The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-08-02

1Iett xny Sell 1diQ DOWN very DISTINCTLY the
rule which governed me upon the subject OF
arming negroes. I did it twice. ] stated,
and / believe first stated in this body that,
to my mind the true rule was when GEN
erai came into a1ountry and met negro. the
question was not whether he was slave or
no; but the question was, whether he was an
enemy or friend. I laid down the rule
that if be were an enemy. he should be treat
ed as an enemy; If a friend, he should be
treated as friend. He cannot determine
the question of slavery. It sometimes takes
a court two or three days to determine that
question, and it cannot be expected that a
general could do it on the instant.
AS to arming the negroes, have taken
the ground that that is a question entirely
for the President to determine. The law
does not declare what kind of men the Pres
ident shall enlist; but he is bound to enlist
a man, civilized man whom he can restrain
within the rules of civilized warfare, in or
der to carry on civilized war. Ifhe can take
a negro aud put him to that use, / have no
objection in the world. What object to is,
that this subject is brought into Congress
where we have no authority to decide it,
and where it is published in the debates, and
goes abroad all over the country to bewilder
men and to agitate them uselessly for no
cause at all. The President can Judge of
that question and determine it. That is my
doctrine. [ have not given any opinion
about it.
Mr.. LANE, of Kansas. The Senator dis
tinctly denounced the radicals and abolition
lists of Congress.
Mr.. CowAN. do.
Mr.. LANE. What is the distinction between
the radical men on this floor, and those who
claim to be conservative We desire this
war to be waged vigorously, earnestly, with
out reference to slavery, leaving that insti-
tuition to take care of itself. We desire that
the armies of the Union shall maintain them
selves in the country of the rebels. We de-
sire that the soldiers shall not be used for
the purpose Of protecting rebel property or
for restoring fugitive slaves. We desire the
loyal men Of the slave States, without refer
ence to color, to be called into the service
and armed. Those are the only distinctions
between us, who are denounced as radicals
and abolitionists, and you gentlemen, who
claim to be conservatives. We believe, sim
cerely, earnestly, that rebel property should
bear its proportion of the expenses of the
war, and therefore we vote for confsca-
ton bill. We believe that the slaves of trail
tors should be emancipated, and that they
should be allowed to come into our lines,
and be AIMED to. work and fight for the coun-
try, instead of against the country; that
they should be permitted to change sides.
Mr.. President, so far as 1 am concerned,
radical if you please, and abolitionist if you
please, stand here in my place in the Sen
ate to sustain the Government, the Presi-
dent, the Secretary of War, who believe TO-
day is one of the bulwarks of this nation,
one of the live men of this Administration,
to stand by him, 10 stand by the command
ers of our armies, to stand by the officers
of the Government, until victory is won and
the country restored; and then will go with
the Senator from Michigan and other Sena-
tors in holding them to a strict accountable
ity for errors committed or crimes perpe-
trated; but while the war is upon US let US
stand by each and every one of them, for
it is necessary to save the country. Let us
not attempt to change front in presence of
the enemy; disaster always attends such
strategy.