Year: 1863

his learning.


! We should think that no people had stronger
claims on the protection and fostering care Of a
Government than those Of the Border Slave States
have to the consideration and protecting hand of
the Federal Government, for they have perilled
every thing and suffered almost every thing to
maintain their fealty to the Union, and not Of
them has held to its duty more faithfully than the
State Of Maryland It is, moreover, maxim as
old as government itself that allegiance and pro,
lection reciprocal obligations 1t is, therefore,
with regret, inspired as well by particular SYM
pathy in all that concerns the well-being of the
parent State Of District, as by respect for the
Government and desire that it should deal justly
in all things, that we have observed frequent COM
plants of irritating injuries inflicted the rights
and property of loyal citizens Of Maryland
and to this only do we wish now to refer--by of.
fcers and Others protesting to be agents Of the
Government. And we are moved to this notice
and systematic invasion of the rights of property
in this State, unauthorized by the Government we
hope, but unredressed and unchecked as far as we
know. We allude to what appears to be the prac-
tioal Inauguration of the scheme recently submit
ted to the Secretary Of War for entoing slaves in
them in the army. We have not heard that the
suggestion has been adopted by the Government; !;
at least no proclamation has been issued by the
President, as was invoked by the author of the
scheme, but it may have received the countenance
and consent, if not an order, Of the War Depart
ment. We hardly think provost marshal would
venture on so reprehensible course on his own
motion, although the example of Lieut. Col. Crea-
ger in Frederick county, few weeks ago, is fresh
in the public mind. To place distinctly before our
readers the grievance we refer to we insert below
recent letter from gentleman of the highest re-
spectability on the Eastern Shore Of Maryland,
omitting some Of the indignant language he uses
in cHaracterizng an act which he regards as tramp
ling at once on the laws of the State and his pri-
vate rights. With these few remarks we leave the
matter with those who have the power, and We
will not doubt the disposition also, to apply the
corrective:


EASTERN SHORE, (MD.) SEPTEMBER g. 1868





rolling slaves soldiers They employ free blacks
worthless white who go among the slaves and ebce
at night Eason where the military officers enlist them
the poor creatures swearing them and signing for them
a contract of They then claimed soldiers
openly marched to steamboats, and carried TO Baltimore
guarded by soldiers of Ohio regiment in Baltimore
"These blacks enlisted for Birney's regiment. On
Tuesday hundred and eighteen slaves we're carried
away the Kent from Mchae's River Ferry, and pre-
yously many Indeed all the slaves Of those who do
not support Lincoln will be carried away. Two in my
service have gone; my slave is Of them He
contented young until these emissares corrupted
him The other belonged to oido (of course not poll
tcau, and this man leaves wife and several children
"A their slaves taken from owners and their
crops not secured-they will be ruined. The Provost
Marshal and his colleagues get two dollars per head for
obtaining slaves do not know that these outrages will
boodshed bat the citizens may be driven protect
their loyal rights at every hazard sick the day my
servants left and could not go to the steamboat but sent
and notified the captain Of the boat that would hold him
responsible He wished to restore my servants but said his
boat under military control and be could do nothing
"The negroes were all provided with clubs and seemed
very defiant and cheered Justify when the boat left We
crediby told that in few days Birneys regiment
part of it, will be sent here and slaves among them
to stir up general nsurrecon &c Indeed the ground





done to stop this


The OF slaves here are now proposing to ship
to the Government the wives and children of the slaves
taken away by the military"


Since the above letter came to hand We find that
the respected and enlightened Executive of the
State, Gov. BRADFORD, in published letter to
the Hon. FRANCIS THOMAS, not only confirms the
statements Of the above letter in regard to the
misconduct of army officers, but also rcbukes in
unequivocal terms the reprehensible scheme of
widespread subversion of law and right broachcd
by judicial officer Of the State. The following
is an extract from the Governors able and pointed
letter:


Recruiting Aicers have made their appearance in
different parts OF the State openly engaged in the bus
Of enlsting slaves and letter has been lust pub
lished addressed by highly respectable member Of the
bench Of the State to the Secretary of War urging the
latter to adopt that policy and enlist the slaves Of the
State with without the consent Of the ou nerr


1T It's not my purpose to enter into any criticism