Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-04-24
From Washington.

In the Senate, on the l4th inst, /:
petition was presented by Senator
Sumner, which was 700 feet long ant
signed 10y 5000 women, praying fol
the abolition of slavery throughout
the United States.
Senator Wilson called up the rcso
luton inqniring whether further leg
islation be necessary to enforce the
anti-slavecatching article of war.
Senator Grimes moved an amend
ment, to the effect that inquiry b.
made as to what additional measures
arc necessary to bring this war to {
speedy termination.
Mr.. Grimes made an excellent speech
on the whole topic suggested. He
commented upon the numerous devi
ces to evade the article of war, refer
ring to the recent order Of General
Hooker, enabling nine shareholders te
pass through Gen. Sickles's camp fol
fugitives, which was disobeycd amid
the cheers of his soldiers, by General
Sickles. Mr.. Grimes also called at
tention to the fact that the rebel off
GERS now in prison at Columbus, Ohio
are permitted to take Their slave wait
ers with them, and contrastcd this
treatment with that shown our men
in rebel hands. He alluded to the ac-
ton Of the Missouri State Guards,
who returned to officers in the rebel
army their slaves who had given us
valuable information, and this in spite
of the protest of the Iowa officers
whom they had served.
Mr.. Grimes said there were never
such opportunities for learning and
practising economy as we had and
thrown away He made an urgent
appeal to the Government to use the
means within its reach to suppress re-
bellion, without regard to prejudices
of caste or color, or rights of rebels
He urged that the forts on the south
ern coast be garrisoned with soldiers
of African descent, under white off
GERS, to save the lives of Northern SOL
diers in sickly seasons. He enumera-
ted strong reasons for this course, re-
ferring to their excellent service on
shipboard to the fact that one of the
best served guns on the Minnesota, at
the taking Of Hatteras was wholly
manned by blacks that whole boats
crew, including the coxswain, OH the
same vessel, were blacks, that they
had proved extremely useful to Du-
pont, never having deceived any Off
GERS of the feet. He paid glowing
tribute to naval officers who have new
er disgraced themselves by returning
fugitive slaves. At the close some of
the most conservative Republican Sen
ators went to Mr.. Grimes and express
scd their appreciation of the scnti-
ments be had uttered.
President Lincoln has sent the fol-
lowing message to Congress, announ.
cling that he has approved and signed
the bill for the abolition of slavery in
the District of Columbia:
FNlo,o Citizens of the Senate
and House of Representatives.
The act. entitled an act for the re-
lease of certain persons held to SER
vice or labor in the District Of Colum.
bia, has this day been approved and
signed. l have never doubted the
Constitutional authority of Congress
to abolish slavery in the District, and
| have ever desired to see the Nation
al Capital freed of the institution in
some satisfactory way /; hence there
has never been in my mind any ques-
ton on the subject, except one of ex.
pediency arising in view Of al the cir
If there be matters
within and about this ac.;s which might