CHAP. LXIII.]

CONDITION OF THE NAVY IN 1862.

589

Steps taken to ren

midable.

from the mouth of the Chesapeake to the Rio Grande, under blockade, found us with a naval force, even were every vessel on our coast, inadequate to the work required. I have, in former reports, made full exposition of the steps which were promptly taken to recall our foreign squadrons, and the progress which had been made in augmenting our navy by repairing and der the navy for fitting, as expeditiously as possible, every available vessel owned by the government; by purchasing such others as could be made speedily useful in guarding our shallow and peculiar coast; and by rapidly constructing as many steamers as could be built at our navy yards, and employing, to the extent that we could procure materials, engines, and machinery, the resources of the country in adding others from private ship-yards. The result is that we have at this time afloat, or progressing to rapid completion, a naval force Condition of the consisting of 427 vessels, there having been navy at this time. added to those of the old navy, exclusive of those that were lost, 353 vessels, armed in the aggregate with 1577 guns, and of the capacity of 240,028 tons. The annals of the world do not show so great an increase in so brief a period to the naval power of any country.

"The appropriations made by Congress for the navy for Financial provi- the fiscal year ending June 30, 1862, were sions for it. upward of forty-three and a half millions of dollars; for the year ending June 30th, 1863, nearly fiftythree millions; and for the following year, June 30th, 1864, upward of sixty-eight millions."

CHAPTER LXIV.

PROGRESS OF THE ANTI-SLAVERY MOVEMENT.

The Republican party, attaining to power, was constrained by its position, and induced by its political sentiments, to adopt many anti-slavery measures, such as the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, and its prohibition in the Territories.

President Lincoln, at his accession, considered it his chief duty to save the Union without reference to slavery. Finding, however, that the slave question could not be avoided, he proposed plans of colonization and compensated emancipation. Military events by degrees rendering the abolition of slavery an unavoidable necessity, he at length issued a Proclamation of Emancipation.

THE anti-slavery measures of the government may be Classification of an- conveniently grouped under two heads: 1st. ti-slavery measures. Those originating in Congress; 2d. Those originating with the President.

publican party.

On the retirement of the Southern members from ConAttitude of the Re- gress, the Republican party occupied a posi tion of irresistible influence in that body. In accordance with the principles laid down at its first Convention in Philadelphia (June, 1856), and reaffirmed at its second Convention in Chicago (May, 1860), it was not possible for it, in view of the assaults that the slave power was now making, to do otherwise than enter on a course of legislation aiming at the destruction of its antagonist.

Though he

With President Lincoln it was different. Attitude of the was always true to the principles of the President. party which had placed him in his eminent position, he was compelled, from that very position, to regard things from a point of view of his own. With him the restoration of the Union, the integrity of the republic, was the primary, the great object.

CHAP. LXIV.] ANTI-SLAVERY MEASURES OF CONGRESS.

591

But, though thus the dominant power in Congress on the one hand, and the President on the other, had each a special intention, there was no conflict, nor even any misunderstanding between them. Each appreciated and strengthened the other.

1st. THE ANTI-SLAVERY MEASURES OF CONGRESS.

Among the measures taken by Congress, there are six Congressional anti- to which attention may be particularly di slavery measures. rected. They are: (1), the liberation of slaves used for insurrectionary purposes; (2), the prohi bition of persons in the army returning fugitive slaves; (3), the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia; (4), the prohibition of slavery in the Territories; (5), the employment of colored soldiers; (6), the Confiscation Act.

Mr. Henry Wilson, one of the senators from Massachusetts, who took a very prominent part in promoting the adoption of these measures, has given a record of them under the title of "History of the Anti-slavery Measures of the Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth United States Congresses." To that work I may refer the reader for details.

(1.) The liberation of slaves used for insurrectionary purposes.

Slaves used in the

free.

From the commencement of hostilities the Confederates had employed their slaves in aid of military insurrection made purposes. The batteries which reduced Fort Sumter were constructed by negro hands; the labor of slaves lightened the toils of the rebel soldiers and augmented the power of rebel armies.

On the 6th of August, 1861, a bill was approved by the President making forever free all slaves so used. This was the only anti-slavery act passed at the extra session of Congress.

(2.) The prohibition of persons in the army returning fugitive slaves.

Army officers not to return fugitive slaves.

As the national armies advanced into the slaveholding districts, many fugitive slaves escaped to them in the hope of obtaining freedom, some coming with a view of offering their services to work or fight; some bringing intelligence; some, such as old persons, and particularly women, with their children, seeking refuge under the national flag.

Some officers of the army accorded to these fugitives protection; some refused to admit them into their lines; some drove them out; some even permitted slave-masters to search the camps and carry off their slaves.

On the 13th of March, 1862, the President approved a bill enacting an article of war dismissing from the service officers guilty of surrendering such fugitives.

Slavery abolished

in the District.

(3.) The abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. About three thousand persons were held in slavery in the District of Columbia, the seat of the national capital. They were subject to laws and ordinances of great severity, known under the title of the "Black Code." In the City of Washington itself the slave-trade was carried on.

On the 16th of April, 1862, a bill was signed by the President abolishing slavery in the District, granting compensation to the owners of slaves, and abrogating the Black Code.

On the approval of the act by the President," the en franchised bondmen assembled in their churches and offered up the homage and gratitude of their hearts to God for this boon of personal freedom."

(4.) The prohibition of slavery in the Territories.

The political condition of the Territories as to freedom Slavery prohibited or slavery had been, for many years before in the Territories. the secession of the Southern States, a subject of incessant and bitter controversy.

In volume i. the reader's attention has been repeatedly.

CHAP. LXIV.] ANTI-SLAVERY MEASURES OF CONGRESS.

593

drawn to this as one of the most prominent facts in the history of the Republic.

A bill was passed by Congress after vehement opposi tion from certain Democratic members and members from the Border States. It was, on June 10th, 1862, approved by the President, and is to the following effect:

An Act to secure Freedom to all Persons within the Territories of the United States.

"To the end that freedom may be and remain forever the law of the land in all places whatsoever, so far as it lies within the power or depends upon the action of the government of the United States to make it so, therefore,

"Be it enacted, That, from and after the passage of this act, there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in any of the Territories of the United States now existing, or which may at any time hereafter be formed or acquired by the United States, otherwise than in punishment of crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted."

(5.) The employment of colored soldiers.

Africans to be em

On the failure of McClellan's expedition in the Peninsula, it became apparent that the organization ployed in the army, of negro regiments could not be postponed. The President was therefore empowered to "receive into the service of the United States, for any military or naval service for which they may be found competent, persons of African descent, who shall be enrolled and organized under such regulations, not inconsistent with the Consti tution and the laws, as he may prescribe." It was also enacted that any slave of a person in rebelrelatives to be made lion rendering any such service shall forever thereafter be free, together with his wife, mother, and children, if they also belong to persons in rebellion. The bill was approved July 17th, 1862. (6.) The Confiscation Act.

and certain of their

free.

It had become plain that, though the Confederate authorities abstained from the employment of slaves as solII.-P P