| Location | Easton, Maryland |
|---|---|
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Names Mentioned | – |
| Date | November 2, 1864 |
| Document Title | Provost Marshal of the 1st District of Maryland to the Commander of the 3rd Separate Briade of the 8th Army Corps |
| Document Description | Capt. Andrew Stafford to General H. H. Lockwood, 4 Nov. 1864, filed with M-1932 1864, Letters Received, ser. 12, RG 94 [K-4]. General Henry H. Lockwood, commander of the 3rd Separate Brigade, forwarded Stafford's letter to General Lew Wallace, commander of the Middle Department and 8th Army Corps, proposing "that immediate steps be taken to put a stop to these most outrageous and inhuman proceedings." In a previous letter, written the day after emancipation took effect in Maryland, Captain Stafford had already informed General Lockwood that citizens of Talbot County were ignoring the new constitution "so far as it relates to Slavery" and were "endeavoring to intimidate the colored, and compel them to bind their children to them, under the old apprenticeship law." Lockwood had also forwarded that letter to General Wallace, endorsing upon it his own belief that unless federal troops were stationed in "the lower counties" to enforce emancipation and protect the freedpeople, they "will still be slaves in truth though free in name." (Freedom, ser. I, vol. I: doc. 151.) (From The Wartime Genesis of Free Labor, 510-511.) |
| Transcription |
Easton [Md.], November 4th 1864 General: - There is a persistant determination of the disloyal people of this County, to totally disregard the laws of Maryland, in regard to Slavery. Immediately after the Governer issued his Proclamation, declaring the New Constitution adopted, a rush was made to the Orphan's Court of this County, for the purpose of having all children under twenty one years of age, bound to their former owners, under the apprentice law of the State. In many instances, boys of 12 and 14 years are taken from their parents, under the pretence that they (the parents) are incapable of supporting them, while the younger children are left to be maintained by the parents. This is done without obtaining the parent's consent, and in direct violation of the provisions of the Act of Assembly, and almost in every instance by disloyal parties. Two of the members of the Orphan's Court being bitter enemies of the present organic law of the state, seem to be so prejudiced agains these poor creatures, that they do not regard their rights. The Court, as yet, has never taken any testimony relative to the capability of the parents to support their children, and where the parents are willing to bind them, they have been denied the choice of homes. In plain terms— the Rebels here are showing an evident determination to still hold this people in bondage and call upon the Orphan’s Court to give their proceeding the sanction of law. My office is visited every day by numbers of these poor creatures, asking for redress, which I have not the power to give. They protest before the court against binding their children to their former masters, who have dubtless treated them cruelly, and yet that same Court declares them vagrants, before they have enjoyed liberty a single week. — in many instances before they have ever been permitted to leave their masters. The law in all instances requires the child or the parents’ consent, but it is not done by Talbot County law. I am fearful there will be trouble here if measures are not taken to stop the proceeding. Loyalty is outraged, and justice has become a mockery. I can furnish you with the names of the parties, —aggrieving and aggrieved— but am merly writing now, to inform you of the state of affairs existing here. Had I authority in the premises, I would stop the proceeding: Or did I occupy the position of a military command, I should lay an injunction on the Court until I could hear from you. But as it is, I can only warn you of impending danger. Hoping you will receive this in kindness, and believe me actuated by patriotic motives in writing it, I remain Respectfully Your Obedient Servant Andrew Stafford |
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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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