| Location | Washington, DC |
|---|---|
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Names Mentioned | – |
| Date | July 25, 1862 |
| Document Title | Maryland Legislator to the Secretary of War, July 25, 1862 |
| Document Description | Jno. H. Bayne to Hon. E. M. Stanton, 25 July 1862, B-1394 1862, Letters Received, RG 107 [L-142}. A notation on the outside reads "File," and no reply to Bayne has been found in the records of the War Department. According to a Harford County slaveholder, the northernmost portions of Maryland also suffered from the "recent act of Congress making the District of Columbia free Soil and an outlet for all the slave property of Maryland." The Harford County master requested compensation of $1,000 for the loss of his slave, "the lowest estimated value of the services of said colored servant for the period He was bound to serve." (Thos. Hope to the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives, 15 May 1862, 37A-H1.3, Petitions & Memorials Tabled, ser. 468, 37th Congress, RG 233 {D-56}) (from The Destruction of Slavery, pages 367-368) |
| Transcription |
Near Washington July 25, 1862 Sir As chairman of a committee appointed by both branches of the Legislature of Maryland, I had the honor of an interview with you last winter in reference to the admission of fugitive slaves within the lines of the Federal Army- And now in the capacity of private citizen I take the liberty obtruding myself upon your notice- The partial enforcement of the fugitive slave law in the District of Columbia, has had the effect of forcing all the fugitives from Maryland into Alexandria & its environs: where they receive military protection - The Provost Marshal there, has assumed the prerogative of deciding that no citizen of Maryland shall have the right to arrest any slave within the lines of his Department-_ This decision is tantamount to issuing an emancipation proclamation in the Counties of Maryland bordering on the Potomac River- Already hundreds and perhaps thousands of servants have absconded from Maryland & now are roaming about the streets of Alexandria & vicinity, & their legitimate claimants dare not interfere with them – It occurs to me sir, since the Military Authorities have decided that the people of Maryland shall not recover their slave property under any civil process, it would not be unreasonable to ask the Government to place them on at least equal grounds with the people in the rebellious states— According to the very important order which has just emanated from the War Department-It is required, “that military and naval commanders shall employ persons of African descent for Military & Naval purposes, & that accurate accounts shall be kept to show from whom such persons shall have come, as a basis upon which proper compensation can be made in proper cases" - I believe sir, an order of similar import issued for the benefit of Maryland would be most acceptable to her loyal citizens- But to deprive Union men of their property without affording them any redress, as I have recently seen done in Alexandria is a species of confiscation that I believe many of the extremists have· never contemplated - If the labor of slaves can be made to contribute in any way to the suppression of this iniquitous rebellion: it ought to be the policy of the Government to adopt it- And no patriotic citizen would hesitate to proffer it for that purpose- If in the prosecution of the war for the restoration of the Union the emancipation of slavery should become necessary, I would say let it go- But until then; justice to the loyal men in loyal states demands protection - The Negro is naturally indolent & unless employed becomes demoralized & utterly worthless - I am sir- most respectfully yr obt sevt Jn° H. Bayne |
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[Author (if known)], Documents from the Freedmen and Southern Society Project, [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.
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