Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-02-18

dred and twenty-six Captains, forty
three Lieutenants, twenty-four Surgeons,
twelve Assistant Surgeons and nine Pay
masters.
Mr. Howe presented memorial from
the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce
representing that within few months
more than twenty-five millions Of dol
lars have been mined and are waiting
egress, and asking aid in the coustruc-
ton of wagon road with military pro
lection through Central Minnesota
Referred.
Mr. Harlan introduced bill for the
registration of voters in the city Of
Washington. Referred to the Committee
on the District of Columbia,
On motion of Mr.. Wilson the Senate
proceeded to the consideration of the bill
equalizing the pay of United States sold
iers.
Mr. CONFESS withdrew his amendment
confirming the benefits to those in the
service at the time of the passage of the
act.
Mr.. Sumner offered an amendment,
providing that in cases where the Sec
retary of War shall be satisfied that per
sons of color have been mustered into
the service at the rate of Sl3 per month,
they shall be paid at that rate for previ-
Gus services.
Mr.. Grimes hoped that the Senator
would withdraw his proposition, and
that from this time forward every sol
der, whatever might be his color,would
receive the same pay. If any abuses or
acts of injustice should arise, they could
be remedied by subsequent legislation
He hoped the bill might be allowed to
stand on its merits, without making 1t
retrospective.
MIR. Howe concurred with Mr.. Grimes,
Mr.. Wilson moved to strike out the
clause in the bill of the Committee Civ
ing colored troops the same pay, &c,
except bounty during the whole time
they have been in the service, and insert
after the LIST day Of January, 1854.
Mr.. Sumner would not withdraw his
amendment without explaining that It's
provisions would only apply to few
regiments and therefore there would be
no great draft upon the treasury. de
did not think that the United States
could afford at this time to do injustice
to the colored troops. ...
Mr. Fessenden here claimed the floor,
and from the Finance Committee report
ed certain amendments to the House de
ficiency bill. He asked that they be laid
over until Monday.
Mr.. Fessenden said he understood the
pay had been offered but the colored
troops refused to receive it.
Mr.. johnson said then they were col
ored gentlemen of extraordinary sensi-
bilities,
Mr.. Grimes said that from the very
outset he and his colleague, Harlan,
were in favor of putting negro troops on
an equality with the whites He was
on the record in this respect before the
Senator from Massachusetts,.
Mr.. Sumner said that in a public
speech he had said that while he was in
favor of carrying the war into Africa, he
was more in favor of carrying the Afri-
can into the war. daughter
Mr.. Grimes was not only in favor OF
carrying the African into the war, but
paying him thirteen dollars per month,
and for placing him on a footing with
other soldiers. If we were going back
to pay these colored troops from Massa-
chusetts, &c, why not pay those from
Tennessee. He was informed there were
some thirty regiments of these troops
| there He thought there was trouble in
the future to be apprehended from ma
king the retrospective character of this
bill Unfortunately, He sympathizeo
with the gallant and patriotic young
men of thel54th and 55th Massachusett:
| colored troops, but he could not hell
believing that it was on account of theil
| action that the colored men of the Soutl
Carolina regiments refused to receiv
their pay.
| Mr.. Cowan said if he were going bacI
for these colored men he was also in ia
yor of going back in favor of the whit
| men who were our earliest volunteers
and had borne the heat and burden {
the day. He was not in favor of ovel
riding the statue to do justice to thes
negro troops until equal and exact jus
tice had been done to the veteran whit
soldiers. When the country should be n
stored to its wonted prosperity we coul
do justice to all; now it is exceedingl
4 'nrous.
dang. ,-,,ent Of Mr. Wilson adonts
The amenul- ~,
the amendment of ut Doonttie' prov
ding that from the mon thiy pay .! ~
ored troops mustered int. tne serSi =,
insurrectionary district the sum VI III
dollars per month shall be ressi.eu :,
reimburse the expenses incur gu ~ y
United States in feeding and [ oli,il !
the widows, children, and parents VI =
ceased colored troops. This was reje> ''e
| after some debate.
Mr.. Carlisle said that in the old day,
! of peace the negroes had holidays on ev
cry Saturday afternoon, and as all per
sons We're equal under the law, h
thought they were ENTITLED to one, al
half the afternoon has been spent in thu
service of the negro. He moved tina
the Senate adjourn. TGreat laughter.
At the instance of several Senators
| Mr. Carlisle, however, withdrew his mo
| ton.
Mr.. Sumner proposed a proviso, thai
in all cases of past services of coloret
troops, where it shall appear to the
satisfaction of the Secretary of War
from the actual papers Of enlistment
| that the troops were enlisted under thu