‘ [357] conspiracy, and kindred offenses against the United States, and for the confiscation of the property of the offenders.’ No mention had been made of Slavery in these bills, but they indicated a policy altogether too vigorous to command at that time the approval of Mr. Lincoln. The difference—and a very great one it was—between the two men's views, was, that Mr. Sumner believed the hour had come for resorting to the full exercise of the War Power, desiring to have the President boldly lead the way in the enunciation. But Mr. Lincoln could not see it in that light; and on the 17th of July, the day that intervened between Mr. Sumner's two bills, the following General Order from Headquarters, was issued by Mr. Cameron, Secretary of War:
Fugitive slaves will under no pretext whatever be permitted to reside, or in any way be harbored in the quarters and camps of the troops serving in this Department; neither will such slaves be allowed to accompany troops on the march. Commanders of troops will be held responsible for a strict observance of the Order.In fact, during the first year of the war, Mr. Lincoln's administration acted in superfluous good faith with the Rebels. Only a week after the Secretary's Order, the Attorney-General instructed the Marshals of Missouri to execute the Fugitive Slave Act throughout their districts. But some interruptions were to take place in carrying it out in Virginia; for on the 30th of July, Gen. Butler, in a letter to the Secretary of War, expressed the opinion that ‘since an able-bodied Negro, fit to work in the trenches, is property liable to be used in aid of the Rebellion, he consequently becomes a contraband of War;’ and without any hesitation he defined his policy, as a General in the service, by saying:
