Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-01-17
VERY LATEST
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
REPORTED EXPRESSLY for the STATESMAN
Last Nights Dispatc hes.
XXXvIIHth CONGRESS.
First ~ SSUON
FIRST 81 ssION.

SENATE.-Alr. FeSSenden stated that 1t was
erroneous and unjust to construe the COM
mutation clause in any other way than that
of the procuration Of substitutes or pay
ment of Communication in lieu thereof eX-
empted States from their quota.
Mr.. Clark offered an amendment proyid-
ing that money paid for Communication shall
he applied to procure substitutes in the dis
t"icts from which the persons were draft
ed.
Mr.. Grimes opposed Mr.. Clark's amend
ment. He did not think it should be left to
the Secretary of War to furnish black sub
stitutes to free the quotas of the States, un
less such substitutes were citizens of the
State in question.
Mr. Fessenuen supported Clarkes amend
ment as measure of justice to the States.
Mr.. Harlan did not think negro was
sufficient substitute for drafted man, as he
was inferior in intellect.
Mr.. Davis considered that it was unjust
to call out the laboring classes of the loyal
States of the South as substitutes for labor
ing men Of the North.
Mr.. Harlan said that as the white men of
Kentucky had refused, the colOred men of
the State should fill up the quota of that
State. He could see no reason for exempt
ing colored men in that State, or in the other
States which had not filled their quotas.
Mr.. Morgan presented a petition from
citizens of New York protesting against
the relief of unnaturalized citizens for the
draft.
The enrolment bill being under consid-
Grafton, Mr.. Fessenden said his opinion of
yesterday that the payment of commuta-
tion money did not release u State from
draft was erroneous, and that the con-
struction put upon it by the Secretary of
War was correct. He thought it impossi
BILE to construe the commutation clause any
other way than that the procuration of
substitutes, or payment of commutatiOn
money, exempted the States from the
draft.
Mr.. Clark offered an amendment provid-
ing that the communication money be applied
by the War Department for obtaining sub
stitutes from the district which the drafted
person halls, to fill the quota of that State.
Mr.. Grimes did not desire that colored
men should be enlisted to fill up the quota
of the State. He would like the word 'men'
to be construed ''white men," The colored
men were enlisted by the General Govern
ment and colored men, unless the citizens of
Il State should not take the place of white
men.
Mr. Harlan thought that this was tax on
the money of the country not on the intel
lect. The people of Louisiana, Tennessee
and Kentucky owe allegiance of country as
well as those from Maine and Massachusetts,.
He never had believed that colored soldiers
could be employed with the same result as
white men. The colored man should not
be accepted as q substitute of his superior.
Mr.. Davis said a large proportion of the
labor of Kentucky was performed by slaves,
and yet the Secretary of War would sooner
enlist slave than white man in border
States, thus stripping those States of their
laboring class to serve as substitutes for
Northern laboring men, who were kept at
home.
Mr.. Wilson was glad the Government was
about establishing the policy in regard to
slaves which he (Wilson) had urged upon
them for four months past.
Mr.. Grimes thought negroes should be
put under the protection of the National
Government. His amendment was intended
to stimulate the enlistment of negroes, so
there would be no occasion for another call
upon the States.
Mr.. Grimes's amendment was rejected
2S to IA.
Mr.. Doolittle offered an amendment pro-
viding that veteran troops re-enlisting shall
be credited to the quota of the district in
which they originally enlisted. Amendment
adopted-27 to IL.
Another amendment was adopted provi-
ding that Communication money paid by per-
sons drafted shall be applied to the pro-
curement of substitutes for the Congress
sional District from which the draft takes
place, and that colored troops be credited
to the State from which they have enlisted.
Mr.. Trumbull offered amendment request
ing the President to call out and equip
one hundred thousand men for one hundred
days with the single object of driving out
the rebel army from Virginia, and releasing
the Union prisoners at and around Rich
mond.
Mr.. Wilson wanted to know what 100,-
600 raw militia would be against Lees
veteran army. They would be of no ac-
count whatever. .....
Mr.. Trumbull said if would say to the
people that there would be a vigorous cam
paign for this single object we could raise
the 100000 men or the increased number
proposed by the Senator from Wisconsin
1Howe). He had no fears that new troops
could be stampeded.
Mr.. Foster said the feeling among his con-
stituents was intensely strong in favor OF
the objects contemplated by the amendment
of the Senator from Illinois, and would also
be wild with enthusiasm in many sections
of the country if the amendment was adopt
ed. He did not think however, it was
proper to incorporate this into the present
bill.
Mr.. Nesmith moved to insert three years
instead of one hundred days. Motion adopt
ed
The amendment as amended was rejected
whereupon, at 5P. M. the Senate adjourned