American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-07-25
THE YANKEE ARMY TO BE REINFORCED
BY BLACK BRIGADES.u

ton was whether the negroes shall be
employed TO help the rebels. The time
had arrived, in his Judgment. when mil
itary officers should be compelled to call
into service all loyal men to suppress the
rebellion. Heretofore these negroes had
worked only for the rebels, and done all
labors of the camp for them. He was
IN favor of giving the President the pow
er to call into the service all the slaves of
rebels This Union must be preserved,
and rather than it should be destroyed
would organize great army. black and
white, and desolate every Southern State.
Before he would submit to the dissolution
OF the Union, he was willing to pass
conscript act, if necessary. and We might
as well draft negroes as any one else.
Mr.. Collamer, of Vermont, said the
reason the States had not called the ne
groes into the militia was because the
laws of the United States confined the
militia TO the whites.
Mr.. Sherman contended that all the
people of the country, without distinction
OF color, were liable to be called into the
service of the country, if circumstances
demand it. We must. to certain extent,
follow the bad example of the rebels,
and lnfuse more energy into our military
movements. Those rebels resort to all
sorts of expedients, and make the negroes
work and fight, and when that is done
why cannot we employ these negroes {?
They hang Union men, but we must not
talk of hanging traitors. In such way
we would never end this contest. He
thought the time had come when we
should array the whole force of the gov
eminent in earnest, and put down the re-
bellion, or else we will never succeed.
We cannot war against savages unless
we become part savage ourselves.
Mr.. Fessenden, of Maine, said this bill
proposed to meet any possible contingent
cy in lack of sufficient enlistments, and
authorizes the President to call on all
available for the service. He was in
favor of this bill, and considered it a
true precautionary measure. He was
perfectly willing to say that, in his own
State, there was not that willingness
shown to enlist as heretofore. This was
not from any want of heart or determine
( ton, to put down the rebellion, but the
people feel that the war must be con-
Quoted on different principles; that is,
that there should not be such extreme
/ tenderness shown towards traitors and
rebels. Soldiers do not like to be ex-
posed to hardships and death for the
protection of the property of rebels, or to
dig trenches when there are SO many
friends better capable and willing to do
this work.
The President and government may as
well understand that, if this policy is to
be followed by tenderness towards traits
ors and murderers, men will hesitate be-
fore they expose themselves to that kind
of life. He was utterly at loss to see
what objection there could be to it. Il
was contrary to every principle of war
fare to sacrifice our soldiers by the per-
formance of duty which friends stand
ready to execute. The correct princi>
Piles Of war are to weaken the enemy in
every way, and to strengthen yourself
If this thing is to go on, the conse-
quence may as we'll be understood by the
President and the government, for pub
lie opinion will not sustain them. The
people of this country are willing to &C
forward under any pressure, but if it i:
expected that they shall come forwarc
with all their hearts and souls, then be
would tell the President and the gener
ais that they must. reverse their practice
and their course He said this after due
reflection and elaboration, because h,
thought it ought to be understood tina
this white kid warfare will not do. H,
would use all the means known to pu
down the rebellion.
There was another thing he though
was mistake, which was the attempt t.
deceive the people by calling defeat
'grand strategic movement" He though
the people should be trusted and told tn
whole truth as to what was wanted b.
the country. Deal with them honestly
and every true Northern heart will re
spond. Deal with enemies as enemies
and friends as friends. 1t is folly to hes
itate to tell the people of the countr
precisely what the condition of things is
Ha bod baon amused nv seeinu q ca