The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-06


nit, Mr. Miles moved 10 take up from
The calendar The bin reported from The
Military Committee, 10 be entitled "An
set to increase the sih .iency Of The army
by the employment of free negroes and
slaves in certain cspaciiies The mo
ton was agreed to and The bill taken up
It provides that all male free negroes
between the ages If eighteen and hity
years shall be held liable 10 perform such
duties in she army, or in connection with
the military defensps Of the country, in
the wsv Of work upon Che fortfcations,
or in Government ks for the produc
tion or preparation Of material Of war,
or in military hospifals. IS the Secretary
Of War may from tine 10 time prescribe;
to receive rations, clo'hing, and eleven
collars per month for such services. i
also provides for The employment ct
slaves for Tho same purposes, and upon
the came term; and, in the event Of the
lose Of any euch slaves, The owners 10 be
entitled 10 receive their fol- valne; sad
TIE Secretary Of War is authorized TO
impress slaves, in the event thst he shall
be HaGble 81 procure heir services in any
military department in sufficient num-
ba-s for the necessities of the depart
ment.
"A Gsrdenheir. Of Tennessee, inqui-
red of the Chairman Of the Military
Committee whether, in case that bill was
passed. it would not be recognizing Lin
coins right 20 conscribe our negroes
Mr.. Miles replied that be was surprised
81 such question. We had a right to do
what We pleased with our slaves, and
Lincoln had no control over them.
Mr.. Fooie, Of Tennessee, said that 8
difficulty occurred 70 his mind 10 relation
to the question If exchange. Suppose
any Of these negroes were 10 be taken
prisoners. what would be done with
them He approved the object of the
bill, and should supportit; but the ques-
ton be proposed suggested TO his mind
difficulty in the way.
NJ. Miles replied that that question
had not been considered By the commit
tee, and be did not think it proper 70
embArrass the bill By the suggestion of
any feature in regard 70 It, It was q
question that might arise hereafter, and
might be lsft 20 the Commissioners of
ExchaDPe to eetlle.
Mr. Bouldin, Of Virgins, moved to
amend the first section of the bill by
adding. "And no free negro engaged in
the production Of food and forage shall
be {, ken under this act"
Mr. Baldwin, said, that no exemption
Law which had been passed bV Congress
provided fer the exemption Of The prOduc-
Jog class Of the country. The only exemp
ton they bad was msde and founded al
together upon the idea Of police 10 The
section that be represented the entire az
ricultural interest was conducted by
white people and free negroes, although
it was = slaveholding community. He
lad it from good authority, that the OPP
Grafton Of the substitute law would re-
duce one Thousand farms FROM the pro
duciion of surplus food and fo7age for
The army down 10 8 sufficient quantity to
supply be families of he agricultural q.
lists. The Valley Of Virginia was the
great erhnary Of Virginia 10 supply the
Army of Virginia
Toe farmers there were now selling
their personal property and hiring ont
thsir slaves, aud prspari0g 70 go into the
army under the provisions Of the bill
Whaievfr its effec mi be in bringing
in skulkeTs in other portions Of the COM
try, in his district it called away from
home men engaged In business, ever bio "
at which wss 3 blow at the Con-
federste States. It had swept throug h
bis district like 6 tcrnsdo, of des-
trueiiOn. Slaves had escaped TO the
Yankees, aud farners had supplied their
places by free negroes. and making naa.
fu a class hitherto usel Sc. And now
here c mes = bill which proposes % take
swav every free negro between the ages
Of eighteen and City years, aud free ne
grOes 60 in advance of slaves. Ia some
districts Of the Safe you might take
ev,rV white mar, and the women could
conduct the operations Of the slaves; but
IN his district, il the white men snd free
NEGROES were taken, it would sop agri-
cultural operations altogether. He
thought il time t. husband our resources,
and not make any further draiR upon the
agricultural resources Of the untrv
The great question was not the numb Of
men. but how 70 supply food and forage
for the army. The supplies vera al
ready scsnt enough, and We we're taking
away those who would make them great
er, aud placing them among those who
are now scAntily supplied. It seemed
that there was q sort of stSmpeds on this
subject both in and cut Of Congress- The
cry was place every body in the army
and fight IL out; bat no was unwilling
TO place il upon the hazard Of single eff
fort. He and the people he represented
had embarked in the war forever if neces.
ssry, and were prepared to fight il out
In spite Of very obstacle, and when the
Government comes TO the conclusion that
the war IL 20 be fought within interior
lines, the confidence of the psaple would
revive. De urged il upon Congress to
take care Of every branch Of industry,
and supply the men We have, for the peo-
pie would lose coafdenos If they saw
that every thing they bad was to be
stAked upon a single, effort lie hoped
the Government would set its foot upon
any such mad policy, husband its res
ources, aud protract the war long enough
10 secure our indeP ndeDce
Pending The consideration Of the sub
Jet the House, on motion of Mr.. Jones,
went into secret session upon the ques-
ton Of the currency.