Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-02-05

rhurday morning when ths House adjourned. No vote
| was taken on the passage of the bill
NEGRO SOLDIERS.
The House sgain proceeded to the consideration Of ths
bill 10 hundred aud fifty th0us aud volunteers
IONS of African descent.
MAYNARD moved to recommit the bill to the Com
| miitee IN Military Affairs.
Mr. MAYNARD briefly reviewed the object of the bill,
and appealed to the House, before they acted upon
| sure important to perfect it,
Mr. cox maintained that this useless legislation as
there already law the subject passed by Con
gress which gave the President the power to do what it
| is proposed by this bill.
Mr.. STEVENS said it the opinion of those who had
charge of the execution of this law that did not
Mr.. WILSON Of Iowa, said that the bill did not place
negro soldiers footing with white 1t was left at
the discretion of the President
Mr.. MALLORY said that was what he objected to. The
President had unlimited discretion in the matter.
Mr.. WILSON. Do you believe the President would put
az gro officers white men?
Mr.. MALLORY. lit ia very difficult for any to say
what the esd ant might do.
Mr. DUNN rgied that there could be objection to
making black available soldiers but ne desired the
bill to bs amended that un Ter circumstances should
black officer command white soldiers.
Mr.. MALLORY said that if the bill passed. under the
regulations Of war, il black officer outranked white
he might take command Of brigade division of
white troops.
Mr. MCPHERSON said it was not the intention of the
author of the bill
Mr.. WICKLIFFE The Secretary of War;
Mr.. MCPHERSON connung-to put black officers in
command unless some blsck should manifest extra
ordinary military ability.
Mr.. WICKLIFFE made lengthy speech in which he
said that named Hunter had tried the experiment
of raising negro regm mt at Hilton Head, and it had
proved utter failure after involving great expense He
next alluded IT, the money and clothing which, though ap
prOpriated for the OF the army had be misappled to
the support Of conrabands He referred to Gen Buffers
report to show that he acknowledged having given
clothing End provisions to contaba1ds than to the soldiers
of his department He asked if gentlemen the other
side prepared to admit that they could not put down
the rebellion without calling upon the negroes He would
4 Ill oh Of ,han
or Gen. Anybodyelse, but this bill might enable Gen
Sambo to outrank Gen. HuDt-r.
Mr. w. next referred in nuncatory terms to the Pre-
sidens proclamation and asserted that the bill pending
designed TO carry out the infamous scheme of Tbayer
TO colonlzs groes Florida The proclamation he be-
leved designed to incte sevile insurrecton with all
Mr. STEVENS offered an amendment to strike out the
words white or black" not to give the President
dscl elton to appoint black officers
Mr.. LOVEJOY denounced the Democratic party as
fierce unscrupuous and revolutionary and charged that
while they threatened resistance to the draft they opposed
other means to rsise additional soldiers other ways He
charged that the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr WICK
LIFFE) preferred slavery to the country.
Mr.. WICKLIFFE replied that the only remark he had
made that subject during last session. when he
asked if he saw at sea two ships about to sink
aiming slavery and the other the Union which would
he save and in reply he stated that he would throw
the aboitionists aud save both Applause tbe ,eries
The SPEAKER said be would clear the galleries if
III re more such manifestations.
Mr.. LOVEJOf resuming, asked the gentleman fit was
necessary to emancpae and enlist the slaves to save
the country, would be be willing
MIR. WICKLlFfE L said he would claim the Yankee pri
vege of replying to the question by asking another, and
that it not the gentlemans plan to emancpate
the slaves first and then let the Union slide
Mr. L0VEJOY said that meaner reply than any
Yankee would make. He spoke of the demoraizng nfu
of slavery the white race, and urged the employ
ment of hs negro in the army He spoke If the services
of the negro Small in giving important in ormaton 10 the
fl ct off Charlie ston He wanted to know whether the
gentleman from Kentucky would have received commu
n cation from such source
Mr.. WICKLIFFE. just as from you.
Mr. LOVEJOY, resuming, said be did not wish to place
black officers white soldiers but he would rather fo
low n negro than stakeholder.
Mr. DUNN argued that there could be ob ction TO
the employment of negroes a1d said black loyast
better than white traitor He cited history to show that
negroes bad frequently been employed soldiers and had
acted we'll At New Orleans in 1915 they fought side by
sde with white The rebels used them, and at Vicks-
burg where his son fought on the right SIDE, he
exposed to the fire of guns manned by gunuers At
Yorkowa the rebels had sent them 10 the front rank OF
danger. When they conquered the South it would be
cessary to hold it, aud these black could operate
malsrious die ricts where white could not live. In
reply to the argument that these negroes would mmt
ousges he asked could it bs possible that this humane
aid Christian institution of slavery has sunk the
that such conduct could be feared He held that they
should the Africans in the way proposed and
far possible the shedding Of precious white blooi
Mr. CRlTrENDtN, at considerable length, denounced
the bill He said it discrimnated against the negro gviog
him only bafpay aud not aowieg to hold the position
Of officer showing that they were not looked upon
valuable as so ders. They not necessary TO put
down the rebellion but it part Of the scheme t.
abolitonsm. Such Legislation would be crime
against civilization and the Constitution The army would
regard it insult and degrad tion IL would be
cowardy to place the before the advance OF er
armies screen and if they wanted to 20 down the
psges of history the most cowardy Of people, they
should c, nut their hundred and fifty thous md slaves
and put them n the front ranks To do would destroy
the hero,m Of the army and the people He further
said that Kentucky opposed to all foes of the Consti
tuition whether rebels Others They in the midst
of revolution here and rebellion at the South. The
tendency Of the unconstitutional enaetnen' Of this Con-
gres o enlarge the and proract the STRIFE The
conf bill and kindred but blocked up
the road 10 u successful termination oil tne
Mr. HUrCHINS replied to the speech d, versd by Mr..
CRITTENDEN, contend ng that the gentleman had not
answered the nierrogatores propounded by himself He
said the father entitled to the of his under
the State iaws-so il with the slave the master
entitled to the SERVICES of his slave BY virtue Of the State
law.
Mr. KELLY replied to the remarks of the gentleman
from Kentucky Mr. WICKLIFFE) defending the generals
from hs attacks made by Mr.. WIcKLIFFE He maintained
that the life Of the negro not sacred than the
white man Why should his friends die in battle end the
negro live He is not better than that he should not
take part in this He in favor OF authorizing the
President TO employ these coored persons Ia the military
service.
The House adjourned
EprY