Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-01-23
Proposed CAN for 1 .0OO.O 900 Men for
az Ninety Days. 1T z
Plan for the Liberation of the Unien Prison.
ers held BY the Rebels.

Senator HowE, Of Wisconsin, offered the
following joint resolution in the Senate on
the 18th inst, for the relief of the officers
and soldiers of the United States now. held
captives the rebel prisons at Richmond and
vicinity: i u .sii a1p A 21iD.H .'a
Wf>reas, Persons in authority under the trail
torous organization which for the last years has
made relentless war upon the people OF the United
States and their Government, now holds in barbar-
our captivity many officers aud soldiers of the
United states, and refuse TO accept them except
condition thai, they allowed tosretain such of
soldiers as they call negroes, and such of our
officers as have comm anded negro troops; and up
the further condition that will also release
upon parol all the excess Of Rebel prisoners ow
| in the hands of Government, amounting to
many thousands and
Whsreas, The same persons are unable or unwiI-
| ling to make suitable even tolerable provision
for the support of their captives, thereby render
ing their imprisonment as gross an outrage upon
the dictates of humanity and the laws of war, as
il is upon their duty as the legtsmate subject of
Whereas, They have denied the charity of the
loyal people of the United States the privilege #
supplying the most pressing necessities of their
brothers in these prisons, and have refused to re-
ceive even flag of truce from the authorities of
the United States, unless it is forwarded by of.
ficer OF their own approval. st t-5
Whereas, 1t does not become twenty two millions
of people, having the rights of, and ability for,
self-governmeDt, to allow rebellious subjects to
dictate to them what agents or officers they shall
employ nor does il become them to feed plentiful
ly at home while their brethren starFe within a
hundred miles of their capital therefore, be it
Resolved By the Senate aud House of Representatives.
in Congress ussepabled /: - 50 - -
l. SECTION l. That the President of the United
States is hereby authorized and requested to call
out and arm million of volunteers to serve for
the period of ninety days. unless sooner discharged
and to be employed to carry food and freedom to
every captive held in Rebel Prisons, and to plant
the Tag of the United states upon every prison
they occupy.
SIC. 2. That the President be requested to as
sign Major Gen. Ulysses :. Grant to the command
of the forces raised under this CALL together with
such OF the forces the field may be
oined with them, and he is hereby authorized to
detail for the subordinate commands in the forces
to be raised under the authority of these resOlu-
tons such off cers prvates in the field he
may deem best qualified therefor; or any person
or persons who may volunteer under the same
thority, provided, however, that any officer pri-
vate the military service of the United States
who may be detailed to any such command by au-
thonty hereby, shall receive additional pay for
such substituted service and no volunteer under
the same authority, who shall be detailed to any
such command, shall receive more pay than the
pay of private.
SEC. 8. That persons volunteering under author
ity hereof shall be sworn into service on the
day OF February next, and the term OF their enlist
ment shall commence from and after that day.
SEC. 4. That both Houses of Congress will,
the fourth day of March next, at twelve O'Clock
meridian, adjour to meet on the fourth day of
June following and Immediately upon such adj
journmept each member thereof under fifty years
of age, shall report himself to the commandant
of some company in the forces hereby provided
for. and shall thereupon be into the mil
itary service, and unless sooner discharged, shall
continue in such service without pay therefor until
the expiration of the period fer which such forces
enlisted.