Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-02-12
Before the battle could muster 80.
Co. c.. commanded by 1st Lieut.. 4s.
Co. a.. by the lst Lieut.. 16.
Co. E. by the % Lieut.. So. III
Go. X. by the lss Lieut.. %. aoid.
Co. g. by the Cd Lieut.. %.
Co. D. by the LIST Lieut.. 81.
Yours. truly,
j. a VIM. HAWKINS.
5s 6as Co. /, 29th Ind.
SPEECH OF A CONSERVATIVE.
Shall Black Men be Allowed to
Fight the Rebels?-Remarks of
Hon. W. Mckee Dunn, of Indiana.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 80. 16

w hohiNoAONt Voh' w. AOOOs
The question before the House of Repre-
sentatives was the bill to authorize the
President to enlist 800 regiments of con-
trabands. and officer them with white men.
to aid the Government in putting down
the rebellion. Cox of Ohio (Oopperhead) }.
and Wickliffe Of Kentucky (Secessionist) },
spoke against the BILL. Mr.saDpun (Con-
servativs of Indiana, took the floor, and
said:
Mr.. Speaker: I am glad that the gen.
tleman from Kentucky Mr.. Wickliffe has
had full freedom Of debate upon this oc-
casion. He seems to be . lingering relic
of that dynasty which for so long period
tyrannized over thi. country.
The gentleman ascribes to me . senti-
ment which j never entertained, and never
expressed--that had abandoned my faith
in the ability Of the white men Of the
North to crush out this rebellion.
When this rebellion broke out there was
no man in this Heuse more averse than
was to the employment Of negroes in this
war. thought there was loyal senti-
ment in the hearts of the white people at
the South which would develop itself du-
ring the progress Of this war, and mske
itself efficient in sustaining the power OF
this Government in every State of the
Union. In this have been disappointed
as to the white men; but have made an
other discovery. find that there is in all
those rebellious States. . large population
which. although their skins may be dark,
yet have hearts in sympathy with my Gov
ernment in this struggle. And if they are
willing to brave the perils of VAR in de-
fense Of the nation. if they are willing to
risk their lives in this war. in which they
have SO deep en- interest. | see no reason
why they should not take part with u. in
carrying it on.
The gentleman puts Q case. and wish
to call the attention Of the House to it,
The gentleman said that il black captain
exchange him for o white rebel captain;
and he sY eaks as il that would be great
outrage upon the rights Of the white pop
ulation. Sir. ! believe that q black man.
private or officer. who fights for my coun-
try. is better than'a traitor 10 my country.
though the traitors Abglo-Ssxon skin
may be so white and SO thin that you may
see through it the veins Of bis face. see
no reason why we may not place the man
who fights for the country. not only upon
the same platform. and claim for him po.
sition ss the equal. but as the superior oi
the man who fights against my country.
l would suppose. from the remarks OF
the gentleman from Kentucky. thst he
would deem il an especial misfortune if q
rebel should be shot by black man. ]
should think. from his argument that if his
own son were fighting in this war. he wo d
rather that he should be shot down by .
white traitor than for his life to be saved
by q black man. Now. Mr.. Speaker ]
have son in this war. he is fighting on the
right side. sir. and would rather that his
life should be saved by q true and loyal
black man than that he should 60 down to
the grave beneath the stroke Of . white
! traitor.
The gentleman. as / understand him,
proposed to introduce resolution to in
quire into the conduct Of Gen. Butler al
New Orleans. l hope when he does that
he will also extend his inquiry into the
conduct of General Jackson 1t New Or.
leans. Did he not lead black men there,
and did he not. by their assistance. win q
victory which he's made his name immor.
tai, and did he not thank them in his pub
lie orders for their excellent conduct on
! that occasion? Sir. when you attack the
conduct Of Gen. Butler as to organizing
and arming negro troops, you must 60
back aud attack also the memory of the
hero Of the battle of New Orleans Of 1914
MR. WIcKLlFFE-Will the gentleman
allow me to say one word?
Ma. DUNs.-No, sir. decline to yield
l understand that Gen. jackson and hi,
white volunteers in arms fought side b.
side at the battle OF New Orleans with
black men. not in the same companies
perhaps, but on the same field. And. cir
we know that Commodore Perry won his
most brilliant victory on Lake Erie by the
help Of black sailors. We know. too,
that in the revolutionary war black men
were used to fight on our side, and that
they were used also to fight on the British
side when shey could be induced to espouse
the cause Of our enemies. We have the
testimony OF Commodore Stringham as to
the value OF black men in the naval service,
and his Judgment that il is proper to en-
ploy them in such service. You will re-
collect also the statement OF the gentleman
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Stevens) as to the
testimony Of Capt. Woodhull in respect to
the black men under his command. CON-
mending them for the spirit with which
they handled the guns. and for the brave.
~ and gaIlautry which they displayed in
battle. We know. too, that the rebels uss
this class Of psrsons in every wsy for &C.
complaining their purposes in this rebel
lion: and when they cannot obtain their
services voluntarily they force them. as
they did ct Yorktowp, to take front place
ON the samparts.
Now, sir, / have another object in the
employment of these men. and 1 am viii
ling here to svew il. 1t is this: we have
not snly to conquer this rsbsl country. but
We have to hold il after il il conquered. =
We have for time 10 hold il BY force Of
arms; and the questien arises whether We
shall send our men of the North there to
perish IN Southern swamps and sickly To-
calitiss. or whether We shall make uss OF
that population which. from their peculiar
physical sdsptation. can brave the malaria