dock-yards and other needful buildings, and over which the United States have or shall have exclusive legislative jurisdiction. 3d, In all vessels on the high seas. 4th, In all places whatsoever, where the National Government has exclusive jurisdiction."*

Mr. Cox opposed the bill vehemently, declaring that, in his judgment, it was a bill for the benefit of secession and Jeff. Davis.

Mr. Fisher, in an able speech, opposed the passage of the bill. In conclusion, he appealed to the majority to let this cup pass from our lips. He said: "We have done nobly: we have done much in behalf of liberty and humanity at this session of Congress. Let us then here call a halt and take our bearings.

Finally, as a concession to the more conservative members, Mr. Lovejoy offered an amendment, striking out all except the prohibition of slavery in the Territories, and on which he demanded the previous question, and the bill passed the House, ayes eighty-five, noes fifty. The bill was slightly modified in the Senate, and finally passed the House on the 19th of June, prohibiting slavery forever in all the Territories of the United States now existing, or that might hereafter be acquired. Thus, the second great step towards the destruction of slavery was taken; and closing the great struggle over slavery in the Territories, which had agitated the country, with short intervals, since the organization of the Republic under the Constitution. Had this act been passed in 1784, when Jefferson proposed one substantially like it, the terrible war of the slaveholders would never have come upon the Republic. The institution would never have grown to such vast power. Missouri would have had the wealth and position of Ohio, and slavery, driven by moral and economical influences towards the Gulf, would have gradually and peacefully disappeared.

We have seen that the Secretary of War, on the 14th of September, 1861, instructed General Sherman to avail himself of the service of any persons, whether fugitives from

* See Congressional Globe, Second Session, Thirty-seventh Congress, 2042.

labor or not, who might offer themselves to the National Government, and he was instructed to employ them in such service as they might be best fitted for; and that he might organize them into squads, companies or otherwise, as he might deem most beneficial to the service. This was qualified by the President, so as not to mean "a general arming for military service."

It will be remembered that a portion of the report of Mr. Cameron, as Secretary of War, recommending the general arming of the slaves, made December 1, 1861, was stricken out by order of the President. The public sentiment had not at that time, in his judgment, advanced far enough to warrant this measure. Indeed, whether the Government should avail itself of the ready and willing services of citizens and slaves of African descent, was, strangely enough in the light of the present, a question which agitated the public mind in the early stages of the rebellion. Many very loyal and sincere men hesitated, and some opposed it. We have seen that at first, colored men escaping to the Union lines, though bringing with them most important intelligence, and strong arms and brave and loyal hearts, found there no welcome, but, on the contrary, were repelled; and in some instances, rebel masters were permitted to hunt loyal fugitive slaves within the Union lines, and within Union camps.

General Halleck issued an order, November 20, 1861, prohibiting fugitive slaves from being admitted within the lines of his army, and expelling those who had already taken refuge there.* On the 2d of February, 1862, he repeated the order that no fugitive slaves should be admitted within the lines or camps, except by special order of the Commanding General.

General Buell, on the 6th of March, 1862, declared: "It has come to my knowledge, that slaves sometimes make their way improperly into our lines, and, in some instances, they may be enticed there, but I think the number has been magnified by report. Several applications have been made to me by persons whose servants have been found in our camps, and in every instance that I know of, the master has recovered his servant, and taken him away."

* McPherson's Hist., p. 248-250.

Even gallant General Hooker, on the 26th of March, was capable of issuing an order authorizing slave masters to search for fugitive slaves through all the camps of his command. He said: "Messrs. Nally, Gray, Dummington, Dent, Adams, Speake, Price, Posey and Cobey, citizens of Maryland, have negroes supposed to be with some of the regiments of this division. The brigadier general commanding, directs that they may be permitted to visit all the camps of his command in search of their property, and if found, that they be allowed to take possession of the same without any interference whatever. Should any obstacle be thrown in their way by any officer or soldier, in the division, they will be at once reported by the regimental commanders to these headquarters."

On the contrary, General Doubleday, on the 8th of April, 1862, directed that all negroes coming into the lines of any of the camps or forts of his command, should be treated as persons, and not as property; and declaring that under no circumstances has the commander of a camp or a fort the power of surrendering a person claimed as a fugitive slave. The article of war recently enacted by Congress prohibits it.

This General expressed the opinion that the fugitives brought much valuable information, which could not be obtained from any other source, and were most valuable as scouts, guides and spies.

General T. Williams, on the 5th of June, 1862, ordered that all fugitives, negroes in his camps should be turned out beyond his lines of guards and sentinels. Colonel Paine, of Wisconsin, refused to obey this order, as violating the new article of war, and for this offence he was placed under

arrest.

It is difficult to realize the tyranny which slavery had established over the minds of the people, even of the free States. The foregoing orders, perhaps, furnish as striking illustration of it as any fact in history. That there should ever have been any hesitation in welcoming loyal colored men, and transferring them from aiding the rebels, to the Union side, is indeed very strange. The prejudice that so long held the minds of the people to the sacred rights of

slaveholding, and in which these orders against fugitive slaves were conceived, began to disappear in the smoke of battle.

The first regiment of negro troops raised during the war, was raised and organized by General David Hunter, in the Spring of 1862, while in command in the Department of the South. He had been a graduate at West Point, and was educated as a pro-slavery man, but like the gallant Lyon, serving in Kansas during the period the effort was made to force slavery upon that territory, the outrages of the slaveholders converted him into a radical abolitionist. Finding himself charged with the duty of holding the coast of Florida, South Carolina and Georgia, with very inadequate force, and the Government being at that time unable to furnish more, seeing the three States of his command swarming with ablebodied negroes, all loyal Union men, ready to fight for their liberty, he saw no reason why they should not be organized. into soldiers. He accordingly proceeded vigorously in the work of organizing and drilling these negroes, and reporting his proceedings to the Secretary of War received no response. Meanwhile the facts were spread through the land, and came to the ears of Mr. Wickliffe- a fierce pro-slavery member of Congress from Kentucky.

The border States were particularly sensitive on the subject of fugitive slaves and colored citizens being used as soldiers, and on the 9th of June, 1862, on motion of Mr. Wickliffe, of Kentucky, the House adopted the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to inform this House-1st, If General Hunter, of the Department of South Carolina, has organized a regiment of South Carolina volunteers for the defence of the Union, composed of black men. (fugitive slaves,) and appointed the colonel and other officers to command them. 2d, Was he authorized by the Department to organize and muster into the army of the United States, as soldiers, its fugitive or captured slaves? 3d, Has he been furnished with clothing, uniforms, etc., for such force? 4th, Has he been furnished by order of the Department of War with arms to be placed in the hands of these slaves? 5th, To report any orders given said Hunter, and correspondence between him and the Department."

This resolution was forwarded by the Secretary of War to Hunter, with a request for an immediate reply. In response to this, General Hunter made the following reply:

"Sir:-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a communication from the Adjutant General of the Army, dated June 13, 1862, requesting me to furnish you with the information necessary to answer certain resolutions introduced in the House of Representatives, June 9, 1862, on motion of Hon. Mr. Wickliffe, of Kentucky,—the substance being to inquire:-1st, Whether I had organized or was organizing a regiment of 'fugitive slaves' in this Department. 2d, Whether any authority had been given to me from the War Department for such organization. 3d, Whether I had been furnished by order of the War Department with clothing, uniforms and equipments, etc., for such a force.

"To the first question, therefore, I reply that no regiment of 'fugitive slaves' has been, or is being, organized in this Department. There is, however, a fine regiment of persons, whose late masters are 'fugitive rebels'-men who, everywhere fly before the appearance of the National flag, leaving their servants behind them to shift as best they can for themselves. So far, indeed, are the loyal persons composing this regiment from seeking to avoid the presence of their late owners, that they are now, one and all, working with remarkable industry to place themselves in a position to go in full and effective pursuit of their fugacious and traitorous proprietors.

"To the second question, I have the honor to answer that the instructions given to Brigadier General W. T. Sherman, by Hon. Simon Cameron, late Secretary of War, and turned over to me by succession, for my guidance, do distinctly authorize me to employ all loyal persons offering their services in defence of the Union, and for the suppression of this robellion, in any manner I might see fit, or that the circumstances might call for. There is no restriction as to the character or color of the persons to be employed, or the nature of the employment, whether civil or military, in which their services should be used. I conclude, therefore; that I have been authorized to enlist 'fugitive slaves' as soldiers, could any such be found in this Department. No such characters, however, have yet appeared within view of our most advanced pickets-the loyal slaves everywhere remaining on their plantations to welcome us, aid us, and supply us with food, labor and information. It is the masters who have, in every instance, been the 'fugitives,' running away from loyal slaves as well as loyal soldiers, and whom we have only partially been able to see, chiefly their heads over ramparts, or, rifle