Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-03-05
ENL1sTMENTs IN TILE ARMY.
SPEECH OF HON. ]. r. DOOLITTLE,
OF WISCONSIN,
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATS,
Fs6ruarg 9, 1864.

The Senate, as in Committees OF the w noie, nav
ing under consideration the bill Is. No. AL 70 pro-
mote eniistments in the army Of the United states,
aud for other purposes the pending question being
Mr.. Henderson 3 amendment to the third section
of the bill
Mr.. DOOlittle said:
Mr.. President: War and not peace is our
real situation. Whatever may 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 viii give strength to
our armies in the field and bring revenue to
support them, demands the first consideration
of Congress, and of every Department of this
Government. If left to me l would speak
but one word, Fill up the ranks, press on the
columns To spare the unnecessary shed
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 "a fill up the ranks,
press on the columns" To secure liberty and
Union: to secure peace with all other ma
tiOns by inspiring them with respect; and to
put a final end to that conspiracy, founded on
slavery, which makes war against US, would
still saw, as the most radical and at the same
time the most certain of all measures, 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
ieets will be involved in times like these, and
we are called upon to meet them and to dis
euss 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 mature,. and passed be-
fore that long adjournment I 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 10
raise the troops and to fill the ranks of our
armies / rejoice that the honorable Senator
from Massachusetts,, the chairman of the
Committee on Military Affairs, has determined
to eonfine the question of the enrolment and
pay of troops to that single issue, and not in
vOlve with il the consideration of the abOli
ton of slavery within the States by act OF
Congress.
Some remarks have been made, however
upon this bill aud upon the subject of the
Crittenden compromise, as it IS called, thi:
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 oil
affairs, we see at once that three years of wal
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
in the States. The question of slavery i'm the
States was entirely diSclaimed. Neither tht
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 organization
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 legislatC
on the subject of slavery within the iurisdic
tiOli of the States The sole ISSUE therefore
so far as slavery was concerned in 1850 was
shall slavery enter the Territories? The peo
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. WI
met here in the Halls of Congress. Tn,
champions of slavery extension and SLAYER,
prOpagandism raised the same issue in a new
form They said to the representatives o.
the incoming Administration, IF you will
change the Constitution soas to guaranty sla
very in all the territory south of Sc deg. 81
min. which we now have or may hereafter
acquire, we viii submit to the election of Mr.
Lincoln; We will remain in the Union; but
if you will not consent to such an amendment
we viii make war upon the Government anC
break up the Union" Those representative.
a.. III
champions of slavery appealed To- arms ant
to the God of battles. BY that appeal Il
that dread tribunal they have changed th,
issue. Ii is no longer whether slavery sllal
90 into the Territories. That is already de
cided against them. Slavery is abolished il
all the Territories of the United States, anC
from this time henceforth and forever tn,
foot of a slave can never tread one inch o
the soil of the American Territories.
But, | repeat, sir, in making this appeal Ia
the God of battles and TO high Heaven, they
have raised other issues. Sowing to the
wind they have reaped the whirlwind In
declaring war against the Union they have
raised the question whether this Government
shall live or die. In declaring that the,
would not submit to the decisions of a major
ity of the people at the ballOt-bOx, in &C
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 impiously 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
nnder the flag of slavery. Slavery was tC
be the cornerstone of their southern confed
eracy. In the name of slavery they drew the
sword in the name of slavery they plunged
it toward the heart of this Republic. But
sir, under the providence of that God &c
whose decision they appealed, that sword
has been plunged back into its own vitals ano
its life blood is gushing all around US.
They not only ayowed slavery to be the
cornerstone of their edifice, but they boldly
proclaimed slavery to be divine institution
founded upon the Bible itself They un.
blushingly declared war with the whole civil
iZation 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 its pO yer, in presence of jefferson Davi:
and his Congress of conspirators, so remark
able in its character that | will read from i
sentence or two:
The establishment of this confederacy, based a
il is upon slavery, and upon the principles of nat
ural suk0rination. is verify distinct reaction
against the whole course OF the ages civilization.
ssFor sIiberty, equality fra
ternlty, We have imPeratiEely substituted slave
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