Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-11-12
THURSDAY MORNING, NOV. -. 1868.

the acts of 1862 would have prevented pun
ishl a black man for crime; for if the laws
did not expressly declare that man of Afri-
can descent could be enlisted as a soldier,
neither did they declare that he might be
hanged for piracy.
But, under the 18th section of l95th chap
ter of the acts of 1862, the president is speci-
tcaly authorized to employ persons of Afri-
can descent, "and for this purpose he may
organize and use them in sucn manner as he
may Judge best for the public welfare.p Now,
colored soldiers enlisted and organized in any
manner, which would be legal, had they been
white, under the presidents orders, or by Of
fcers serving under the president, who shall
actually render service pursuant to their en-
listment, are entitled to the pay which per-
tans to their rank and grade.
Such a soldier, disobeying the lawful orders
of his superiors, would be punished according
to the law martial, even to the infliction of the
penalty Of DEATH for cowardce before the en-
envy. Nor would he be permitted to plead
his color as excuse for his offence.
But what is the compensation fixed by law
for members of volunteer organizations? The
answer is found in the 9th section of the 9th
chapter Acts OF 1861, and is expressed in
these words "'rhat the officers, nOn-commis
stoned officers, and privates, organized as
aboveSet forth, shall, IN all respects, be placed
on the footing, as to PAY and allowances, of
similar corps of the regular army" A GER
tain proyis0 in this section concerning the
clothing allowance, applying to all volunteers,
does not affect the argument. And, by the
ODD chapter of the Acts of 1861, the pay of a
private is fixed at Sl3 per month.
am advised that the colored soldiers of
South Carolina, under Major General Hun
ter, were at first paid without diminution of
their wages. | learn from Major General
Butler that such also were the orders con-
corning the eOlored Louisiana volunteers
while he remained in the department of the
gulf am informed that in the navy there is,
and has been, no objection to paying its men,
irrespective of color, according to the grade of
their employment And even in the army
colored men acting in the capacity of steve
dores and as employees of the quarlermas-
ter's or of the ordnance departments are paid
according to the value of their services, and
sometimes even at the rate of one dollar by
the day.
| have tated the legal argument and also
these additional facts, because both the facts,
as well as the argument, encourage the conf
dent belief that this anomalous treatment of
the coored volunteers will not and cannot
long continue.
Meanwhile, earnestly recommend the gem
eral court, in simple justice to our soldiers
and for the honor Of the commonwealth to
authorize the payment, reckoning from the
date OF their muster into the service Of the
United States, TO all the enlisted men of the
htty-toufth and fifty fifth Massachusetts regi-
ments, of that portion of the lawful monthly
pay of United States volunteers which has or
may be refused them by tie paymasters of the
United States.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Rep
reseatGtige:
congratulate you and the people of the
commonwealth on the happy omens, seen IN
the progress of our arms, in the quality of
the public opinion, and in the tenacity Of its
patriotism, which auspicate the lasting glory
of OUR COUNTRY.
I'VE must forget all feelings save the one;
We must resign all passions save our purpose
We must behOldno poj4ct save our country
And oniX look on death as beautiful,
30 llut the sacllUce ascenuS 10 Heaven
And draw down freedom on her eyeimore.''
Colonel Robert G. Shaw.