Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-03-03
ENLIsTMENTs IN THE ARMY.
SPEECH OF HON. J. R. D00LlTTLE,
OF WISCONSIN
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
february 9, 1864.


Tba senate as in Committee of the Whole. hav-
inc under consideration the bill Is. No 41) pro-
mote enlistments in the army Of the United States
and for other purposes, the pending question being
on Mr. Henderson amendment to the third section
of the bill
Mr. Doolittle said
Mr. PRESIDENT: War and not peace is our
real situation. Whatever NAV have produced
this state of things, war is upon US with all its
stern duties, and We must fight it through.
At this hour, whatever will give strength to
our armies in the field and bring revenue to
support them, demands the fin st consideration
OF Congress, and of every Department of this
Government. If left to me | would speak
but one word, Fill up the ranks, press on the
columns. To spare the unnecessary she'd
ding Of blood; to save the resources of the
country; to solve all financial questions and
to put our credit upon basis so strong as to
command the money of the world, | would
speak no other words but g fill up the ranks,
press Oh the columns" To secure liberty and
Union; to secure peace with all other ma
tions by inspiring them with respect; and to
put Il final end to that conspiracy, founded on
slavery, which makes against us, | would
still say, as the most radical and at the same
time the most certain of all measures q fill
up the ranks, press on the columns" But,
sir, my voice is but one.
Other considerations are continually press
ed, and will be pressed upon us; other sub
jects will be involved in times like these, and
we are called upon to meet them and to dis
cuss them. | regret that all the legislation
of the present session on the subject of en-
rolling troops had not passed Congress be-
fore the adjournment for the holidays. They
ought to have been matured and passed be-
fore that long adjournment. | fear we have
nearly lost forty days. forty days of the most
precious, valuable time to the Government in
filling up our armies. Again, sir, in my opin-
ion, it is much wiser in all bills which concern
the enrolment of troops not to embarrass
them by other provisions not necessary to
raise the troops and to FIJI the ranks of our
armies. | rejoice that the honorable Senator
from Massachusetts, the chairman of the
Committee on Military Affairs, has determined
to confine the question of the enrolment and
pay of troops to that single issue, and not in
yOvG with it the consideration of the aboli-
ton of slavery within the States by act of
Congress.
Some remarks have been made, however
upon this bill and upon the subject of the
Crittenden compromise, as il IS called, this
morning which lead me, with the indulgence
Of the Senate, to make some general Obser-
vations not very pertinent to the bill under
consideration, but bearing upon the present
state of the slavery question.
Mr. President, if we look at this question
AS now presented under the present aspect of
affairs, we see at once that three years of war
have changed the slavery issue altogether
What are the facts? In 1860 the sole issue
concerning slavery was, shall it enter the ter
ritories? 1t had nothing to do with slavery
i'll the States The question of slavery in the
StatpS WINS pntirpIv IigplajnnI Nn;tl,n, FL
purpose nor the power to interfere with sla-
very in the States under the Constitution was
claimed in 1860, and never has been claimed
by any party in this country, not even by the
abolition party from its first organizations
Neither the Democratic party, the Wing par
ty, the Republican party, nor the Abolition
party ever claimed, under the Constitution
of the United States, the power TO legislate
on the subject of slavery within the iurisdic-
ton of the States The sole issue, therefore
so far as slavery was concerned in 1860 was,
shall slavery enter the Territories? The pco-
pie in the election of Mr.. Lincoln decided
that slavery should not enter the Territories.
and that was all they decided
After that election, in December, 1860, we
met here In the Halls of Congress- The
champions Of slavery extension and slavery
propagandism raised the same issue in new
form They said to the representatives of
the incoming Administrations " If YOU will
change the Constitution SOFAS to guaranty sla-
very in all the territory south of 3G deg 80
min. which we now have or may hereafter
acquire, we will submit to the election of Mr.
Lincoln; we will remain in the Union; but
II you Will not consent to such an amendment
we Will make war upon the Government and
break up the Union" Those representatives
refused 50 to amend the Constitution, The
champions OF slavery appealed to arms and
to the God of battles. By that appeaI to
that dread tribunal they have changed the
issue. 1t is no longer whether slavery shall
go into the Territories. That is already de-
cided against them. Slavery is abolished in
all the Territories of the United States, and
from this time henceforth and forever the
foot of a slave can never tread one inch of
the soil of the American Territories.
But, repeat, sir, i'll making this appeal to
the God of battles and to high Heaven, they
have raised other issues Sowing to the
wind they have rraped the whirlwnd In
declaring war against the Union they have
raised the question whether this Government
shall live or die In declaring that they
would not submit to the decisions of a major
lty OF the people at the balot-box. in ac
cordance with the express provisions of the
Constitution, they have raised the question
whether republican constitutional liberty it.
self, based upon the divine right of the ma
jority to rule, shall not perish forever. They
did more, sir. When they made this appeal
to the God OF battles and mpiousy asked the
blessing OF Heaven upon their cause, they
openly and boldly proclaimed to the whole
civilized world that they made war against
the United States in the name of slavery and
under the flag of slavery. Slavery was to
a n Of +bni
eracy. In the name of slavery they drew the
sword; in the name of slavery they plunged
i toward the heart of this Republic. But,
SIR, under the providence of that God to
whose decision they appealed, that sword
has been plunged back into its own vitals and
It's hte-blood is gushing all around us.
They not only ayowed slavery to be the
cornerstone of their edihce, but thew boldly
proclaimed slavery to be divine institution.
founded upon the Bible itself They I'M
blushingly declared war with the whole civil
lzation of the present age. All are familiar
with the declarations of Mr.. Stephens and the
leading men of this rebellion, which | will
not repeat. But there is one avowal made
not long ago in the Richmond Enquirer speak
ing for the rebel cause, published at the seat
OF LIS power, i'll presence of Jefferson Davis
and his Congress of cOnspirators, so remark
able in its character that will read from it
sentence or two:
The establishment of this confederacy. based as
1t is upon slavery, aud upon the principles of nat
ural sueordlnation, is verify distinct reaction
against the whole course of the ages Civilizations
''For liberty, equality, fra
ternity, we have imperatively substit uted slave
ry, subordinatIon, Government
There are slave races, born to serve
master races born to govern
SPY these principles we live, and in their defense
we have shown ourselves ready to die. Reverently,
feel that our confederacy is God-sent ission-