New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-19
xXxvIIH,h CoNGREss....F ir.t Session.
SENATE. =. WASHINGTON. March Is. 1864.
FOREIGN MAILS.

Mr.. CoLLAMBR (Un., Vt.) called up the
House bill 70 provide Tor carrying the mails 70 foreign
parts and for other purposes reported from the Sen
ate Committee with amendments, which VIA passed.
The Senate amendments repeal tho act OF Angus,
s52 authorizing the conveyance or letters otherwise
than in the mails except money letters and accompany
ing packages and also refused 10 extend the prepaid
letter postage the overland route TO Caior.
MIA to bona fde subscribers OF newspapers.
DIVISION OF REBELS LANDS.
Mr. MORGAN (Un., n. - presented the petition OF
citizens OF Brooklyn and Eew.York asking that the
lands OF Rebels may DO oopfsoated and divided into
parcels of leo for distribution among soldiers md
oPRs ACTION ON EoAISAUoHs.
Mr. GaNsss (Un. Iowa) resolution 10 amend the
Should sc made Il open Senate s
10 the Judiciary Committee. -
PROMOTION OF EyLrsTMrNTs
Mr.. WILSON Un.. Mass.) called up the Senate bill 10
promote enstments his amendment substitute for
the bill being in order
This amendment provides for the freedom Of the wife
and children II the slave recruit IN the first section.
Tho second section authorizes the Commissioners IL
the Slave States appointed under tho act Of Congress Of
1863 to award to loyal owners Of said wives aud children
a lust compensation.
Mr. WILSON said il was becoming evident that ne
groes would enlist unless they know that protection
would be afforded their families lie read letters to
show that ia hissOur the Secession mesters NJ slaves
who had been mustered Into our service were commit
ting the most unheard of crueltes toward their families
selling them in most cases into Slavery.
Mr.. WILKINSON (Un., Mimi moved 10 strike out the
second section.
Mr.. PonERoY Cun.. Kansas) thought it was late
day 10 say that nothing was due to the slave. The
Chairman Of Indian Affairs brought III 9s 10 set'e up
the Indians In their new condition Here was class
who rendered the whites service oil their lives long
Why shonld they not be set up 10 their not he He
proposed 10 amend the second section OF MI Wilson's
amendments BIZ providing that The Commissioners shall
be authorized to settle the account between every such
person made free and his or her loyal owners, and
ward each party such just compensation as may be
found due go
Mr.. SUMNER (Unv Mass.) said the main proposition
was TO strike down Slavery wherever we lind It. 1t
would take long time 10 carry the constitutional
proposition before Congress and the Legislature Of Inc
country Let nos postpone this matter under the DC
fusion that il can olly be done by CONSTITUTIONAL
Mr.. WILSON elso hoped the bill would not be post
poned q day. We wanted soldiers at t!s time and to
Get them is costing the country about $500 Here was
way 10 promote enlistruens by saying 70 every loyal
slave that his wife and child should be Tree from the
moment of his enlistment With what grace could we
AK men 10 enlist in our army when tho moment their
backs are turned from their homes their wives and
children may be sold into the most abeet slavery by
their exasperated mesersi This should be corrected
nv The massage OF this blu at AS TO the matter Of
dollars and cents which had been urged lection.
he had no idea that the average value OF these slaves
would be s.OJ.
worthless after while. He did not approve OF the
idea of the Government rushing into the market to buy
slaves when they were high. IL was bad ECONOMY. .
Mir WLsoa replied thar, while the Senator was walt
inc for the price 10 fall the man is waiting TO have hls
wife and children projected, that he may enter the
.rvire of the country aud the country is going 10 ruin
sor the want u soldiers The enlistmens OF co.ored
men we're decreasing on this very account.
Mr.. WuKISsoS did not want this Government to be-
me the purchaser Of slaves We had already gone too
fr in the way Of aCknow Lodging property IN slaves
We already paid $500 for slaye recruits, and now We
,nr,os,d 10 pay for his wife and children. Allowing
hosc IN be four in number with the money pay the
rscru, himself they would cost the Government about
A. 900 These persons owed service to the Govern
o,n,.an6 we had no more obligation 10 protect their
fuilies than 10 protect those Of loyal white men who
80 entered the service He in favor OF freeing the
wvcs and children without compensation to masters:
Ne believed the bill shOad be postponed us it involved
millions Of dollars Of outlay to no practical purpose,
Mr. LANE Un., kan.) thought the bill should pass
immeliatey, or we should stop ensting coored men
altogether The proposition that we should take these
man into the service without securing freedom TO TIER
uv,s and children, was absurd ard inhuman. He
would vote against giving their masters one cent Oh
compensation.
tate In this matter while the wives and children OF the
brave men who sacrificing their lives for the coun
nv are being sold into bondage This was scene too
disgraceiu 20 be tolerated for moment. We cannot
accomplish what We want by the proposed constitu'
tional amendments. Why then raise technical objec:
lions when these gross cutrages are DcDg prpetrated
every day before our eyes
Nj SHERMAN (Un.. Ohio) said that this bill is do.
.ectye aud mprscticablc he had heretofore shown
hccausc of tho peculiar domestic relations OF these
peoplc and especially the relation OF marriage There
we're insrpersbc obstacles in the way OF carrying out
the proyis:on 70 free the wives and children OF these
slaves rs they were bound to each other IN
by ties not recognized by u.s. Let destroy the nst
tuition by such constitutional amendments as those pro-
posed By Mr.. Henderson, that neither courts nor
lawyers could lind fault with our cotton. BE wanted to