The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-01-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
xxxvIrIth coNoREss--First Session
Washington, Jan. l6.


Morgan presented petition from citi-
zens of New York demonstrating against
the relief of unnaturalized citizens from
the draft
The enrolment bill being under con-
sideration, Fesseuden said that his opinion
of yesterday that payment of commute
ton money did not release State from
draft was erroneous, and that the con-
struction put upon it by the Secretary Of
W1r was correct. He thought it impos-
sibe to construe the communication clause
in any other way than that the procura
ton of substitutes or the payment Of
Communication money exempted the State
from draft
Clarke offered an amendment providing
that the Communication money shall be ap-
piled by the War Department for obtain
ing substitutes for the district in which
the draft takes place
Grimes did not desire that colored men
should be enlisted to fill up the quota of
a State. He would like the word men
to be construed white men. The calored
men were enlisted by the General Gov
ernmcnt, and colored men, unless citizens
OF State. should not take tho place OF
white men.
Harlan thought this was tax upon
money of the country, not upon Intellect.
The people Of Louisiana, Tennessee and
Kentucky owe allegiance to the coan.ry
as well as those from Maine and Massa-
chusetts. He never had believed that
colored soldiers could be employed under
the same rule as white men. The colored
man should not be accepted as a suhsti-
tute for superior.
Davis said a large proportion of the la
Dor OF Kentucky was performed by slaves,
and yet the Secretary of War would soon
er enlist slave than white man in the
Border States, thus stripping these States
OF their aboring class to serve as substi-
tutes for northern laboring men who were
kept at home.
Wilson was glad the Government was
about establishing a policy in regard to
slaves, which be Wilson, had urged on
them for four months past
Grimes thought negroes should be put
under the protection Of the National
Government. His amendment was in.
tended to stimulate the enlistment of ne
groes, SO there would be no occasion for
another call on the States.
Grimes amendment was rejected.
AIR. Doolittle offered an amendment
providing that veteran troops re enlisting
shall be credited TO districts in which they
originally enlisted Amendment adopt-
ed-27 to III.
Another amendment was adopted. pro-
viding that the Communication money paid
BY persons drafted shall be applied to the
procurement of substitutes for the Con-
gressional districts where the draf. takes
place, and that colored troops be credited
to the State from which they have en-
listed.
Mr. Trumbull offered an amendment
requesting the President to call out and
equip hundred thousand men for hun
bred days, with the single object of
driving out the rebel army from Virginia,
aud releasing the Union prisoners at and
around Richmond.
Mr. Wilson wanted to know what 100
UuU raw militia would be against Lees
veteran army. They would be of no as.-
count whatever.
Mr.. Tru.nbull said that, if we would
say to the people that there would be a
vigorous campaign for that single object.
We could raise the hundred thousand men
or the Increased number proposed by the
Senator from Massachusetts. He had No
Tears this number Of troops could be
stampeded.
Dir. Foster said the feeling among b;s
constituents Was intensely strong in favor
OF the object contemplated by the amend
ment of the Senator from Illinois. There
would also be wild enthusiasm in
many sections of the country if the
amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Nesmith moved 10 insert three
jean instead Of one hundred DAYS.