The Portland daily press., 1862-07-14

HON. WIN. P. FESSENDEN,

In the United States Senate, July 9th, on the
bill dmeRddt0ry of The act Of l195, calling
forth the militia, dc.
Mr. Crimes of Iowa, offered an amendment
to the effect that there shall be no exemption
from the performance of military duty, under
this act, on account of color or lineage. A de-
bate sprung up in which Mr.. FESSENDEN
participated, and spoke as follows:
This BILL sir, is thought to be an object of
necessity, and is designed, as understand it
and we may as well tell the truth about it, for
we have nothing to conceal hereto meet any
possible contingency which may be supposed
to arise from any difficulty in raising troops by
enlistment at once, as soon as they may be re-
quired; and therefore it is proposed to give
the President power to call out the militia,
and to call on all loyal persons without dis
tinction of color, for such time as to make
their services available. That is the position !:
and sir, am in favor of this BILL if it is thought
advisable by the Committee on Military Affairs
to pass 1t. / don't know, sir, but it may be
necessary to go a step further and to provide
specifically for calling out men by drafting,
and am ready to do that if it is thought adj
visable. 1t is not advisable at this moment,
but as Congress is to adjourn very soon, I'M
derstand that by this bill it is proposed to meet
any contingency that may arise during the adj
journment of Congress, and as such, think it
wise and precautionary measure. But sir,
It may be worth while TO inquire why this con-
tingency is possible, and we may as well look
at the matter in the face. 1t is because appre-
tensions are entertained that there may not be
that readiness to enlist that there was hereto
fore, and l am perfectly willing TO state here
that in my own State there is not that readi-
ness to enlist. There is not that enthusiasm
with regard to enlistments Have they lost
int. Ia H. NJ.
Have they lost anything of that determination
which existed formerly to do anything and ev-
erything 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 prin-
ciples than those upon which it has been con-
Quoted hitherto; that is to say. there should
not be, on the part of the military authorities
of the country, that extreme tenderness and
delcacy toward men who have no tenderness
to us except that of the wolf toward the lamb:
but they should be met, if not in 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,
without any necessity, to stand guard over the
enemy's property and protect it while they are
fighting against us, and be shot down by con-
cealed traitors while they are doing this. They
do not feel that it is just to them, that they who
have volunteered to fight the battles of their
country, should be employed TO dig bitches
and throw up intrenchments exposed to all
the miserable consequences of such a sort of
life about the swamps of the Chickahominy or
elsewhere, while at the same time there are
numbers and abundance of men acclmated
who are ready to volunteer their services to
do the same work. and thus save our soldiers
Now, sir, speak this as truth which is
well understood, and the government of the
United States and the military authorities of
of
if this policy is to be followed, and we are 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 muir
derers, that the people will hesitate to come
forward until they know and feel that they are
no longer to be exposed TO that kind of lile
Sir, why Is it so? Why are we so tender to-
ward these traitors? What makes some gen.
tlemen so sensitive the moment we speak of
employing negroes and the slaves of the rebels
in the service of the country? Men who pro-
fess to feel, and am willing to believe do feel
the deepest interest in the salvation of the
country, why do they jump to their feet the
moment the idea is propagated that we are TO
employ men who are ready and willing and
able to perform these services to preserve the
lives Of soldiers Of their own and other States?
What violation of the principles of warfare is
proposed? Why should we not weaken the
enemy, and attack him in his weakest point?
DO You say We are proposing an abolition or
emancipation scheme? Not at all. We are
simply proposing to use those means i'm the ar
my which are best for u.s. and to use those best
able to perform particular kind of service
Did anybody ever hear of nation that was at
war with any other country, that would sacri-
fce the lives OF their own men by making them
do kind of work when there were about them
friends who were willing and anxious to re-
lieve them from that work? And out of what
=. 4 n
at loss TO Imagine any. i cannot conceive
the slightest ground for it, or reason why the
men who come to our camps and tender their
services against the enemies of their country,
should be repealed and driven out and our own
soldiers sacrificed in performing duty the
other men are ready to perform. Why, sir, it
1t is contrary to every principle Of warfare |
am not soldier, but undertake to say that a
general who conducts campaign upon such
principles is no general at all He has forgot
or never knew the first principles upon which
to conduct war, which is to weaken the enc
my and strengthen himself have looked up-
on this thing quite as long as feel disposed to-
do not feel disposed to blame anybody and
have no doubt, not the slightest in the world,
that everybody feels as anxious as do to close
this war, and to close it etiectually But do
say that mistake has been made in this thing.
Too great tenderness has been used, under the
delusive idea that these rebels were to be
coaxed back by tenderness. Sir. YOU cannot
deal with sayages in that way. And the man
who deliberately sets himself to overthrow the
institutions and interests of the country for
purposes of selfish ambition is worse than a
savage. And such is a description of the lead
ers OF this rebellion, and the great mass of their
followers are uneducated and willing to fol-
low those about them. Now, sir, are we to 90
on in this way? If we do, the consequences
must be well understood by the government.
the President, the Cabinet, generals, or who
ever else sanctions this mode of proceeding
They must reverse their course, or let me saw
however public opinion may sustain the war
ii will not sustain them
And, sir, this is not from any feeling for alb
clifton or emancipation or any sort of pecu-
liar sentiment which gentlemen are so fond of
attributing TO those on this side of the cham
Der, but from the absolute necessity of the
case, from the common sense of the thing. Let
me ask my friend from Delaware tMr. Sauls-
bury), If he was engaged in a contest where
his own life was in danger and peril and the
servants Of his enemy should come to him and
say: I'VE viii give you aid that may save YOU
dig trenches, or do anything for you.. would
he repei them? Any man who would act thus
has not even common sense, and has not capa-
city to manage his own life affairs. have said
thus much, sir, simply to illustrate my idea,
which is this, that If we expect the people of
this tn ard a.