The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-01-07


among officers and men Of the Navy.
On motion Of Mr.. SHERMAN the pen
sion appropriation bill was taken Nd. A
letter was read from the Secretary Of the
Interior recommending the supply Of tie
deficiency in the appropriations under the
acts OF 1915 to 1855, SIS, eco, ard under the
acts Of 1858 and 1852, %, son. 900. During the
99, l6o have been drawn, leaving but Sl64,
457 unexpended, which will, scarcely sui.
tice for expenditures TO the middle Of the
present month. The bill was then passed.
The Senate next proceeded to the con-
sideration ofMr. wilson joint resolution
to make free the slaves and children Of
slaves who enlis: IN the armies Of the Uni
ted States.
On the question upon tae reference to the
judiciary committee, moved by Mr.. Davis.
Mr.. Wilson hoped the resolution would he
passed to-day. He lad received letters
from Ofhce-s Of the army. engaged in the
recruiting service, ana they all endorsed
and approved this measure. He did mot
wish to detain the Senate by discussiod.-
II the Senators would refer to the Globe of
last session. they would frid it was dis
cussed for hou-s. lie hoped now for ac-
ton.
Mr.. DOOLITTLE was in favor CT the
motion to refer the resolution to the COM
mittee on Judiciary.
Mr.. WILSON. cannot consent to have
this resolution referred to The committee
on judiciary. The Senator from Wiscon-
sin tells us there is All amendment to the
strong hopes that i.Wili pass the House Of
Representatives or Monday next. 1 had
hoped last week ti.at that measure would
pass the House. ! hare more doubt Of it
now. whether il passes or not. The Ser.-
tor from Wisconsin knows, and We a..
know. that i carrct and VIII not become
part OF the Constitute. for many months
for two years al least. II may be three
o. four, but certainly not within the next
eighteen months. The facts are these: The
Congress ofthe . nited States, at its last
session, decided that u man who should en-
list il the army OF TIE niied States should
be free by the fiat Of the Government Of
the United States. Ifany one doubted the
OF that law, let him
test it.
Now, sir, the wives and children Of the
men we have made free are held as slaves.
We were told from army officers at the
last session of Congress how they were
treated N Missouri. The facts We're pre-.
sented to the Senate and they shocked the
sense OF humanity Of every one who heard
Or read what was going on there. The
wrongs which have been perpetrated on
the wives ard children Of our colored SOL
aiers during the past year, would shock
and appeal 10 the Justice Of the
people if fold to them. OF the power to
pass such resolution, do not entertain
any doubts. The mos. eminent lawyers of
he country have so said. We may have to |
pay for these slayes--probably We shall but !
IS to our right to Go i there can be no ques- |
ion, and l think TIA. at this time we ought |
lot to hesitate moment. We read alrea- |
~ OF what is taking place in the rebel
tot ,knnS Ina nnx, tic 81
TO. They propose to give freedom to the |
laves and to give them an interest in |
ands. They who commenced the rebel |
ion for the sake of making slavery eternal,
ire now talking about making slaves free /
nd they will fig the battles OF the rebel
ion.
Mr.. SALISBURY followed Mr.. Wilson,
nd in the course OF his remarks said-I |
hall maintain the doctrine, when this
question shall! come up for discussion in
he Senate, that not only have you not the
light to free the wives and children of ne
roes who volunteer IL our army, if they !
re from States where slavery is recog- I
lied, but you cannot give freedom to the |,
egrO volunteer himself, II he is q slave
here is no principle more clearly recog-
lied in International law than this, that
a slave be captured from his lawful own
+ by one belligerent, and he aftcrwards1
ONES back into the possession Of the other
that he severts to his original
wner.
Mr.. SUMNER said all mus, confess the
OF the proposition for enfranchis.
ave borne arms for their country. AL
must confess the hardship OF continuing
hem in slavery. But the question is asked
' hat power has Congress TO set the fami.
les free. This is the single point on which
shall express an opinion. My answer ia
hat Congress has precisely the same power
D enfranchise the families. that it has 10
nfranchise the colored soldiers. The two
overs are co-incident and from the same
ource. 1t has 4iready been assumed that
Congress- may enfranchise the colored SOL
ie-. This has been done by solemn statute
,ithout any reference to the conduct OF his
retended owner. II we never asked the
eason for such Acknowledgement, il must
G found, first in practicable necessity, that
e may secure the best services OF the
aves. and. second, in its intrinsic Justice
nd humanity in brief, the government
innot be 80 iinprovident and so foolish as
, attempt to obtain tue Services Of the
lave at the hazard OF his life, without Sc.
1ring to him the boon Of freedom. Ii Con-
ress can authorize the enlistment OF slaves
! it uDquestionabi- can, it may at the
.ne time..anthor:2e their Acknowledgement,
nd by the same reason ii may authorize
nglish patriot, nearly two centuries ago,
reclaimed liz memorable words, tina, he {
ould give this life 70 save his country but
g would not 40 mean thing to save it,
there be any value il; this declaration, il
lay well be moc.ed, when ii is deliberately
-gued tina. the ra.iona. good can create an
-my and In this service can franchise tie
ave whom il en,isss. but ,na. I. is imro- .
ut 70 eufrainh;se his family. The case is
y clear fsr argument. GARNET close !.
hat have to say withon. adding ,ha. III |
y opinion, C9nStess q. t,.is Uiomc.. is
'mple,e n.as4r Of the whole a..ts.;on If :.
avery everywhere in the United Sta.es, =
zen without constitutional amendments.
can sweep all out Of existence, precisely
u can remove any other obstruction to
auonal defence, and all this BY virtue OF Z
power as indisputable as the power to
use armies or 70 suspend the habeas cor
-. Future generations will read with
i.azement. that great people, when their
ational life was assaiied, hesitated TO exer- (
Sc power 80 complete and feaeticent.- I
heir >amazenen. will well know no .
ounds. as they learn that Congress hig- j
ed for months on the question whether {
re wife and children OF the colored SOL $
ers should be admi,.edTo freedom. J
The CllnSticn yraS tEon -uI-Ap IN .Sa -pf- =