Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-17
Washington Politics.

"AshsE8tDh ctlNECss
Correspondence Of the st. Louis Democrat
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE bill giving th
President power for enlisting and arming negrOe
Is certain to pass by handsome majority.
The House passed the Senate Joint resolution
! apPropriating $4,000 for preparing 200 medals
with suitable devices, to be awarded to sue
| privates and nOn-cOmmissioned officers as ma
distinguish themselves in battle
! The House voted to suspend the law author
lzing the payment of officers for services actu
ally rendered in Fremont's old department, anc
| providing for commissioners to examine ant
adjudicate such claims
Congress thought pretty certain to adjourn
! the hrst Of next week, unless the present Occu
patious of the President should prevent him
from having leisure to examine and sign impor-
/ tRnt bills.
! The tax bill is likely to be amended 80 that
| appointments for collectors viii not be sent to
tha Senate, at the present session.
Senator Chandler received yesterday aud TO-
day perfect food of letters from persons in
New York and Pennsylvania, thanking him fol
having had the courage to make his recent
speech in defense of Stanton and relative to the
recent conduct Of the war in the Peninsula
Senator Kings bill for enlisting negroes, was
approved by every msmber of the military com
mittee, before its Introduction. It liberates all
slaves so enlisted.
MeSsrs. Fessenden, Wilson, and other Sena-
tors, bitterly denounced Secretary Stanton's
press censorship system.
1t is supposed now that one object of the War
departments temporary suspension of news
about the Richmond battles, was to delay the
news getting to England. It turns out that
even this was a complete failure. as It is now
known that the rebels had supplied the Balti-
more secessiOnists with full files of the Rich
mond papers up to last Saturday, which was
sent eff by the last steamer to each Of the prom
inent London and Paris journals.
1t Is whispered in well posted circles that
within week, important changes in the war
policy will be announced by a proclamation of
the President. Among these will be the author
ity to generals commanding departments to en-
pioy for military purposes, all negroes that sp-
proach the lines There has been heavy pres
sure among Republicans for more earnest ard
vigorous measures for the conduct of the war,
and several congressman are delaying now only
to unite with delegation expected to wait on
the President tomorrow as soon as ho can re-
ceiye them.
Major Gen. Lew. Wallace was ssrenaded at
tho National Hotel last night An immense
crowd was IN attendance. On making his ap-
pearanco on the balcony, Gen. Wallace was
greeted with uproariOus cheering, which was
continued after almost every sentence of his
speech. He said he accepted the compliment
not for himself, but for his brave comrades he
had left behind him, and who had won,for him
the distinction his friends were conferrinr. He
supposed they were mostly Indanisns who were
rendering the compliment, and had peculiar
pride in accepting it as such There were pa
culiar circumstances uader which Indianisns
had entered the war. They were under cloud ;
they had been pronounced towards by authori-
ty. They bad written history different now
for the regiment be had the honor to head had
sworn, as they took their banners, to remember
Buens Vista, and wipe out the stain. The other
day they had returned those banners te the halls
from which they came. at Fort Donelson they
had been shot to shreds. At Pittsburg Landing
they were almost shot away, and still had car
red Of their whole Union, but they had never
waved save over victory for the nation and
honor to the 'cOwaTdly Indianians."
lie was no politician. He had been at the
Senate session to-day, and had found the uues
ton to he whether they should use the niger or
not. The audience here broke out into tumult-
uous cries of mo. " ." Yes :" the yeses largely
predOminatiug. The general remarked that he
found his audience very much as he found the
Ssnate-considerably divided Let him give his
answer 1t should be that of a soldier, not cf a
politician. As a soldier, he believed it his duty
TO use every means of success God had given
him. If he could save his soldiers from IN
healthy work by having negroes dig trenches or
erect ford6caiiOns, he would hold himself mex
cusa6le not to use them.
The cheering here drowned out his voice for
some minutes. As silence began to be restored
a voice said That's right; no guns, but
spades for them" " Well" resumed the rene
raj, " after putting these negroes in the army in
positions of great peril, aud after Teaping great
advantages from them wouldn't it be unjust to
leave them without arms TO defend themselves -
UpTOaTious cheering again drowned every
thing for some minutes The general continued
by saying that he would not wound the sensi-
tive feelings of the soldiers by calling negroes
to their aid in fighting except in cases of great
emer. ency, and then they would be glad to vel
come assistance from any quarter In justice to
those negroes who had rendered assistance in
the hour of peril, he would at tic end of the war
give them their freedom. The cry came, though
be hoped it false, but it came, that the army
of the Potomac was in danger. If so, the gov
ernment was ia danger.
Ought Congress then to hesitate? We want
soldiers, we want them quickly Was it safe
then for Congress to 60 away without passing
drafting law to be used. JEFF. Davis has drafted
long ago. The rebels managed better than we,
because they were more desperate. Oh that
the voice of the people could infuse backbone
into these people that are governing them. He
hoped they @Onld inaugurate a new policy. He
never wanted to march his column again through
a country filed with everything they needed be-
longing to armed rebels, and yet not be able to
use it to make his soldiers comfortable.
The general spoke some little time longer,
and retired amid unbounded applause and
cheers for Lew. Wallace, the Hoosier States
fighting man, etc.
Senator Lane, of Indiana, followed in the
same strain, and Schuyler Colfax is now (mid-
mighty making highly significant speech, fully
confirming the intimation above given, respect
ing probable change Of administrative policy.
Ee declared with great emphasis that from this
day forward the war is to be conducted on war
principles.