The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-02-12


that the proud Angio-saxon, alter al. il
not worth as much Is the value Of few
ysars, toll Of . degraded African slavejk
To this does it come. Let those accept
il who will, but let asne such hersaitsg
boast Of tho lofty grandeur, the powsf,
the superiority Of the white-skinned An
glo-Saxon. Let those who will, measure
the high position Of the white race by the
value Of the slaves Tell; bat every true
freeman will spurn the RESULT.
But, sir, there is another principle TO
w{fUK tie gentleman from Kentucky
Mr. Csittsr denl alluded ia The disoss-
Sion of this bin, and which / think equal
,ly ,erroneous. He discusses this bill as
II ough it involved question Of legisla-
tive power, aud denied. our right to pass
this measure because il would Interfere
with the claim Of shareholders 10 their
slaves. ,a3 IL. vsa nt .ala 1913
Nov, cir, / deny that this bill preesuts
the question Of power for our coaadesa-
ton or determination at al. IL requires
NJ to. do nothing more than to exercise
our discretion in the selection Of the
means for carrying into execution pow
srs expressly delegated by the Oonstits-
ton to Congress.
When the Constitution says "the Con-
gress shall have power to- raiss and sap
port armies, to provide and naintsia .
navy" and enjoins the duty to suppress
insurrection and;repel invasion, it settles
the whole question Of power and isaves
to us the choice Of the means through
which 70 execute the power, the only laln-
itation keing that the means selccted ahal
be appropriate to the end. il We should
strike out Of thia bilIthe provision for en-.
listing persons of African descent, and
permit il to stand without aByrspsoakna-
ton in respect to race or color, would not
every man acknowledge the appropriate.
ness of the measure ~ . means Of giving
life and vigor to the provisions of the
Constitution which have citede Strike
out color, say nothing about race, and ev-
cry nhiaction Mhini- has -been- urged
against the bill falls 10 the ground. Whal
follpwsy Why, that the whole question
10 resolved into one of sxpsdishcy.
Is il expcdient to employ black men IN
the naval and military service OF the Gov.
ernmenR Thepowsr is ample, tho means
appropriate; what shall be the color r.
This, = have said, prsssnts mere quss-
ton Of sxpediency. and Of this We are 70
judge. first, by such lights ~ the history
Of the country will furnish, aud, secondly,
by the circumstances that now surround
US. s;241
The history of the country furnishes
much valuable information touching the
question Of the employment Vt colored
men in the military and naval service. Df
the nation. The presentation of nv
facts in this regard may not be unprofit-
able, as we may thereby learn the action
Of Congress and the colonies, and the
opinions of some OF our most eminent
men upon this question. Duringtherev
olutionary war many Of tho colonies aiadq
provision ior the enlistment of persons Of
African descent in the army. One Of the
most interesting cases Of colonial action ID
that of Rhode Island, as it commits the
Father of his Country 10 the policy and
expediepcy of enlistiag such persons in
the military service. That case had its
origin in the following letter from GEN.
eral Varnum to General Washington:
CAnr, January I'd, ITS.
SIR: The two bAttAlons from the State Of Rhode
Island being small. and there being necessity Of
the States furnishing additional aambsr to
mnke up their proportion in the continental army
the field aicers having Represented 70 me the pre-
triety Of making one ssnposefy battalion ffon tNe
u Rhode Island in order % receive snd prepare III
recruits for thu Asld. II IL imagined that bAtaai
ion Of negroes can be easily rAissd there. Shout,
that measure be adopted, recruits obtained ppol
any other principle, the service viii b advanced
The field af6cers who 70 apon this comnsa& -
| Col. Grrcue, Lieut.. Col Ol.ey, and Major Vegd
seven captains, twelve lieutenants, six onsigps, %
psymaster, one surgeon and mate, one AdJutaat
and one chaplain. g lsN3t
am your Excellency's most obedieut servant,
| IN. NARNUM.
His Exosllsucy Gent wAsalSoros.
Upon the receipt Of that letter, Genssa
Washington Was 20 strongly impressed
With the sonpsd - respect - ~ enlist
nsnt Of pslgons # eo1et ii RAaae Iaaasi
that be sent on the Same day. lheifn|lpy
II ing communication 70 Ne Assembly o
thst eolOny, inclosing Tho letter Of Gen.
Vatnum: mDsh leg aevaH & aI1
sHsxDopAsssss, iJssaary "a, Prs !
sR; IAol0ss@ xeesvfu sq3siis = sopy Ga 1T
| ter from General vasnum to me, up0p~ Ae gu,saui
which might b. adopted for completing W. Rhod,
Island troops 70 Their fqu prOportieV In the oontn
entail army. ! have nolhing p S1y, in addition Il
what wruts on tho 3psA ct llst month, on this Inn
portant subject but 10 desire that you viii give th,
officers employed in this business Ill the assstancs
I sn with great rsspsct, sir, yosr noas obsdisn
servant 0RORGR WASHINGTON.
His Exceilsncy NICHOLAS Cooks, Esq.
1 Governor Of Rkode IsIuwsl
On the reception Of this communica
ton from General Washington. the AZ
ssmbly Of Rhode Island took almost Inn
mediate action, and the following pre-
ambls and resolution inform as Of de re
suit go ~
"Whsreas, for NE preservation the rieIlts an
liberties or the United Statss, II u necsasary TIA
- waoae pevsss Of tho Gevsfnment should s. o.
srtpd inEesEsidag ~ senti1aa&ai baAlalions; -
whereas his Exesllsncy Gsnsrh Warrington NJ
| iaclosed = thiA 6fAAe : proposal nade g hin IS