Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-07-23
Aiming he Blacks.

Senator Rice of Minnesota, a Bieckin-
ridge democrat, and the decided leader Of
all the democracy and half-breeds and full
breed Indians Of the northeast, from TT.
Crawford to the north pols and from Lake
Superior to VancouYra Island on the Pa
ciiie Ocean, has come out for arming the
blacks and for using any and all honorable
means for suppresslng the rebellion. The
following remarks by Sen. Rice delivered
on the 9Th Of July in the U. S. Senate will
show how he stands:
WAsHNeToN,aJuly s.
On the question of arming the negroes,
Mr.. Rice, OF Minnesota, made speech,
which was marked significant. That an
old and bitter Breckenridge demccratshoald
go further for prosecuting the war vigor-
ously than the border State loyalists, pro-
voked special notice. He declared that VIC
must now choose between acknowledging
the Southern Confederacy or using all the
means God has given US for cruising the
contederacy. Great Britain had long en-
ployed regiments Of blacks in Canada, and
Washington and jackson had used them
successfully. If right for them, Why is it
wrong US! The rebels made use Of torpe-
does, poisons, and all barbarous means Of
warfare, and yet We hesitated as to whetL-
er it would be right, and humane, and
civilized, to let negroes shoot at them.
By this time Garrett Davis was thorough
" stirred up. He started off in his usual
strain, Negroes of no account for Military
purposes" :" ouldn't fight" "Barbarous
and inhuman to arm them" Murder. p
"Rapep Massacreing Of the Innocent
"Torture, universal anarchy and desolation,"
ETC., etc, according to the catalogue Of hor-
rors.
Mr. Wilkinson referred him to Jackson'r
use Of negroes at New Orleans, and with
his address Of thanks to them afterwards
but DAVIS lodged very skilfuIly by declar-
ing that it was urgent necessity, and none
now. He complained that Senators from
the extreme Northern States were willing
to bring the horrible danger Of arming
slaves upon the border States, and asked
why won't you listen to US who know moro
about the slaves than you do?
At least, he was willing that negroes
should be used for loading cannon and
swabbing and firing on certain occasions;
but he prayed that these Senators, if they
had any regard for innocent women and
children, not to arm the blacks.
Mr.. Rico at once replied that he Icgret-
ted that the Senator had found no subjects
for his eloquenco in arming Indians at Pea
Ridge, or that he Lad not come down later
and denounced the use Of the maddening
compound of gunpowder and whiskey at
Richmond, but these were only actions of
the rebels. The Senator'S eloqpence was
reserved for other purposes.
Mr.. Davis, interrupting, asked, ado the
barbarities of The rebels justify barbarties
in us"
Mr.. Rice continued I will answer the
Senator very briefly. If stranger had
entered the chamber during the Senator'S
speech he would have supposed him to be
an AMBASSADOR from the Southern Confeder-
acy.
Mr.. Garrett Davis, excitedly-'It is rot
so.n Several Senators called out "order."
This little passage between an old Brock
inridge Democrat and Border State coer-
zionist excited great attention.
Mr.. Davis lost his temper and got deer
dedlv the worst of the debate.
Mr.. Rice resumed-'Let the Senator say
what he please; he will not 3iscompose
me-"
Mr.. Davis (crabbedly)-"Well don't
misrepresent me-"
Mr.. Rice replied that che bad represent
ed him fairly, and given him the same
spirit Of his speech" and then went on
urging the necessity Of putting forth our
every power. The Senator was willing
negroes should, in case Of necessity be
used for loading and swabbing and even
firing cannon. Why not, he would ask
the Senator, let them be used for loading |
and swabbing and firing cannon