The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1863-03-12

gross authOrt2od bDo frosl0ent JnuS 70
employ them, and "also TO receive them
into military or naval service Of the Uni
ted States for which they may be found
competent" / suppose that under this
law, power was given TO the President to
use them as soldiers aud sailors, If in
his judgement their services could be
made Efficient iu the suppression Of re-
bellion. There seemed to me no nooes'
sity for additional legislation, and on
first reading the bill 1 could but regret
its introduction at this time. Further
examination, however made it apparent
that the present law was defective in
some important particulars, and requir
ed amendment. And though | always
have and do still regret the introduction
here of the subject of the negro, yet the
necessity for it on this occasion must
be admitted. -t a. a.
1 have believed, and still believe, that
if the President, in the exercise of his
constitutional right, had at tho opening
of the first session Of this Congress re-
commended spe iicallya war policy, the
same would havo received the sanction
Of such Congress, and there would have
been no need Of further legislation at
this time, 1t would only have remain
ed for the Executive to compel q rigid
enforcement by all the officers of the
Army of the policy thus legalized by
the authority of the people. / need no
now, and perhaps it would not be proper
for me on this occasion to state, what
think that policy ought to have BEEN
In my opinion it was unfortunate tina
the President failed to advise Congress
of what he deemed the legislation nee
essary to enable the Executive to sup
port, protect and defend the Constitu
tion. ......... I.... .. .r..
Mr.. Speaker, this is very importan
subject. 1t is now, as it always ha
been, full OF difficulty and embarrass
ment. From the very organization o
the Government VIC have had to deplor
the existence in our beloved land Of hp
man slavery. 1t has been almost ii
only disturbing element in our progres
as nation. We have this question to
day, one Of its offspring, which must b
met whether we like it or not. l hav
not that exalted idea Of the bravery, tn
capacity, and efficiency of the blacl
compared with white men, entertained
by some other gentlemen. In no res
pect is he the equal, of the Anglo.Sax
on. But that is not the question. /
the black man be far inferior to wha
we know him to be, is it not our dut
in this great emergency to make tn
best use of him we can2
This question of employing the blac
man does not rest upon his capacity o
efficiency as a soldier, butrather as Ia
borer. Is he, as laboror, valuable I
the rebels? Would his loss weaken an
embarrass them? There can be but on
answer. Sir, the slaves are a might
power in this rebellion and if their aC
QUESTION, either as laborers or as so
dicrs, did not strengt hen US, their lot
would greatly weaken our enemies.-
Predicting from the first that ther
would be no insurrection or uprisin
of the slaves of the South in cons,
quence of rebellion, and that they woul
: be efficient aids to their rebel master
: l have not been disappointed at the rt
suit, They have been, and are still,
! power upon the side of the rebellion
+ They are the chief element Of i
b strength. Labor in all countries, COT
9 stitutes the life Of their power. An
vet while we have taken from the il
dustrial pursuits oflife a million me-
million producers, to crush this r,
bellion and save the Government, ce
tain gentlemen have demanded that Il
slaves-the laborers Of the rebels-shou ul
tbe preserved to them. Though tens
thousands Of slaves were kept employt
by the rebels in active service in Il
field, and in building fertilization
from behind which they can shoot dow
our men with impunity, yet it would
Unconstitutional for us to employ the
y in the same way. Boys and girls
fourteen or fifteen years Of age make
hand, and are engaged with the adu
i slaves in producing the supplies tn
o keep alive the rebellion. Yet there ar
I fear, gentlemenin this House who
h veneration for the institution Of slavel
is so great that they would risk the Ii
of the nation rather than disturb the r
4 lation Of master and slave. -'' ''
. -9 At the beginning Of this war our &c
g erals In the field, at least many Of thcr
r refused to allow fugitive slaves to cor