The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-03-05

~ - ~ M n M
the white race, BY the value Of the slave
toll but every true freeman will spurn the
result. ~
But, sir, there il another principle t
which the gentleman from Kentucky, (Mr
Crittenden) alluded to in this bill, and which
I think equally erroneous. I he discusses
this bin as though 1t Involved question o
Legislative power, and denied our right t.
pass this measure because il would interfere
with the claim Of shareholders to their
slaves c II .3t's'7~
Now, sir, I deny that this bill presents
the question ofspower for our consideration
or determinationat al. It requires us tc
to nothing more than to exercise our dis.
cretion in the selection Of the means for
carrying into execution powers expressly
delegated by the Constitution to Con-
gress. ~ ioa eH.5 .-t
When The Constitution says, "the Con.
gress shall have power to raise and support
armies, to provide and maintain navy
and cnjoins the duty to suppress insu,rec.
ton and repel invasion, It settles the whole
question cf power, and leaves 10 us the
choice Of the means through whict to exc.
cute the power, the only limitatinp being
that the means selected shall be appropri.
ate to the end. five should strike out Of
this bill the provision for enlisting persons
Of African descent, and permit it to stand
without specification in respect to race or
color would not every man acknowledge the
appropriateness of the measure as means
If giving life and vigor to the provisions Of
the Constitution, which have cited? Strike
out color, say nothing about race, and every
objection that has been urged against the
bill falls to the ground. What follows !
Why tn whole question is resolved into
one Of expediency.
Is it expedient to employ the black race
in the naval and military services Of the
Government ? The power is ample, the
means appropriate, and what shall be the
color This, as have said, presents a
question Of mere expediency, and Of this we
are to judge, first, by such fights as the his
tory of the country will furnish, and second
ly by the circumstances that now surround
US. zEsv, -sg
The history of the country furnishes
much valuable information touching the
question Of the employment of colorcd men
in the military and naval service of the
nation. The presentation ofa few facts in
this regard may not be improbable, as we
may thereby learn the action Of Congress
and the colonies, and the opinions of some
OF our most eminent men upon this ques-
tion. During the revolutionary war, many
Of the colonies made pIovision for the enlist
ment of persons Of African descent in the
army, One OF the most interesting eases of
colonial action is that of Rhode Island, as it
commits the Father.of his Country to the
policy and expediency of enlistiny such
persons in the military seryice. That case
had its origen in the following letter from
General Varnum to General Washington
~ cAMp, January Q, 177s
Sir: The two battallions from the state Of Rhode
Island being small. and there being . necessity Of
the States furnishing additional number to make
up their proportion in the continental army, the
field officers has represen nted 10 the proprety Of
making one temporary battalion from two; so that
one entire corps Of officers may repair to Rhode
Island in order to receive and prepare the recruits
for the field. IL 10 imagined that a battalion OF
sroes be easily raised there. Should that meas
ure be adopted, or recruits obtained upon any 9TH
principle, the service will be advanced The field
officers who go upon this command IRE Col. Greene,
Lieut.. Col 0lney, aud Major Ward seven Captains
Surgeon and mate, one Adjutant and one Chaplain.
am your Exceliencys most obedient Servant.
His excellency GenI wAsHIsoroS l1.- ). 4 +
Upon the RECEIPT of that letter General
Washington was strongly impressed with
the counsel in respect to the enlistment Of
persons of color in Rhode Island, that he
sent on the same day the following commu-
to the Assembly Of that colony in.
Guiding the letter of Gen. Varnum: ai
HEADQUARTERS, Jan. Q, 177s.
from Gen. yarnum to me. upon the means which
might be adopted for completing the Rhode Island
troops to their full proportion In the eontnentaI
N.Y.. have nothing to say, In addition to what
wrote on the 29th Of last month, this Important
subject, bvt TO desire that you win give the officers
employed In this business all the assistance.
am with great respect, sir, your most 0bedient
servant. GEORGE WASHINGTON.
On the reception Of this communication
from Gen, Washington; the Assembly Of
Rhode Island took almost immediate action,
and the following preamble and resolution
informs us of the result:
"Whereas. for the preservation of the
rights and liberties of the United States, it
is necessary that the whole powers of the
should be exerted in recruiting
the continental battalions and whereas. his
Gen. Washington, hath inclosed
to this State proposal made to him by Brig.
Genl Varnum, to enlist into the two
Brigades raised by this State such slaves as
should be willing to enter into the service.
and whereas. history affords us frequent
precedents, of the ssisest, the .fresst, and
brapest nations having liberated their slaves
and enlisted Them as soldiers to fight in de-
fence of their country /; and also, whereas,
the enemy, with great force, have taken
possession Of the capital and Of greater
part. of this State, and this State is obliged
to raise very considerable number of
troops for its ovn immediate defence, where
it is rendered impossible Cor this State, to
furnish recruits for the said two battallions
without adopting the said measure recon-
mended :lssa i ssq 3i ai srst
II Il soted and Resolced, That every able
bodied negro, mulatto, or Indian man slave,
in this State, may enlist into either of said
two bat'alions, to serve during the continu-