The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-02-18

An amendment was offered by Mr..
Wilson, which was adopted, equalizing
the pay of colored troops aud extend
ing the provisions of the bill to give
them an additional three dollars per
month from January 1st, 1864.
The amendment offered by Mr. Doo-
little, deducting four dollars per month
from their pay for supporting their
families and friends, is under discus
sion.
"A report of tho Secretary Of War
was received in answer to resolution
relative to the officers commutation
for quarters and fuel. 1t shows that
there are 507 officers here drawing
such commutation now-9 Major Gen
erals, Is Brigadicr Generals, 81 Colo
nels, Is Lieutenant Colonels, "a Majors,
1875 Captains, 43 LieutenaDts, 26 Sur
gcons, IL Assistant Surgeons, and 70
Paymasters. .a -I a. ".e#
Mr.. HOWELL presented a memo
rial from the Milwaukee Chambers of
Commerce, representing that within o
few months twenty-five millions of dol
lars have been mined and are waiting
express, and asking aid in the con-
struetion of a wagon road within mill
tary protection through central Min
nesOta. Referred.
On motion ofMr. Wilson, the Senate
proceeded to the consideration of a bill
for the equalization of the pay of
United States Soldiers. ga...
Mr.. CONNESS withdrew his amend
ment comforting the benefits Of those
in the service at the time of the pass
ago of the amendment.
Mr.. SUMNER offered an amend
ment providing that in cases where
the Secretary of War shall be satisfied
that persons of color have been mus
tered 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. r
Mr.. GRIMES hoped the Senator
would withdraw his proposition, and
that from this time forward every SOL
der was to receive the same pay. He
hoped tho bill might be allowed to
stand on its merits without making it
retrospective,
Mr.. WILSON moved to strike out
the bill of the committee giving col
ored troops the same pay, except boun-
ty, during the whole time they have
been in the service, and inserting " af-
ter the first of January, 1864"
Mr.. SUMNER would not withdraw
his amendment without explaining that
its provisions would only apply to n
few regiments. 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 deficiency bill. He asked that
they lie over until Monday.
Mr.. JOHNSON, in reply to Mr.
Sumner, said If the black men of Mary
land were as good as the black men
enlisted elsewhere, why make excep-
tions? If justice were done according
to the views of the Senator from Mass.
achusetts, some 100000 would be ia.
ken from the treasury, or as he under
stood il, about S50O,0O0 All should
be paid alike Why did not Massa
chusetts pay these troops herself?
| Mr.. FESSENDEN said he under.
stood tho pay had been offered, but til,
colored troops refused to receive it.
MR.. WILSON explained the cir
cumstances under which the colored
troops from Massachusetts had refus
ed to receive their pay. They held
the Government TO the pledges mad,
to them, and wanted the full pay ol
thirteen dollars per month, or asked
to be discharged from the service.
| Mr.. JOHNSON said they were col.
orod men Of extraordinary scnsibili
ties.
Mr.. GRIMES said that from the very
outset he and his colleague Harlan
were in favor of putting the negro
troops on an equality with the whites
He was on the records in this rospec
before the Senator from Massachusetts
(Sumner.) ~N
Mr.. Sumner said that in public
speech he had said that while he wai
in favor Of carrying the war into Af
rica he was more in favor Of carrying
the African into tho war Laughter
Mr.. GRIMES was not only in favor
Of carrying tho African into the war
but for paying him thirteen dollar
per month, and placing him on th'
same footing with white soldiers. IL,
sympathized with the gallant youn,
{ men of the Bath and 56th Massachus
ettscolored troops; but he could no
, help believing it was on account o
their action that the colored mon ofth,
} South Carolina regiments refused t.
} receive thoir pay.st &C.,
Mr.. COWAN said if we were goin,
back for these colored men he was al
so in favor of going back in favo
Of the white men who were ou
earliest volunteers, and had born
? the heaviest burden Of the day
! He was not in favor of overrid
4 ing the statute to do justice to thes
9 negro troops until equal and exac
i Justice had been done to tho vetera
white soldiers. When the countr,
: should be restored to its wonted pros
perity, we could dojustice to all. No'
It is exceedingly dangerous,
J. The amendment Of Mr.. Wilson wa