The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-18
Spirited Debate in the Senate
Chamber.
PROJECT OF ARMING The BLACKS.
Garrett Davis Gets Stirred Up
SENATOR RICE WARNS HIM
PRESS CENSORSHIP DENOUN NCED
pee vi Dispatch 10 the Chicago Trib une.

WASHINGTON. Juiy Q.
The Senate had long session today on
the policy of arming the negroes. Preston
King had a new bill which he moved as an
amendment to Mr.. Wilson's militia bill
already before the Senate.
1t authorizes the enls ment OF negroes
to be armed and equipped as soldiers, and
used for digging entertainments or any other
military purposes for which they might be
wanted.
Messrs. Salisbury and Carlyle opposed
such attempts to elevate the miserable
negro.
MIR. Sherman argued that the rebels had
persistently used negroes for all military
purposes, and we ought to do the same. He
warmly urged more vigorous and ernest
prosecution of the war.
MIR. Fessenden made a fne speech de-
nouncing the milk and water policy of call
ing defeats strategy, and trying to he .nbug
the people with flaming bulletins of victo~
ries that we're really disgraces, declaring
that this white,kid-glove warfare wouid not
do any longer, and insisting on the use of
negroes like every other means and power
God has given US.
Mr.. Riceis speech was markedly signi6-
cant. That an old and bitter Breckenridge
Democrat should 60 further for prosecuting
the war vigorously than the Border State
loyalists, provoked special notice. He de-
clared that We must now choose between
acknowledging the Southern confederacy.
or usipg all the means God has given us to
crush the confederacy. Great Britain had
long employed regiments Of blacks il, "a.
| da, and Washington and jackson had used
them successfully. If right for them, why
was it wrong for us? The rebels made use
of torpedoes, poisons, and all barbarcus
means of warfare, and yet We hesitated as
to whether it would tie right and h1mane,
and civilized to let negroes shoot at them.
Mr.. Wilson of Massachusetts, alter pic.
turing on the present military condition,
complained of rose>colored military and
newspaper bulletins from before Richmond,
and urged the immediate necessity of more
vigorous prosecution of the war.
By this time Garrett Davis was thor.
oughiy stirred up. He started off 10 bis
usual strain, "Negroes of no account for
military purposes" "Couldn't fight"
"Barbarous and iHhuman to arm them."
''Murder." Grape" "Massacreing of the
innocent" Torture" "Universal anar-
chy and confusion" etc. etc. according to
the catalogue of horrors.
MIR, Wilkinson referred him to Jackson's
| use of negroes at New Orleans and with bis
address of thanks to them afterward, but
Davis lodged very skilfully by declaring
this was urgent necessity and none now.
He complained that Senators from the ex.
treme 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 more 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 be prayed that these
Senators, if they had any regard for limo.
cent women and children, not to arm the
blacks.
Mr.. Rice at once replied that be regretted
that the Senator had found no subjects for
his eloquence in erming Indians at Pea
Ridge or that he had not come down later
and denounced the use of the maddening
compound of whisky gunpowder at Rich-
mond, but these were only actions of the re-
bells. The Senator's eloquence was reserved
for other purposes.
Mr.. Davis, interrupting, asked, "Do the
barbarities of the rebels justify barbarities
in Us 2"
Mr.. Rice continued: l 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 Oonfed,
eracy.
Mr.. Garrett Davis, excitedly-"It is not
co." Several Senators called out, 'erder."
This little passage between the old Breck-
inridge democrat and Border State coer-
clonlst excited great attention.
Mr. Davis lost his temper and got deci.
dedly the worst of the debate.
Mr.. Rice resumed-"Let the Senator say
what he please be will not discompose
me-"
Mr.. Davis (crabbedly)-"well, don't
h.isrepresent me-"
Mr.. Rice replied that "he had represent.
ed him fairly, and given the same spirit of
bis speech" and then went on urging the
necessity of putting forth our every power.
The Senator was willing negroes should, in