Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-11-08
Emancipation in Maryland.

The Washington correspondent of the
Mac-a-Cheek Press is responsible for the
following:
After the hours entertainment, I walk
ed through the first rain of the season, to
the Union Club, where the neble-hearted
Union men of Baltimore most do congre-
gate. 1 found Judge Bond, Mr.. Hoffman,
late Collector, and Mr.. Louerwine, and
had a long pleasant talk over the political
past and future of Maryland. 1t is a
great relief to find SO much brain and pa
triotism acting together.
1t is common for certain shallow people
after a great event, or a series of events,
to discover that at some time a certain
man had anidea, and putting it in practice,
originated all that astonishes US. This Is
all stuff, and generally very dreary stuff.
But for once the thing really happened.
Hugh L. Bond is the author, and sole au-
thor, Of emancipation in Maryland
l ought not to attempt the history, or
even an abstract Of a history, of 50 inter
esting and important event as this in the
brief scratching space of a letter. But
We can return and enlarge upon-i it here
after. When Colonel Binney was sent to
Maryland to recruit a colored regiment,
Judge Bond told him that he must enlist
slaves only; that the law authorized the
President to recruit from among persons |
of African descent, making no distinction
between slave and free; that iR Maryland
the freedmen were the poor laborers,
while the slaves belonged to the wealthy
se~cessionists. Col. Binney-saw the point,
and agreed; if the military authorities
would sustain him, to put the idea in
practice. Fortunately the chief of staff
was about as reckless a revolutionary
character as one could select, and in the
absence of the general commanding the
Department, who was conveniently in
Boston, and, in violation Of the known
wishes of the administration, this disor-
derby and head-strong Colonel sent a Gov
ernmenk transport to the Eastern shore,
where slaves do most abound, with orders
to recruit from among them.
Then was what might be called a Jolly
row. Governor Bradford, the heavy
Swami, the witty, one-eyed Reverdy
johnson, had their bowels moved by the
startling event, and the President was
besieged by terror-stricken, suffering
patriots. Of course an order came to
stop this unauthorized outrage. The rev.
dictionary Colonel responded, certainly,
as soon as it could be done-but as there
were no mail facilities with, and no tele-
graph to, the Eastern Shore, the Outrage"
could be stopped only by the return of the
transport. The boat came back with the
strangest assortment of colored humanity.
Men, women and children were poured
out upon the streets, and FASTENED to Bin
ney's camp.
Of course a solemn order was issued.
putting a stop to this sort of recruiting.
But it came too late The news spread
like wildfre over Maryland that Uncle s
Samuel was calling for slaves as recruits, :
and Cuff dropped the hoe-handle and has
tened to Baltimore, bringing his wife, chill ,
6rea.Snd aged parents. The masters saw
thaI the game was up, and grew loud in
conIlhehtly for Immediate emancipation s
and compensation. The next ELECTION gave ,
Us thirty thousand of a majority in favor !
OF freedom Slavery was dead. Judge
Bond had touched the rotten fabric. and IT {
fell to pieces. 1t is strange TO look back (
TO the long heavy articles of Governor .
Bradford, directed against this move, and I
remember the contortions of Swami and !
johnson, and now see them claiming to I
have had a hand in the emancipation of o
Maryland. r