The Portland daily press., 1864-05-02
Slavery in mpliment 10 a
Portland Boy.


The following article is cut from the last
number Of the New York independent. The
Col. Thomas referred to in terms of such
high compliment, as the commander of Camp
Belger, is Col. HENRY &. THOMAS, of this
city, son of Hon. w. w. Thomas. Since the
following was written, COL T. with his CON-
mand has joined Gen. Burnside. But for the
article in the independent:
SLAVERY IN MARYLAND.-The majority
of the Shareholders of this State are becom-
ing quite as fanaticap as Wendell Phillips
was said to be two years and hall ago,
when, with the greatest nonchalance, he de-
clared that, as regards the question Of slavery,
he didn't care how this war terminated, " sla-
very must die" The recent vote in reference
to emancipation proves that a majority of
this State have come to the same conclusion,
1t is now settled that few weeks will know
no slaves in Maryland. Within a month
have conversed with scores oil slave-owners,
and nearly all manifest a perfect Indifference ::
they say this war has overturned everything,
and slavery is "over." Many are now will
ling their slaves should so. Why this change
A few months ago the severest means were
used TO retain them; every jail was filled to
overlooking. short history of recruiting
than seven thousand colored soldiers, physic-
ally the very best, have been mustered into
the service from this State during this time :
hundreds have been released IRON jails, con-
fined only for fear they would run away. The
history of some of the latter, shut up more
than year, is brutal in the extreme. So
many of their best slaves have now left the
masters, that the women and children, the
sick and the old are burden and bill of
A.. s.s.. .af.t -
naturally feels like the school boy who has
had his choicest playthins taken away
"'Itod'nt good for nothing-got enough more
10 home" There is no loyalty in such a spr-
1t. There are few owners, who, at heart, do
not hate the Administration, and sigh again
for the good old days OF Buchanan. They
are not loyal as Gen. Butler defined loyalty in
his examination of the clergyman OF Nor
folk.
OF the six Thousand mustered within four
months, the first half were chiefly raised by
Gen. Birney, his headquarters at Benedict
He was four months and half raising two
regiments. Nearly three have been raised by
Col. Bowman in as many weeks! He has
made no great stir, but worked with untiring
energy. Few officers could have filled so diff
1cult position and yet be so highly COM
mended by every one. His headquarters
have been in the city. He has attended sole
ly TO recruiting. AS fast as recruits have
come in, they have been sent Immediately to
Camp Belger, to be clothed mustered, assign
ed to companies, and drilled. Col. Thomas, of
the nth Regular Infantry, now colonel of the
10th, commands the post. He is a thorough
soldier and a strict disciplinarian. When
placed in command here, he found all loose
and In confusion; but now it would be diff
cult to find neater or better managed post
He has labored under great disadvantages,
through lack OF officers, many of whom are
away recruiting. There has been no laziness
here Officers report at night, and are sent
of before light the next morning. Such has
been the dispatch with which everything has
been managed, that ,05S men have been mus
tered in the last ten days. Almost every off
Ger in the command has seen service, and by
the energy and life of the commanding officer
is stirred 10 do all he can TO improve the COM
mand. The men are eager aud enthusiastic
in learning the drill, and no one here doubts
that they will do good service for the country.
They understand their relations TO the gov
eminent much better than large portion OF
the lower classes at the North. They are
all eager to learn to read and write. The
commanding officer has Instituted school
for the non commissioned officers, and they
90 at the "drum CALI an hour and half day
these teach the privates. Go down 10 their
quarters any evening, and you will find score
around one poor light, learning to spell out
some short words. Many have learned to read
of, as they say" right smart One young man
sits near me while | write this, who learned in
single week to read in the Testament. Two
thirds of the men in one regiment can now
read little. Every Sabbath morning the
whole brigade is marched up in front of the
| commanders quarters to attend divine service.
Everything is done by the commandig officer
TO open the door wide for those whose pecu-
! liar work it is 10 do these men good Under
such circumstances much fruit must be gath.
cred, and God has blessed the labors thus far
| greatly. At another time we will give some
idea OF the religious state of these men,
A CHAPLAIN.
Baltimore, April 18th.