries npon tbs property Of the people, not
word has been uttered going to encourage the hope that
tle Federal tax bills would be diminished dollar"
letter from Dorchester has the following:
Yesterday l could scarcely avoid crying to say
nothing worse, 10 gentlemen Of this town and the
neghborbood standing in groups poweress to prevent
re abduction Of their slaves The night before steamer
anchored in the river and the next morning though to
add insult to injury squads Of negro soldiers
the town in search of slaves Miles of cora have
s.snding upgahered Tor want If hands there being no
substitutes for the slaves thus abducted"
The Chestertown News Of Saturday says:
"A steamboat from Baltimore arrived of Eastern Neck
Island in the lower part Of this couny Sunday last for
the purpose OF carrying away slaves for enlistment In
the army Ii that the negroes had previous notice
Of the coming Of the boat and hocked the shore in
such crowds that many had TO bs left behind The
Der carried of Is estimated at from hundred and hy
to two hundred including nearly every able-bodei slave
in Eastern Neck Those teuaning repaired to the wharf
at Grays Inn Greek Monday murang for the purpose
of taking passage to Baltimore on the steamer Chester
but the captain refused to take them and assisted by the
citizens, prevent d Them from going aboard
FROM GEN RrRNSTDE,S ARMY