Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-02-06

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cluslon that q soldier can do no wrong.
Ny suggestion oyou was that soldier
had done wrong--a negro was permitted
to enter the lines of Point Lookout, and
was afterwards in the employ of an Of
fcer of the Point outside of the lines,
but was protected by the military of the
post" What was meant by this was,
that though this soldier had done no
wrong--even outside Of the lines-by
harboring runaway negro-his aboli-
ton Niews would no doubt be protected
by Chs. military of the post Whether
he has violated the law Of Maryland, and
made himself liable to the penitentiary,
with or without the appreciation of the
Federal Administration was not for the
officer of the county TO look into; but
for fear of difficulties it was future pro
lection We desired-and what [ asked of
your Excellency was, that, if the Gene
raj Government, in its wish for abolition,
aimed to destroy our property and to ar
rest individuals for protecting what le-
gally belonged to them from the hands
Of intaders," the Governor of Mary
land, 10 vindication of the Constitution
and laws of his State, should throw the
mantle of protection over her citizens.
Nov, sir, to your last paragraph. You
say that you will not disregard the laws
established for the government of the
army Of the nation and abide by those
prescribed by our Code" A citizen of
Massachusetts Or a soldier of that State
harbors a runaway negro in St. Mary's
county The Governor Of Maryland tells
US that it is a perfectly legitimate act
because the " law established for the go
yernment of the soldier" &C. is supe-
rior to that Of our Code. VIII the Go
vernon Of Maryland show me that law,
which be viii not disregard" to abide
by the Code, applicable to this case p
There was an act Of. Congress, believe,
which stated that all runaway negroes
coming within the military lines should
not be given up to their owners. But
the all-powerful Executive, on the LIST of
January, 1863, stated in proclamation
that the slaves in certain States should
be free, but that the slaves in all other
States and parts of States should not be,
but should be held 10 slavery as of old
for the present. Our case arises under
the proclamation which supersedcs all
other law for the government of the army;
for. it is an order of its commander-in-
chief The idea of Governor not :" dis
regarding" law, which is not now in
existence, is indeed ridiculous" To
present that as the reason for his non
action in this case, supposes the people
Of Maryland to be over-credulous.
Lastly, sir, | contend that the propo.
sition which | made to you is legitimate
1t does not bring the State and tho au-
thority of the General Government in
conflict, nor the Code in conflict with the
laws laid down for the government of
the army, by the commauder-in-chiefI
thereof II cannot be then, sir, because
the State and General Government come
in conflict that you refuse to protect the
citizens under your care. and | am forced
TO the conclusion that, whatever might
be the deprodations upon the citizens Of
your State, or the wrongs committed up
on them, or tie indiguities east upon tbo
State, or even its dismembermon and de-
struction which has been in conteupla-
tion-thc General Government can easily
make the Governor Of Maryland believe
that it is for the F." suppression oe there
bollion, aud receive his assistance to
carry out these ends.
Respectfully, yours,
G FRED. MADDOX.