The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-08-01

thirst, and all the hardshps of war. l knew
that you loved the land of your nativity. and
that, like ourselves, you had to defend all that
is most dear to man; but you surpass my
hopes. have found in you, united to those
to great deeds.
Mr.. Cowan, of Pennsylvania, followed
and condemned the policy of employing me-
groes in the service of the Government, in
reply to which
Mr.. WILKINSON said do not in.
tend to prolong this discussion, nor to make
any remarks to any extent myself but the
Senator from Pennsylvania alluded to the
fact that the British in the revolutionary
war employed Indians, and that the civi.
LIKED world looked down upon that act with
condemnation, and think he intended to
draw parallel between the employment OF
the Indians by the British Government and
the proposition that is now before the
Senate.
MIR. COWAN. If the Senator will al.
low me will save him the trouble OF beat.
ing down that proposition. [ made no
such proposition and if he has got his
speech fitted to that, be might just as well
give it up, because l neither made it or in,
tended it. l stated that the question arose
in that case and the question arises in this
case; and the proper question is, who is to
decide it? t
Mr.. WILKINSON. The Senator claims
to be very close and astute constitutional
lawyer; and if he did not mean anything by
abiding to the employment of Indians by
the British in the war OF the revolution, he
certainly should not have referred to it. 1
rose simply to call the attention of the Sem
ate to the act of General Washington dur.
ing the revolutionary war when be called
upon the States to organize the slaves. The
question was asked the other day in the de.
bate by my colleague of the Senator from
Kentucky, and be denied that it was so.
Now, sir, here is preamble to an act of
the legislature of Rhode Island, which l
will read, showing that they based their &C
ton upon the special request of the Com
mander-in Chief, Gen eral Washington, and
it goes on to provide that the slaves, Indian
slaves as we'll as negroes, should be organ
lied and mustered into the service of the
United States.
Whereas, for the preservation of the rights
and liberties of the United States, it is neces.
sary that the whole powers of the Govern
ment should be eXerted in recruiting the con.
tinental battalons; and whereas his Excellen'
cy General Washington hath inclosed to this
State proposal, made to him by Brigadier
General Varnum. to enlist into the battalions
raising by the State such slaves as should be
willing to enter into the service; and whereas
history affords US frequent precedents OF the
wisest, the freest, and bravest nations having
liberated their slaves and enlisted them as SOL
ders to fight in defense of their country; also
whereas the enemy, with great force, have
part of this State, and this State is obliged to
raise a very considerable number of troops for
its own immediate defense. whereby it is in a
manner rendered impossible for this State to
furnish recruits for the said two battaliOns
without adopting the said measure so recon-.
mended:
1t is voted and resolved, That every able
bodied negro, mulatto, or Indian man slave in
this State may enlist into either of the said two
battaliOns, to serve during the continuance of
the present war with Great Britain: that every
slave o cnlisLiug shall be entitled to and re-
ceive all the bounties, wages, and encourage.
ments, allowed by the Continental Congress to
any soldier enlisting into their service.
1t is furthervoted and resolved, That every
slave so enlisting shall, upon his passing mus.
ter before Colonel Christopher Greene, be inn
mediatelY discharged from the service of his
master or mistress, and be absolutely free, as
though he had never been incumbered with
any kind of servitude or slavery; and in case
such slave by sickness or otherwise. be rem
dered unable to RI. 4intan himself, he shall not
be chargeable to his master or mistress, but
shall be supported at the enpense OF the State.
The Senator from Pennsylvania urges the
same objection to the employment of slaves
that was urged by the gentleman from
Kentucky the other day. 1t is said to be
inhuman and barbarous; that they would
become savage, and that they are savages
N their nature. General Washington, who
was STAKEHOLDER ard knew the character
of the negro as we'll as the Senator from
Kentucky or the Senator from Pennsylvania,
who was as humane, as kind, as benevolent,
and as Christian in his character as any
gentlemen opposed to this measure by a
solemn official act, called upon the States to
muster their slaves into the service, that be,
the greatest captain of bis age, might lead
them on to battle and to victory. Do we
ask any more? Can the Senator from Vir.
gln!a, who spoke so eloquently against this
measure the other day, representing State
whose greatest honor is derived from the
fact that it contains within its bosom the
bones of that great general, can he Or any,
body urge single argument against this
proposition of the Senator from New York
that could not be urged against this procla.
nation of General Washington? Sir, there
is no objection to it except the objection
that arises from certain element and from
those who are more tender OF slavery and
its rights than they are of the rights of the
Government Of the United States. saw @
gentleman today of high character, who
had Just had conversation with Governor
Curtin, of Pennsylvania, as to the probable
action OF tie people of the state touching
this call of the President of the United
States for troops, aud as the conversation
was related to me, Governor Curtin ex.
pressed very great doubts whether they
could be induced to enlist under the present
circumstances. The Governor did not tell
this to me, but told it to gentleman whom
l met in front of Wizards Hotel this
morning, who said he had had conversa-
tion with Governor Curtin on the subject.
Mr.. COWAN. have not had con-