Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-02
HOUSE.

Mr.. Garfield introduced a resolution TO raise a
committee OF inquiry into the charges against
the Treasury Department. The resolution was
adopted.
Mr.. Stevens of Pennsylvania repor,ed. from
the Committee on Ways and Means. the Senate
amendments 70 the army appropriation bill
Among the amendments was (Which was
adopted) apprOpriating S45 900 for the purchase
OF artificial limos tor soldiers and sailors
Another Senate amendment was read. in which
the Committee recommended concurrence, as
follows:
Il That colored persons mustered into the mill
tary service shall receive the same uniform, cloth
ing, rations, medical and hospital attendance,
ana emolumeuts a white soldiers from and after
the 1t ol June, 1864; aud any person OF color
hereafter mustered INTO the service shall receive
bounty not exceeding 500.
Considerable debate eusued.
Mr. Clay OF Kentucky said the property of his
constituents had been stolen from the plantations
not only negroes. but stock and every thing
else The negroes who valuable we're put
into the military service, while the useless slaves
and women and children are supported at the ex
pense Ot the Government, without a particle of
law The Government protected its officers IN
stealing negroes. He knew il to be true He had
suffered himself, and to the truth oil this he would
swear in court he asked tor nothing but
H.
when these rights were tramped under foot he
would raise his voice against IT,
Mr. Elliot said he understood the gentleman
from Kentucky to charge that the Government
officers had stolen negroes. Did the gentleman
say that they had To learn that any such state
ments noted the truthl
Mr.. Clay answered, do
Mr.. Elliot denied the statement that negroes
had been stolen by any officers
Mr. Clay SAID thousands of contrabands were
dying in camp OF all diseases ever imagined
they were roulng in filth
Mr. Elliot said it had been his warmest wish
that Freeiman's Bureau should be organized to
avoid any difficulties.
Mr Clay reSumlng, said such mortality was the
effect OF your system. You care DO more for u
negro than YOU do for horse You are purchas-
ing these negroes with bounties to save white
men. Ny patience i worn out | would rather
be a slaye-hOlder than r0bber stealing ali over
the country.
Mr. Holman asked, prepared to place,
by solemn legislation. the black upon the ,ame
footing with the white sodieIf Gentleman you
have got this question to meet.
Mr Stevens said the question was whether
all the soldiers who wear the livery OF the Union
and marched under It's banner. are common with
the army OF the Union. and VINO exposed them
selves to battle and death, should be placed on
an equality, or whether We were 10 keep up an
unjust distinction. DE despi~ed such distinction
troops in the day OF death and battle. Why
should they not be paid and clothed alike-hi--
tory showed that they had fought as gallantly
and bravey the white men their side. aud
yet this infamous and defrauding distinction WAS
to he kept up. Let not :ht nation tor a moment
sanction it, let II not 30 forth as the opinion of
this body that the black aud red men are not to
be treated like other men who perilled their lives
in their couhirys defense
He al mired the conduct Of the 54h Massachu
sets, who refused take the $40 per month,
and who marched from their own soil with a
magnanmty which would do credit TO the bes,
man in Indiaua.
Mr. Holman offered an amendment to increase
the paw OF soldiers To S2O per month after an
uary lst., 1864 with a corresponding increase OF
paw TO non commissioned officers Mr. Stevens
said that the amendmeDt was not pertaining 10
the paw 81 the regular army. The Speaker sus-
tanned the objection.
Mr. Holman took An appeal from the decision.
when the Speaker was sustained by laving the
appe,l upon the table. Yeas 95. nave 25
Schenck offered an amendment To the pend
Ing Senate amendment, making The equalization
OF pay. commencing the lst. of May Instead OF
the LIST. January.
TINS was disagreed to nv o. against S.
ment aout the equality Of pay &c Yeas ol. nays
~
The Senate amendment 10 the army appropri
ations we're agreed TO, including the following:
All persons OF color who have been or may
be mustered into the military service of the Uui
ted States. shall recslve the same uniform
clothes. arms equipments. camp eQuIpAge, rs-
tionS me lical aud hospital attendance, pay and
emJlumeuts other thln bounty as other soldiers
in the regular aor volunteer force of the Unitel
States of the ike ~rm the service, from sud sf
ter January l-t le64. and that every person OF
color " no shall hereafter be mustered into the
service shall receive the same amount OF bOunty
A. the President shall order in the different State.
or parts OF States not exceeding 500. Any
cOlOred person subsisIed aud mustered into the
service asa volunteer under the call of October
9Th. 1868, for three hundred thousand men who
Was at the time OF enlistment, en- oiled and sub
iect TO the draft IN State in which he volunterec
shall receive from the United States the sam,
amount OF bounty as pald TO white soldiers un-
DIR the same call. not exceeding in any cas-.