The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-01-23


apart from the consideration of inadequate
home protection, We cannot regret it.
Theirs Is National reputation They
have been, IN these departments. in every
hard fought battle, and in every such battle
they have stood IN the van, and on the ram
parts slippery SWELL "Foepard" they
have fallen, 'as fits men to fall" or hurled
back the traitors with bloody hands. s.You
have the brayest Of officers, !" said a veteran
Major General, ''and your men are as brave
as your officers''
Ii would be invidious to designate, where
all are so distinguished. Led by officers OF
dash and daring, who rush to the encounter
against fearful odds; who, with pluck and
audacity, when surrounded by i've times
their number, and called upon TO surrender,
answer "Kansans never surrender" who
hold gaps IN the mountains, defying and de-
feating marshalled division of the enemy;
who climb the mountain 5 sleeps, and leap
ing over battlements, sweep from them the
braFest Of warrior Iebels-our soldiers have
in them that FIRE and enthusiasm, that spirit
which makes the bayonet think, and the man
who directs it invincible.
The death-roll tells what they are. In a
sharp defles of the mountains, or among
the moss-fringed sWamps of the South, our
slain sleep. No sight Of home gladdened
their eyes before they we're paled in death.
No friends from home were near TO cheer
them. Hallowed be their memories! Cher
ished their fame, wherever yalor is praised
and virtue honoIed And when we shall
welcome back, after the war is over, our
Scared veterans, the vacant places of the
honored dead. if silent, viii yet speak with
touching eioquence, thinning tie eyes with
tears, and moving the te2derest sensibiiities
of the heart. But We may not mourn, for,
if '4he ittest place for man to Gle, IS where
he dies for man." they will be, N the flu
ture, examples of heroic valor and martyr
spirit.
I trust that, ere the session closes, [ shall
be able to present to you fully and in de-
tail, an account of every officer and soldier
of KANSAS regiments.
I recommended, in my first annual mes
sage to the Legislature, an amendment to
TIE Constitution, giving to the soldiers the
right to vote. This recommendation failed.
I heartily renew it, aud trust that It will be
acted upon promptly
No Que can doubt the justice Of the pro-
position. Our soldiers are entitled to in
creased privileges while they are unfolding
the flag of the Republic, and are subject TO
the peri.s and privations of camp aud hos
pital 1t is small remuneration aud poor
compliment for these heroic services to say,
that they shall be equal to those who re-
main at home, and in peace, pursue the arts
of peace.
There are these who believe that they
possess the right. wish it were SO. I
have consulted some of the ablest jurigts OF
the State, who concur in the opinion, that
an amendment to the Constitution is neces-
sary. Such is my own belief. Sill, if the
Legislature, after due elaboration, shall
conclude either that the right exists, or that
it has the power to confer that right, 1 shall
gladly second its action. Or better, if g
test case can be made before the Supreme
Court, and that court should decide for the
soldier, The people of the State would en-
Enthusiastically enforce its decision. While
there is doubt, however, on the subject, let
speedy action be taken to meet the just
claims of the soldier, and to perform faith
fully our duty TO him. There is no fear,
and should be no anxiety on the part OF
Legislators on this subject, for wherever,
through State Laws, our brave men in the
field have voted, they have voted almost
unanimously for the vigorous prosecution
of the war, for universal freedom, for the
Union, and its Government.
The rebellion has forced upon Us new is
sues and the only safe way is TO face them.
Fifty thousand colored troops are armed,
drilled. and ready to battle against the rebel
foe. Wherever tested, they have exhibited
steadiness and daring-a courage which
feared neither frowning battlements, nor the
serried ranks of the foe.
As to their position, the Unionists of the
South with one exception, Kentucky, and
in that State they are divided, have declar-
ed with unexempled uuanimity, LET them
be freemen, and let slavery perish !"
In the convention recently held by the
loyalists of Tennessee, it was proposed by
member to petition the Government to
compensate loyal slave owners. One Of the
largest of that class rose, and moved that
that part of it be stricken out. The motion
was carried, with few dissenting voices.
every STAKEHOLDER voting for it. A kindred
spirit governed Louisiana, Arkansas and
Maryland. Missouri and Virginia avow
the same noble sentiments. and advocate the
same humane policy. And who are the
LOYAL Unionists of the South Men reared
amid slavery men who live where the
blacks live men who have felt and who
knoa0 the bitter blight 1t brings to human
happiness and human progress.
There fingers yet, IN the Free States, as
all fully understand. prejudice and pas
sion against the eolored race; but how can
this prejudice and passion withstand the
united action of the loyal men of the South?
They viii be as foam upon the crested wave!
Nor dare any honest nan, with aught Of
heart or mind, claim degradation for this
race, after it has fought SO heroically for the