Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-02-14
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Last Nights Dispatches.
xxxvIIItIa CONGRESS.
FIRST.sEsSION. Is
FIRST. SESSION.

OluUlOH equallZinR Iuc pay VI soluiCis was
taken up.
An amendment was offered by Mr.. VIII
son, which was adopted, equalizing the pay
of colored troops and extending the provis-
ions of the bill to give them an additional
three dollars per month from January lst,
1854.
| The amendment offered by Mr.. Doolittle,
deducting four dollars per month from their
pay for supporting their families and
friends, is under discussion.
A report of the Secretary of War was re-
ceiyed in answer to resolution relative tt
officers Communication for quarters and fuel.
It shows that there are 507 officers here
drawing such Communication now-9 Major
Generls, l9 Brigadier Generals, "a Colonels,
| Is Lieutanant Colonels, "a Majors, l26 Cap
tains. 43 Lieutenants, 26 Surgeons, IL AS
sistant Surgeons, and 70 Paymasters.
Mr.. Howell presented memorial from the
Milwaukee Chamber OF Commerce, repre-
senting that within a few months twenty,
five millions of dollars have beon mined and
are waiting express, and asking aid In the
construction of wagon road within mill
tary protection through central Minnesota.
Referred.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson, the Senate
proceeded to the consideration of bill for
the equalization of the pay of United States
soldiers.
Mr.. Conness withdrew his amendment
comforting the benefits to those in the SER
vice at the time Of the passage OF the
amendment.
Mr.. Sumner offered an amendment pro-
viding that in cases where the Secretary OF
War shall be satisfied that persons OF color
have been mustered into the service OF the
United States at the rate of thirteen dollars
per month, they shall be paid at that rate
for previous services.
Mr.. Grimes hoped the Senator would with
draw his proposition, and that from this
time forward every soldier was to re-
ceive the same pay. He hoped the bill
might be allowed to stand on ITS merits
without making it retrospective. y.
Mr.. Wilson moved to strike out the clause
| in the bill of the committee giving colored
troops the same pay, etc.. except bounty,
the service. and inserting 'after the LIST OF
January, 1854"
| Mr.. Sumner would not withdraw his
amendment without explaining that its
provisions would only apply to few regi-
ments, and there would be no great draft
on the Treasury.
| Mr.. Fessenden here claimed the floor,
and from the Finance Committee reported
certain amendments to the House de-
ficiency bill. He asked that they lie over
until Monday.
| Mr.. johnson in reply to Mr.. Sumner said
| If the black men of Maryland were as good
as the black men enlisted elsewhere, why
make exceptions? If justice were done ac-
cording to the views of the Senator from
Massachusetts,, some $500, 900 would be taken
| from the treasury, or as he understood it
about S5OO0O0. All should be paid alike
Why did not Massachusetts, pay these troops
herself. lha
Mr.. Fessenden said he understood the
p9y had been offered, but the colored troops
| refused to receive it.
| Mr.. Wilson explained the circumstance.
under which the colored troops from Mass
achusetts had refused to receive their pay
| They held the Government to the pledges
4 made to them, and wanted the full pay o
thirteen dollars per month, or asked to b'
discharged from the service. r
Mr.. johnson said then they were coloreC
men of extraordinary sensibilities.
Mr.. Grimes said that from the very out
set he and his colleague (Harlan) were II
favor OF putting negro troops on an equali
ty with the whites. He was on the records
IN UnlS reSp6Cb UclOEc luO OCudbOI lIOu
Massachusetts (Sumner.)
Mr.. Sumner said that in public speecl
lhe had said that While he was in favor o
carrying the war into Africa he was NOR,
in favor of carrying the African into tn
war. Laughter.) G511
Mr.. Grimes was not only in favor of carry
ing the African into the war, but for pay
ing him thirteen dollars per month, and TO
L.. xt,ith xxhit
soldiers. If we were going back to pa.
these colored troops from Massachusetts,
etc. why not paw those from Tennessee
He was informed there was some 30 regi
ments of these troops there. He though
there was trouble in the future to be appre
lhended from making the Retrospective
character of this bill indiscriminate. III
sympathized with the gallant and patrioti
! Young men of the 54th and 55th Massachu
setts colored troops, but he could not he'll
; believing it was on account of their actiol
that the colored men of the South Car0lin
regiments refused to receive their pay.
Mr.. Cowan said if we were going bacI
for these colored men he was also In favo
8 of going back in favor of the white me
2 who were our earliest volunteers, and ha
Q borne the heaviest burden of the day. ii
d was not in favor of overriding the statut
!. to do Justice to these negro troops unit
equal and exact justice had been done
the veteran white soldiers. When th
country should be restored to its wonte
prosperity. we could do justice to all. No,
1t is exceedingly dangerous. gH
The amendment of Mr.. Wilson was the
adopted.
The amendment of Mr.. Doolittle provid
ing that from the monthly pay of colore
+, troops mustered into service In insured
: tionary districts the sum of three dollar
shall be reserved to reimburse the expense
incurred by the United States In feeding an
clothing the widows, children and parent
of deceased colored troops, was rejecte
after some debate. q RE
, Mr.. Sumner proposed provis0 that
}, all cases of past services of colored troop
lwhere 1t shall appear to the satisfaction
the Secretary Of War from the actual p.
pers of enlistment that the troops were ei
Q listed under the act of July, 1861, they sha
be allowed the pay promised by that act-
5. This was rejected by yeas 16; nays 81,
Mr.. Cowan offered substitute for Il
Ibill as amended, viz: From and after Il
: passage of this act all soldiers of the Unit.
States of the same arm of the service shs
receive like compensation. 5,s
Mr.. Cowan supported his amendmnnt
~. some length, claiming that the negro mt
y be regarded as citizen under the Cons,
tuition, as he received the protection Of G
. laws. EH1 rNo ail :
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