New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-02
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
NEGRO SOLDIER BILL.


NEGRO SOLDIER BILL.
The House resumed the consideration Of the Negro
Soldier bill
Mr.. ROSCOE CONKLlNG presented a paper
from Alexander Hamilton, the son OF Alexander
Hamilton, showing that Col Lawrence Of Sou,h
Carolina, and others prominent in the Revolutionary
War, urged tho employment OF negroes as soldiers,
rs they could be made elcient with proper manage
ment.
The statement further showed that at tha. time,
c. now, there was prejudice against such military
policy. Those who argued IN favor OF 1t sa!d; IL
do not use the negroes Tor This purpose tie enemy
will"
Mr.. THOMAS (Un., Mass. said the bill proposed
10 raise an army OF African descent, without limta-
ton No TO number aud tie States from which they
are 10 be taken, without limitation az TO expense,
without Limitation as 10 tho particular service ior
which the army n 10 DO used, without limitation AS
TO the pine further than the discretion Of the
President. Ibis bill, AZ would he admitted by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania, proposed 10 confer
more power than ever was placed by Congress ia
the hands Of any one man.
lie would pes raise the question whether they
might not place laTeer dscreon IA tie Lauit Of toe
irefiient than heretofore In tiues Ike these. Bn.
on the other hand II the duty ~ Congress 10 tee
that the power yoEicd IA him should nos be diverted
from the ends for which il Is conferred. Tho pay
rolls show million white men in tho service; and
making due allowance for dessrtons, Be-, IL was
sufficient TO suppress the Rebellion II IL 20 DO
conquered by physical means.
lie called al sntIon TO the financial aspect OF the
question According to the showing Of the Chairman
OF the Committee Oh Ways and Means the national
debt at the end Of the next fiscal year will be
two thousand millions, exclusive perhaps o! Eve
hundred or thousand millions oil unllquldaied debt
debt larger than thai OF any nation OF Europe.
The idea Of war was the maintenance Of civil order
snd Law, without which liberty could not be main
tanned, upon which the Constitution and the Union
are founded.
Mr.. STEVENS rep, Pa explained that within
a few months tie term Of enlistment Of several
hundred thousands Of volunteers would expire.
Hence the necessity Of the provisions Of this bill.
Mr. THOMAS I'm, Mass replied that the bill,
az reported and prepared a, lhe War Department,
contained no ,uch provision. Ifpegro soldiers were
TO be employed for FIVE years TO put down the
rebeli the term too long; If 10 externlnate
or subjugAte the South the term was too short. Not
one Of these House boys or pages, snatehed prema-
tie end OF such war. The civilization Of the age
would prevent IT,
lie further opposed the BILL suggesting that this
rolicy, bosdo involving 20 much additional expense
might fail. lie deprecated conducting the war on a
party basis wishing have the ad OF all patriotic
insn IN the suppression OF the Rebellion. The ques.
tion OF separation was not to be discussed. God
bless the old Union
All ne asked was that the gentlemen should up
hold the Constitution winch they had sworn 10 sup
pOTL, Inc Oatu DtIDs ItkIsbtItu ~ VIC
tayed this Union future generations would bless
II we lost il, they would curse u.s. He believed
that we would come out Of the contest purified
Mr.. TKIMBLE lRep., OHIO SAID thai ihe policy
to employ negroes In such way as the President
might deem useful had already been adopted By the
House. lie thought that from the commencement
OF the war the House had egisaied too much on The
subject aud lie still believed that If tho President
had laid down policy at the beginning OF the con-
test and compelled adherence 10 Il, II would have
IL - ...ta,. 10. hot o H..
policy should have been. Ii was unfortunate that
the PRECEDENT should have imposed the task on Con-
gress. The employment OF black men did not resl
On their capacity and efficiency soldiers, bat 40
hborers Slaves be malntslned, constituted elements
Of strength and power 10 the Rebels lfsueh persons
had from the beginning been employed In oggihg IN
trench and other labor the lives OF many yana-
bio white men would have been saved. ii he had
been ia command Of the trOopa, he would have sent
out and gathered in all the negroes he could Ind Tor
the performance OF such labor. lilo SAID III the
Northern States there would DC c0mpaIatlyeiy lew
enliatments La reply 10 Mr.. Wright, who spoke
Yesterday lie said members here could no more COM
promise, as war suggested than they could eompro,
mise with the Rebek IA arms. 1he South Wouid
scout aud scorn II.
Mr.. WRIGHT wished to know what reason
there was why there could not be an honorable CON-
promise among the me pbers here. What obstacle
was there If all were honestly IN favor OF sushh-
ing and perpetnatiug the Union
Mr.. TRIMBLE replied that, fortunately or unior,
tunately, God had 30 constituted men that they woud
differ ia opnon aud lie had no idea That the gentlo
pen Oh the other side would yied their oPinions us
TO the conduct OF he war. He declared Tor the
Constitution as was aud expressed the hope thas
the institution OF Slavery would never 10 permitted
to extend beyond ls present limits.
III reply 10 Mr. Cox, who yesierday said negroes
were 10 be employed like fends Of hell to consqn-
mate what was inanguraIed by the North III u rpifH
OF hate, he rsbuked this very UNJUST mPutasion on
tho North, whose object was prosecution OF '.o
war for The preservation VI the Government. II ne
could he would unehain bis colleague LENDS OF heh
and would not recall them until The last fepeii 10
fratricide wac swept away. But he believed tnas
Tie people of the North were abundantiy aoie 70
protect The heritage bequeathed by their a1hes ana
70 contest until the national flag hoated asin over
NJ RIDDLE REP, Pal, Ia reply 70 portion oil
,bs re,jark. OF Mr. frimble, caused TO DC read tie
following extract from letter Of Gen. MeCisiiSn "
senator Harris, dated July IL, 1867;