... Its policy
can not but be peace--peace with all nations and people."
On the 5th of May, the Relay House, at the junction of the Washington
and Baltimore and Ohio Railroads, was occupied by United States troops
under General Butler, and, on the 13th of the same month, he moved a
portion of the troops to Baltimore, and took position on Federal
Hill--thus was consummated the military occupation of Baltimore. On the
next day, reenforcements were received; and, on the same day, the
commanding General issued a proclamation to the citizens, in which he
announced to them his purpose and authority to discriminate between
citizens, those who agreed with him being denominated "well disposed,"
and the others described with many offensive epithets. The initiatory
step of the policy subsequently developed was found in one sentence:
"Therefore, all manufacturers of arms and munitions of war are hereby
requested to report to me forthwith, so that the lawfulness of their
occupations may be known and understood, and all misconstruction of
their doings avoided."
There soon followed a demand for the surrender of the arms stored by the
city authorities in a warehouse. The police refused to surrender them
without the orders of the police commissioners. The police
commissioners, upon representation that the demand of General Butler was
by order of the President, decided to surrender the arms under protest,
and they were accordingly removed to Fort McHenry.
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