The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-07-19
Remarks or Mr.. Fessenden ON the CON
~ duct ~ she War aRd the call for NOON

VI NAIs eODGuOe0 ON the cOns
Il duct ~ she War aad the call for TROOPS,
bg Mr. FESSENDENl Rep., Me. eThis bill cir
is thought to be an object of necessity, and i.
designed, as understand it-and we may as well
tell the truth about it, for we have nothing to
conceal hereto meet any possible contingenc,
which may be supposed to arise from any diff.
Guilty 10 raising troops by enlistment at once. an
soon as they Smay be required; and therefore
it is proposed to give the President power ID
call out the militia, and to call on all loyal per
sons Without distinction OF color, for such time
as to make their services available q That's the
position, and sir, am in favor Of this bill. if II
is thought advisable by the Committee on Mill.
tary Affairs to pass it., don't know, sir, but i,
may be necessary to goa step further, and to
provide specifically for calling out men bv draft.
ing. And am ready to DO that if it is thought
advisable. 1t lie not advisable at this moment,
but % Congress Is to adjourn very soon i. uti.
derstand that by this bill it is proposed to meet
any contingency that may arise during the ad.
joufnment of Congress, and as such think it a
wise- and precautionary measure. But, sir, it
may be worth while to inquire Why this contiHa.
gency is possible, and Ne may a. we'll look at
the matter in the face. 1t is because apprehen,
sions are entertained that there will not be that
readiness to enlist that therew heretofore,
and am perfectly willing to state here that in
my own State there is not that readiness to en-.
list. There is not that enthusiasm with regard
to enlistments. Have they lost any interest. in
the war? Not q particle Have they lost any.
thing of that determination which existed for
merly to do anything and everything which may
be necessary to put down this rebellion? Not at
all. Not In any shape or form. But they do
feel, SIR, that the war must be conducted upon
some different principles than those upon which
it has been conducted hitherto; that is to say,
there should not be, on the part Of the military
authorities of the country that extreme tender.
ness and delicacy toward men who have no ten
derness to us except that of the wolf toward the
lamb; but they should be met, if not 10 the same
spirit, yet in spirit able to resist and conquer
them. Sir, our soldiers do not like it, and they
do not feel easy when they are called upon, With.
out any necessity, to stand guard over the enc.
my's property aud protect it while they are
cesled traitors while they are doing this. They
do not feel that it is just to them that they who
have volueteered to fight the battles of their
country should be employed to dig bitches and
throw up intrenchments, exposed to all the mis-.
cradle consequences of such . sort of life about
the swamps Of the Chickahominy or elsewhere,
while at the same time there are numbers and
abundance of men acclimated who are ready to
volunteer their services, to do the same work,
and thus save our soldiers Now, cir, speak
this as truth. which is well understood, and the
Government of the United States and the mill.
tary authorities of the United States may a. well
understand that If this policy is to be followed,
and We a:e not to avail ourselves of the services
OF men who are too ready to render all these
services out OF tenderness to rebels and traitors
and murderers, the people will hesitate to come