The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-03-30
CONSUMPTION of Slaves.
(Signed)
M. SCHoFIELD,
Major General.

"A OIL LOT cOilSCrlpIluS slaves passed. Ine
rebel House of Representatives some weeks
since, but was defeated in the Senate by one
majority, both the Virginia Senators voting
against it.-Since the rebel Legislature of
the State have voted to instruct their Sena-
tors to support the measure and they have
expressed their intention to vote according
to instructions, though they protest against
the measure as unconstitutional, inexpedi-
ent, and virtual abandonment of the prin-
ciples of the contest. We make the follow
ing extracts from the remarks of Mr.. Hun
ter of Virginia
eff we are right in passing this measure,
we were wrong in denying to the old gov
eminent the right to interfere with the in
stitution ofslavery, and to emancpate slaves
Besides, if we offer slaves their freedom as a
boon, we confess that we were insincere and
hypocritical, in asserting that slavery was
the best state for the negroes themselves
lie had besn sincere in declaring that the
central government had no power over the
institution of slavery, and that freedom
lieved, as he had formerly said in discussion
on the same subject, that arming and eman-
cipating the slaves was an abandonment of
this coDtest--an abandonment of the grounds
upon which it has been undertaken. If this
is so, who is to answer for the hundreds of
thousands of men who have been slain in
the war ? Who vas to answer for them be-
fore the bar Of haeven Not those who had
entered into the contest upon principle, and
adhere to the principle, but those who had
abandoned the principle. Not for all the gold
in California would he have put his name to
such measure as this unless obliged to do
SO by instructions. AS long as he was free
to vote from his own convictions, nothing
could have extorted it from him. Mr.. Hun
ter then argued the necessity of freeing the
negroes, if they were made soldiers There
was something in the human heart and head
that tells us it must be so when they come
out Scared from this conflict, they must be
free.
The enemy can offer them liberty, cloth
ing, and even farms at our expense. Negroes
now were deferred from going over to the
enemy only by their fear of being put into
the army If we put them in, they would
all go over"
On the 7th instant, the rebel House took
up the bill putting negroes into the army,
returned from the SeDate with the following
amendment, inserted at the end of the fourth
section of the bill
Provided, that not more than twenty five
per cent of the male slaves between the ages
of eighteen and forty-fve in any State, shall
be called for under the provisions of this
act.
The House concurred in the amendment
40 to &c.
As the bill has now doubtless passed both
Houses Of Congress, we give below copy
of it as passed:
H bill to increase the Military forces ofthe
Confederate States:
SECTION l. The Congress of the Confeder-
ate States of America, do enact that in Or
der to provide additional forces to repel in
vasion, maintain the rightful possession of
the Confederate States secure their indepen-
dence and preserve their institutions, the
President be and is hereby authorized to ask
for and accept from the owners of slaves the
services OF such number of able bodied ne
gro men as he may deem expedient for and
during the war, to perform military service
in whatever capacity he may direct
SEQ. 2. That the General-in-Chie be au-
thorizei to organize the said slaves into
companies battalions regiments and brig
AIDES, under such rules and regulations as
the Secretary of War may prescribe, and to
be commanded by such officers as the Presi-
dentimay appoint
Sec. 3. That while employed in the
service the said troops shall receive the same
rations, clothing and compensations as are
allowed to other troops in the same branch
of service,
SEC. 4. That if under the previous sec
ton of this act, the President shall not be
able to raise sufficient number of troops to
prosecute the war successfully and maintain
the sovereignty of the States and the indie
pendence of the Confederate States then he
is hereby authorized to call on each State,
whenever be thinks it expedient, for her
quota of 300, 900 troops in addition to those
subject to military service under existing
laws, or so many thereof as the President
may deem necessary to be raised from such
classes the population, Irrespective of col
or, in each State, as the proper authorities
thereof may determine. Provided, that not
more than twenty FIVE per cent of the male
slaves between the ages of eighteen and for
ty- five years in any State shall be called for
under the provisions of this act
SEQ 5 That nothing in this act shall be
construed to authorize change in the re-
lation Of the said slaves. -
An exchange infers that Dryden was not
opposed to mint juleps, from remark be
once made
''Straws may be made the instruments Of
happiness"