New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-13

measure as this unless obliged to do It BY instructions
As long as be was free to vote from bis own convictions
nothing could have extorted it from him.
Mr. Hunter then argued the necessity OF freeing the
negroes II they were made soldiers. There some.
thing in the human heart and head that tells 1t must
be so; when they out Scared from this conflict
they must be free. II could make them soldiers the
condition Of the soldier being socially equal TO any
other Ia society. could make them officers perhaps
10 command white men. Some futnresambitious Presi.
dent might the slaves to seize the liberties Of the
country and put the white men under his feet. The
Government had 10 power under the Constitution to
arm and emancpate the slaves and the Constitution
granted no such great powers by Implication.
Mr.. Hunter then showed from statistics that no con-
siderable body Of negro troops could be raised in the
States over which the Government had control without
stripping the country Of the labor absolutely necessary
to produce food. lie thought there was much better
chance Of getting the large number Of desertes beck to
the army than Of getting the slaves into It. Tie negro
abhorred the profession Of a soldier The commandant
Of conscrps with authority impress twenty thousand
slaves, had, between last September and the present
time been able to get but four thousand and Of these
thityfve hundred had been obtained in Virginia and
North Carolina, and five hundred from Alabama IL he
armed with al the powers of impressment. could not
get them aborers how will We be able to get them as
sodiersi Unless they volunteer they will go to the
Yankees; II we depend upon their volunteering we
can't get them, and those do get will desert to the
enemy, who offer them better price than We can
The enemy can offer them liberty, clothing, and even
farms at our expense. Negroes now deferred from
going 10 tho enemy only by the fear OF being put into
the army II We put them in they would all go over.
In conclusion, he considered that the measure, when
reviewed TO its expedicacy worse than ques
ton Of principle. He not satisfied that the MAORI
ty Of the army were in favor Of the The army
had been told that tho measure was necessary and they
had acquiesccd He did not believe that the heroes VI
Manassas, Fredericksburg and Cold Harbor were hold.
ing out their hands 10 the negroes 10 come and
them. He did not believe that troops would fight
with that constaney which should inspire troops IN the
hour of battle when they knew that their tanks were
being held BY negroes He repeated that be would have
voted against toe bill except for the instructions which
put an obligation upon him. He should endeayor to
mold the bill 10 carry ont The true spirit OF those
instructions He believed it would pass. and hoped
that II might not have the evil effects that he sppre
lcnded.
Mr.. Graham also opposed the bin. lie meant to hold
out no threat but lie would ssy that when Congress
adopted such o measure the States would feel called
uron TO consider whether such nroad upon the Con-
sttuion did not call for additional Guards beng thrown
around that instrument. He considered the adoption Of
the measure as almost virtual abandonment OF the
principles OF lie contest.
Mr.. Graham protested against the night OF the VIZ
ena Legislature TO instruct its Senator's after the ma
ture Gcberstion OF the Senate had disposed of the
easure which affected not the State Of Virginia alone
but every State between the Potomac and the Rio
trande. Mr.. Graham argued az length Against the
coDsiitutonalty and expedency Of the measure.
Sir. Semmes spoke In advocacy OF the bill. he advo'
Gated IL as necessity. it vas better TO throw over
part OF the cargo than lose the ship and cargo TO-
eether. 1t was urged by Gen. Lee, and the eonse,
quenees which would follow would not be 80 bad rs had
been represented He hoped the bill would be 30 modi.
fed rs ID CONFORM 10 Tue iisuUcuchs gwen " 'De So
II Virginia to her Senator's.
Mr.. Orr opposed the bill
Mr.. Burnett urged It's passage.
Tie Senate resolved into secret session.
"WEDNESDAY. March e.--The Senate resumed con.
sidersion Of the House bill 10 increase The military
force OF the Confederate States by the employment OF
negro troops. <u.
Mr. Caperton, Of Virginia offered the following
amendment 10 be inserted at the end OF the fourth sec
ton Of the bill:
"Proridsd That not more than o5 per cent Of the
male slaves between the ages Of Ia and ~ Ia any State
rhal be called for under the provisions Of this act.
The amendment was agreed 10. 80
The bin as amended. then passed by the follow
ing vote, r, n,rr,., c.,.,+on. Henry. Hunter.
Oldham, semnss Sinms aud Wstson-9.
Nay-Me"r.. Bornwe. Graham. johnson Of Georgia,
j. hnson Of Missouri Marvel. Orr, Vest aud Wg:al!-S
The Senate resolved into secret session.