Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-07-02

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I gentleman to say that unless the slave be
stolen he would not return him.
Mr.. COX. If were a commissioner I'M
der the law would return every man whom
the law required to be returned.
Mr.. BLAINE. But does the law require
man to be returned who is in the ranks OF
the Union Army? The gentleman skilltul-
ly attempts to evade that question.
NJ. COX. The gentleman skillfnlly puts
question and doggedly shuts his ears to
the answer. The law was never made in
view Of condition of things like the pres
ent
Mr.. BLAINE. Then understand the
gentleman to say that he would return men
to slavery from the ranks of the Union
Army.
Mr.. cox. would return any man now
In arms who has been wrongflllly taken
! from his master, and then l would let the
proper tribunal decide whether he proper
ly belonged to the military service or not
Mr.. BLAINE. Are the men who are in
the Army wrongfully taken?
Mr.. cox. Task the gentleman that. We're
they wrongfully taken?
Mr.. BLAINE. No, sir.
Mr.. cox. Then | have nothing more to
say to the gentleman OH that point. The
answer is obvious.
Mr.. BLAINE. Yes, but obvious as the
answer may be, the gentleman fails to give
1t. But will put another question. Sup
pose a runaway slave, one not taken by law
from his master, enlists and is found in the
ranks of the Union Army and is claimed as
fugitive slave, what does he think about
that?
Mr.. cox. will tell the gentleman what
/ think about it. l opposed putting the
black men in the Army in the first place.
said there would be trouble about the ex-
change of prisoners. l warned the House
against that policy earnestly, in the inter-
est of our white soldiers who have been
kept in prison by reason of this infamous
military policy as to black soldiers. do
not believe that the Army has been
strengthened one jot or little by these black
men. L believe they are positive weak
ness to the Union Army and the Union
cause. General Grant does not use them.
He does not put them in the front. He does
not fight them. He knows their worth or
worthlessness. He uses them where he can,
but takes care where he places them.
Mr.. BLAINE. Let me tell the gentle
man that there are more than one hundred
and fifty wounded negroes III one hospital
at Fortress Monroe.
Mr.. cox. The gentleman may find one
hundred and fifty blacks wounded out OF
one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers
They were with Butler. The wonder is
that any escaped. But General Grant is too
skillful and able General to put himself
and black men against General Lee and his
white men.
Mr.. BLAINE. do not see the pertinen-
cy of that to my question.
Mr.. COX. | will show the gentleman
| would be willing to let the black sol
diers in our army be taken home to their
loyal owners, and if the war must go on
leave to the white men the honor and duty
of carrying on the war for the constitutions
al liberties of white men.
Mr.. BLAINE. Precisely; but l still fail
to see the pertinency of the gentleman's
harrangue. recognize in it the sentiments
and the phrases OF stump speech which
had the pleasure of hearing from him more
than once before. But it has 10 relevancy
to my question.
Mr.. COX. The gentleman is mistaken
never discussed the subject-matter of this
question before in my life. He imagines il
to be a stump speech, because, in his famil-
lar parlance, it is a Stun,per to him. True,
gave him general answer.
Mr.. BLAINE. Quite general one.
Mr.. cox. Then 1 will not yield any
further. If cannot make him understand,
it is not my fault.
Mr.. BLAINE. Not at all.
Mr.. cox. do not think the gentleman
is so stupid as that he cannot understand
it. The trouble is he does not want to un-
derstand it.
Mr.. BLAINE. 1 understand distinctly
that the gentleman does not wish to give
me direct answer.
Mr.. cox. | have answered all direct
questions directly; and indirect questions l
have answered directly and indirectly.
What more can do?
Mr. BALDWIN, of Massachusetts. You
have answered every way but directly.
Mr.. cox. Oh, Mr.. Speaker, think the
gentleman from Massachusetts, has been
most thoroughly answered.
WISCONSIN TAKES HER TURN.
Mr.. SLOAN rose.
Mr.. HIGBY. object to any further in
terruption.
Mr.. cox. l have special reason for
yielding to the gentleman. / wish to call
the attention of the gentleman from Wis
consin to the fact that the Republicans in
his State long since repudiated the fugitive
slave law.
Mr.. SLOAN. l would like to reply to
the gentleman.
Mr.. HIGBY. withdraw my objection.
Mr.. SLOAN. l rose for the purpose of
asking the gentleman from Ohio whether
he believes, as has been announced upon
that side of the House, that slavery is dead?
Mr.. cox. What would be the use of the
repeal of the fugitive slave law if slavery
were altogether dead? WouldFnot the law
be dead letter?
Mr.. SLOAN. That is an evasion of the
question.
Mr.. cox. Why bring in this bill if
slavery is dead?
Mr.. SLOAN. In reply, 1 ask why keep
alive this law for the rendition of fugitive
slaves if slavery is already dead?
Mr.. cox. Because i am informed by
gentlemen here from Kentucky, what /
know to be true, that there are loyal men
yet Shareholders. / would give them the
benefit of the compact which our fathers
made with their fathers. Would not you?
Mr.. SLOAN. That is an evasion. Does
the gentleman believe slavery is dead?
Mr.. cox. No, sir. Do you?
Mr.. SLOAN. believe it ought to die;
[laughteTl and believe it win die if the
loyal people of this country succeed in put
ting down the rebellion.
Mr.. cox. So, on the other hand, want
you to politically you do not.
[Laughter.l God in heaven hasten that day;
but you are not entirely dead yet.
Mr.. SLOAN. Does the gentleman believe
that the institution of slavery will survive
the issue Of this war and rebellion?
Mr. cox. Now the gentleman compli-
mentsme by thinking lam prophetic enough
to look through these dark clouds of Repub-
lican policy and these red clouds OF civil
war into our future. cannot see that the
institution of slavery will be altogether
erased by this war. think it was dying
inch by inch, under the blows of war, until
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