Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-07-27

- S.ts~S
military or naval service for which they
might be found competent, persons OF
African descent and such persons should
be enrolled and organized under such
regulations, not inconsistent with the Con-
s,itu,ion and laws, as the President might
prescribe :" ard further, that they should
receive ten dollars per mcnth and one
ration, three dollars ofwhich monthly pay
might bo in clothing"
Without, any other law on the subject
prior in late to the present session OF Con-
grcss. Except an imperfect provision in
al act of 1862, the President in his mes
sage in December s, 1868 announced, that
..or those who were slaves at the begin
ming OF the rebellion, fully one hundred
thousand are now in the United States
military service; about one-half Of which
number actually bear arms in the ranks"
At the present session, on the 24!h OF
February, an act amendatory of the CON
scription law Of 1863 was approved, The
twenty-fourth section of which provides
for the enrolment OF colored persons be-
tween twenty and forty-fve years of age
that slaves OF loyal masters enrolled, drawn
and Mustered into the public service, shall
De Tree, anu Onc bOiitih lpA tdOi
shall be paid to the master; and that in
theslave States represented in Congress,
the loyal master Of O slave who volunteers
into the public service shall be paid sum
not exceeding three hundred dollars, out
efthe military Communication fund.
BY the army appropriation bill, appro-
we'd June Is, 1864, twas further provided,
"that all persons OF color who have been
or may be mustered into the military SER
vice of the United States shall receive the
same uniform, clothing, arms, equipments,
camp equipage, ralions, medical and hos
pital attendance pay and emolumeDts,
other than bounty, as other soldiers Of The
regular or volunteer forces Of the United
States of like arm Of TIE service, from and
after tho first day of January, 1861; and
that every person of color who shall here
after be mustered into The service, shall
receive such suns in bounty as the Presi-
dent shall order in the different States
and parts of the United States not exceed
ing one hundred dollars each"
This enactment is similar in terms to a
bill which passed the Senate in March
last, upon the confederation Of which it
vas announced, that at least two hundred
thousand colored troops would be raised.
Adding to this number the number stated
by the President 10 be iE service in De-
cember last, would make one quarter of
million OF troops of this description.
The measures above mentioned would
establish the following points in the poll
cy of the Government. First The EN-
ployment of black troops generally, both
slave and free. Second, The equality OF
black troops with white as 10 componsa-
ton and supplies, and Third. The pay
ment TO the loyal master ofa slave OF q
. bounty Of one hundred dollars when the
slave is drafted into the service, or of a
bounty not exceeding three hundred dol
lars when he volunteers.
The practical results Of this policy are,
TO obtain an inferior quality Of troops at
the highest rate ofexpense TO impose up
on the Treasury the support of an enor-
nous number..of undisciplined and igno-
rant negroes, TO recognise the principle OF
buying negroes from their masters, wheth-
er public interests require it or not, and
.o nSsI hs f ri 0 REsakas doyn " il The
oes employed in its prosecution. Besides,
it is notorious that in pursuing this policy,
the negro women and children must, to O
great extent, be thrown upon the Govern
ment for support or be left TO perish
There has never been extensive objection
10 the employment of negroes under the
act of 1862, in those war cmploymenis for
which they are fitted as lab orers and team.
sters, and for camp service. In the warm
parts of the country, especially. they could
be thus usefully employed, and reasona-
ble number doubtless might also be en-
,ployed for some sorts o! service in the ma
Wy. But to employ an unwisldy number
of them at such rrodigious expense, is
most evident folly and wrong, and it will
be we'll if sigma! disaster does not result
from it. We know no reason for this ex
travagant, costly, and dangero us policy
except desire oltbe majority in Congress
20 establish (if indeed their enaciment'
could accomplish such object) the equali
ty of the white and black races with each
other. But doubtless, the employment o
blacks In the war is 10 be made the pre-
text for extending to them the right oi
suffrage and also social position, and to be
followed, probably, by the organization o.
a considerable body of them into stand.
ing army.
To Je Continued.