Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-07-29
Senator Collamer on Slavery.

Below We print the report OF the remarks OF
Senator Collamer on the Militia Bill We trust
such pupors the Rutland Conner and Bur
llngton Sentinel, who have so praised Senator
tollamer for his conservative views will give
their readers An opportunity to read ms opinion
of slavery as a Christian Institution
now come to another topic, and that Is the
second action Of the amendment proposed by the
Senator from Iowa The first section provides
that the President may receive into the service
OF the Uuted States, Tor the purpose OF construc-
ing intrenchments or performing camp service,
and so on, people Of African descent, and that
they shall be enrolled and organized under such
regulations consistent with the Constitution and
/ laws, as the President may prescribe. have no
objection To make to that, though do not wish
tn leave it precisely with that statement. new.
or could understand, and 90 not now understand
why the Government of the United States has
not the right to the Use oil every man IN it,
black or white, for it's defense, and every horse
every particle OF property, every dollar In mon
ey of every man IN It. That is the eminent do.
main. The details OF laws are only the mode Of
carrying the power into effect but as to the
power itself, | cannot conceive that there is any
doubt indeed do not know that anybody has
really sugs ested any As to the using OF colOred
men, that is entirelya question of expedency,
whether you need them, whether you can use
them to advantage ; and that depends on 50
many contingencies that have always supposed
the Presidents, the generals, the men WHO are
managing the war, actually engineering 1t along,
it you please, would lay their hands upon and
! N ~ tna ,yh, ,h
they found necessary. II gentlemen think 1t is
any better to put It into law tina, the Pres-
dent may do that, il that will help the matter,
have no sort OF objection
Mr. Wilson, OF Massachusetts,. 1t is necess-
airy.
MIR. Colamer. Then have no objection 1t
is mere detail OF u mode OF getting at Il.
have not much To say about my confidence IN
oolOred men making good soldiers do not
know much about it. can only say that we
did use them in the last war with England
saw very nearly one whole regiment of them in
the service of the United States in lSl2-l3.
cannot exactly say that served with them
though | was very near them.
The second section of the amendment provide,
that when any man or boy OF African descent
who by the laws OF any State owes service Oh
labor to any person who during the recent re
bellion has borne arms against the United States
or adhered to their enemies by giving aid OF
comfort, shall render 10 the United States an,
such service as is provided in the preceding sec
ton, he, his mother, and his wife and children
shall forever thereafter be free, any law to tn
contrary notwithstanding, have u word t,
say about that. am constrained to say, wheth
or Ii is to the honor Or dlshonor of any country
that, iu the land OF slavery. no male slave ha
a child zone IL known as father to n child n
slave has a wife, marriage being repudated i
the slavesystem. This Is tho condition of thing
and wonderful as 1t may bo, we are told tina
this Is u Christian institution
MIR. Wilson OF Massachusetts. A Christian
iEing institution
Mr.. Collamer 1t is said to DO Christia
Institution sustained by, oOuntensnced by III