The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-11-03
By command of

by command OF
Maj. Gen. J. N. PALMER.
]. BATES Dickson, Captain and A. A. G..
1t was also admitted that martial law had
heen abolished before the grand jury found
the indictment - true billi' and that the
foregoing order twas issued by General Pal.
mer BY the authority of the War Depart
ment.n
1t was agreed THAT the Court might dis
pose Of all the legal questions arising on the
indictment and these agreed facts."
Here We have the fact that the proceedings
of Gen. Palmer was in pursuance Of military
orders Of the Department, and that mar
hal Law was in force in Kentucky 81 the time,
and yet this Court declares that these facts
are no justification, and that Gen. Palmer
vas guilty of Felony in violating the slave
laws Of Kentucky.
The Cour, says:
The unlawful intermsddling Of General
Palmer, inc',ing q spirit Of servile insurrec-
ZION and encouraging escapes from servituds
by assuring military protection, invited slaves
70 "crowd' Camp Nelson and other encamp.
menis Of his army, and induced many of.hem
70 rush" 10 Louisville, claiming 10 Be
free" and expecting the aid of his army in
the assertion Of that claim. And, after de.
sertinG comfortable homes where they had
been employed and fed and clothed, they, a.
he knew, falsely pretended they were free,
and could GET no employment; and be had no
right TO help them 70 escape from their own
srs, and to secure that object by requiring of.
6cers of railroads and steamboats,, in viola
ton of their legal obligations, At the peril of
the penitentiary. TO carry them vhithersoevsr
they might choose to 60 in or out Of Ken
lucky.
His order 80, though ostensibly confined to
the negroes "crowding' Louisville, was, new
srthsless, With has knowledge and counten-
ance, used IS . similar license in, aud sxecu>
ted throughout the whole State, and under lis
cover, with bis sanction, of slaves "crowd>
ing" around Provost Marshals and obtaining
passports, until but few were left 1t home.
and farmers generally, and many residents Of
cities and towns, were suddenly left without
their accustomed and necessary help, the long
established system Of labor terribly disturbed
end citizens excited almost to revolution.
The tradition of these pregnant facts was 20
universally notorious - to be stereotyped q
local history, Of which this court if It knew
anything, must have Judicial knowledge.
The circdhscribed order No SO must have
been issued Under false pretense, INGENIOUS.
y fabricated, and intended to opssaie, - n
did, on al the slaves in Kentucky. Palmer
knew that be had no right to liberase the
slaves in Kentucky. and yet, BY assuring them
Of his military aid and protection be in
dnced them 70 desert their ovners, and rave
them practical freedom; and this, and thu
alone, vas the thinly disguised object Of dis
order No. 80.
And vas al this authorized By The War
Department We will not believe Il Bat
howsvsr it may be, 70 authoriss & not .
ofder-the one i mandatory, Tie otkoe mers>
y pefmissive and discrstionery; aad, eeccfd.
ing 70 the facts, the vhols droma - ~
voluntary act Of Gen. Palmer, q tn oF;sin.
atinG and ruling spirit nos coatsolle3. 6ct
only uncontrolled By the War Deuertment
But. had be pleaded persmpsory ori1.r. Z
could not have shielded him fron the Iscsi
consequences Of a Illegal Get q ss.;ne
usarpasipp.
Aiding 1satacay slsvss % run eva, ffou
sher nesfen ~ not ! beilieersns u fnsE
fsd bt q 49, h eosA ses snhesFy3 -
ss9esAase pQ9noee ef tbe mr. aoniast ~ =
esshen. Insisad Of s.ssuashessse. 4 49,
sned ~ fsass1l eaaes. Ne;4her o. 49,.
ory q Waes apysysq. - Ro1esnl 0cerrr.
-. tseessoea, Nd csaaGilstioaal - ~ -
nor y aaks ~ pespsssy q - eiei1r ~
Ooo eo& A1V - 0h9 vnnN