The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-03

command. The operations of his bureau ex.
tended over the whole country, and no Rebel
sympathizer. enjoyed feeling of security
when his name was pronounced. He m ade
many mistakes, and has been accused time and
time again of corrupt and wllful exercise of
the great authority lodged in his hands. The
Democratic press soon began to denounce him
in the most unmeasured terms, and by the
close of the war he had secured the enmity of
several of the leading Republican journals. That
he deserved measure of this calumny is not
to be denied, for his movements were at times
characterized by recklessnecs, IL not by a spirit
Of personal animosity. But that time wilt
abundantly substantate his claim to having
done the nation material service in the hour of
its greatest peril. we have doubt. He was
earnest, active, and efficient, at least, If he was
not always and altogether impartial. The
Secret Service was a new and unheard-of insti-
tuition in this country, and 1t was not matter
of surprise that the open spirit of freedom
should at times rebel against It's claudestine
way OF doing things, the only manner In which
its operations could be carried on with a shadow
of success.
on the 18th of June, 1865, General Baker ten.
dered his resignation, having previously fire..
quently applied to the Secretary of War to be
relieved from duty Provost Marshal OF the
War Department., He experienced some diff.
Guilty in obtaining an honorable muster out,
having incurred the hearty contempt ana
hatred of President Johnson, with whom he
finally parted after very stormy interview
concerning the pardon brokerage operations o.
the notorious Mrs. Cobb. After his discharge
General Baker repaired to Philadelphia, and
here prepared a voluminous history of the
Secret Service of the Government during the
Rebellion, which was published by King &
Baird, of this city. Since its publication he has
continued to reside here. For three months
previous to his death he was confined TO the
house by illness, the disease which finally
proved fatal being an attack of typhoid fever
From General Bakers book on the Secret Ser.
vice we make the following ex tract showing
tn spirit and manner in which the operations
of his department were conducted:-
upon my return from an expedition into
Lower Maryland, when within mile from
the State line, met farmer with a wagon
load OF slaves, consisting OF a father and
mother, with their two small children and a
wifes sister, all in charge of a constable and q
and foot, aud thrown upon the straw in an old
country wagon, were on their way back to
bondage. And this was done in the name of
destroy The Unionl
action by indignation too intense for express
sion, demanded the authority for the horrible
ment bearing the sea- of Commissioned Cox.
He fourished the precious document before me-
and directed my attention to the great seal OF
upon careful perusal of it., 1 found that it
load ipcluded five. When / pointed the cniyal.
rous and Confident owner to the apparently un-
lmpof'antt AM circumstances, n ne replied, we don't
months old, in the arms of a mother, whose feet
were tied. while she leaned against the side of
II answered:-The mother was a slave, and
| the child was bonn IN bondage. You claim the
mother, and of course the child is kidnapped;
AND AND r9ess he to Ss 9anE b
company"
"He warmly protested, and threatened resist
"He said. Take the baby; what in - do we
want OF the baby? We want gro wn people,
"The mother began to weep. One Of my men
was touched, and turning to me with pleading
tore, inquired II would separate the mother
"The display of dozen of Colts revolvers, by
myself and assistants, satisfied my excited
friend That was In earnest in expressing my
J Interpretation OF the law. sprang into the
wagon, and with my sabre's point cut the
This, I think, was the first practical appllca-
tion of the principle of the famous EmancIpa-
uon Proclamation of later date.
~ directed the horses heads to be turned to-
| ward Washington, when the owner and driver
Of the load demonstrated, and said, with an
"'Let the nggers walk to Washington
az said, no. You brought them here, and
"The poor captlves sank on their knees; the
venerable old man exclaiming, with upiifted
hands, Bless GOD and the mother adding,
-, II took them to my headquarters and set
"This Transaction OF course, brought upon
| my head the curses of the Shareholders OF Lower
Maryan But had violated no law, on ac-
| count of the fortunate presence of the baby.
"a delegation called on Mr. Lincoln the next
morning, protesting against the arbitrary act.
| producing as before, the sacred parch ment.
was summoned TO the White House. The Presi-
| dent said:-
| "'Baker, serious charge is preferred against
| you,' directing my attention to the document,
! with The inquiry, What do you know about
| the case?'
az briefly made my statement, giving promI-
nence to the number OF the slaves, and the juVe-
| nile supernumerary.
"The Chief Magistrate, worthy of the nation
! he represented, replied Jocosely:-'WelI, Baker
! guess the baby saves you = and dismissed the
whole affair." leaving the 'contrabands at large
and myself TO the prosecution of my thankless
| profession"