The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-24

raise supplies IOr QUIZ lIlIu0uS0 army AAV
administration has determined to take
from these rebels that source of supply;
to take their negroes, and compel them to
send back portion of their whites and
very poor substitutes these southern men
will make for the dusky field-hand But
they will have to thin their ranks in order
to raise their food.
You know very well that in September
last, these rebels had an opportunity af-
forded them to lay down their arms and
come back into the Union. They failed
to do it. Not that the hearts of many
southern men were for the Union and
against the rebellion, but such men as jeff.
Davis & Go. would not permit them, and
therefore they are still in arms against us.
On the LIST of January last, the President
issued his proclamation declaring that,
from that day all the slaves in the States
then in rebellion against the government
were free. You know that vast numbers
OF them are in your borders. They came
into your camps, and you cannot but re-
ceive them.
The authorities at Washington are very
much panied to hear-and I think with
truth in many cases-that this poor, un-
fortunate race has been turned from U.S.
refused admittance within our lines. This
Is not the way to use freed men. The
question came upin Washington. What was
best to be done with this unfortunate race.
They are crowding upon US in vast num-
bers. The number has become so large
already as to compel us to make some pro-
vision for them. What will we do with
them? You cannot send them North.
You all know the prejudices of the Nor
them States against receiving large num-
bers Of the colored race. Some States
have already passed laws forbidding them
to come within their borders, and at this
day, in some States, persons who have
brought them have been arraigned before
the courts to answer for the violation of
State enactments.
Look along this river, and see the num-
There is the place to put these men,
where they can be made selt-sustaining
and self-supporting.
All of you will some day be on picket
duty, and charge you that, if any of this
unfortunate race come to your lines, you
will not repel them, but receive them cor
daily, and send them within your lines.
They are to be received kindly. They
are to be fed and clothed. They are to be
armed.
That is the policy which has been fully
determined upon. l am here this day to
say that I am authorized to raise as many
regiments of blacks as can possibly be
collected. am authorized to give COM
missions from the highest to the lowest.
l want those persons who are earnest in
this work to take hold of it. I want only
those whose hearts are in the work. l
don't care who they are. l do not hesitate
to say that if they are worthy of the office,
l will give them commissions.
Whilst am authorized thus, in the name
of the Secretary of War, at the same time
l have the fullest authority for dismissing
from the army any man, be his rank what
it may, that find maltreating this unfor-
tunate race. That part of my duty will
most assuredly perform if any case comes
before me. | would rather do that than
to give commissions, because such men
are unworthy the name of soldiers.
hope to hear that, in this splendid dr.
vision, as l know it to be,-veterans, as
Napoleon would call them, for you are
veterans,-I hope to hear that, before 1
leave, l shall be able to raise at least
regiment from this division. I don't want
to stop at one regiment must have
two. 1 have two from the division below,
more than two. 1 would like to raise
on this river twenty regiments before I go
back | shall take the women and child
rem, and the men who cannot go into our
army organization, and put them on these
plantations; then take these regiments and
put them in the rear They can guard the
rear. Knowing the country well, they
will be able to track out these accursed
guerrillas, and drive them from the land.
When l get regiments raised in this way,
you may sweep out into the interior as far
as you please. Recollect that, for every
regiment of blacks raise, I release regi-
ment of whites to face the foe in the field.
This, fellow-soldiers, is the determined
policy of the Administration. You all
know that, when the President of the
United States Though he is said to be slow
in coming to a determination once puts
his foot down, it is there, and he is not
going to take it up. He has put his foot
down, and l am here to give my weight
and influence to see that he does not raise
his foot