Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-29
ARMING SOUTHERN NEGROES.
An Effort to SmuggIe the Thing
Through by Way of an Amend
ment to Another Bill.
Remarks of Hon. Garrett Davis.

In the Senate, on Monday, there was
an interesting debate on the question OF
arming the carpet bag governments in
the South. In the course OF the debate
Senator Davis spoke frequently and Wig
orously. We copy from the Globe part
of the debate:
MILITARY PEACE ESTABLISHMENT.
Mr.. Wilson, move that the Senate
proceed to the consideration of the Sen.
ate bill No. 6l7.
The motion was agreed to; and the
Senate, as in committee OF the whole, re-
sumed the consideration of the bill Is.
No. GID to reduce the military peace
establishment of the United States.
An amendment to this bill was then
read and agreed to.
Mr.. Davis-Is this the bill No. 6l7?
The President pro tempore-It is.
Mr.. Davis--I thought it was another
bill which the honorable chairman of the
Committee on Military Affairs undertook
to make a special order.
Mr.. Wilson-This is the bill reducing
the army, with an amendment as sub
stitute.
Mr.. Davis-When was the amendment
offered2
Mr.. Wilson-It was offered this morn.
ing, and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Morgan-I think the bill had better
be read third time. We must dispose
of it before we can do any other business.
Mr.. Davis-I did not know until this
moment that this amendment was offered
to the bill. / knew the original bill had
been presented by the honorable chair
man of the Committee on Military
Affairs. did not know this amendment
had been offered until this moment
Mr.. Wilson, offered it this morning,
and it was ordered to be printed with a
view of moving it tonight. | will state
to the Senator what the notifications
are.
Mr.. Davis-In some of its features it
is very important innovation on the
other bill. / have not had an opportu-
nifty TO look at the amendment.
Mr.. Wilson, will state to the Sena-
tor precisely wha. it is in moment.
Mr.. Davis-I should prefer that the
Senator would agree to postpone it until
tomorrow morning.
Mr.. Wilson-The Committee Oh Mill
tary Affairs were waiting for the House
of Representatives to move in this mat
ter, but they have got into bad condi-
ton on their bill, and my object is to
pass this bill now, in the hope that we
shall be able to get it through. 1t makes
reduction of twenty three thousand in
the army.
Mr.. Davs-There are some important
provi sions in this bill besides the reduc-
ton Of the army.
| Mr.. Wilson-There are one or two sec
tions in the bill that we're notin the origi-
nal bill
Mr. Davis-The section of the bill that
| distributes so many arms to the States
was not in the other bill.
Mr. Wilson-At the last session we
provided that certain States should not
have any militia. We in this measure
repeal that act, and we provide IN the
ninth section for allowing the Governors
Of all the States that are represented IN
| Congress to call for number OF Spring
field rihed muskets equal to the number
of Representatives in the other House oil
Congress, one thousand TO each Repre-
sentative. The Governor of Kentucky
would have the privilege Of calling for
nine thousand, Massachusetts would have
ten thousand, according TO the number
of Representatives. We have two and a
half millions Of these arms on hand at
the present time. This IS provision
which will enable the States that desire
to arm their militia TO arm them with a
good musket, with a ffiy-eight caliber
Springfield riAed musket We have them
in abundance on hand, and good arms
and equipments.
Mr.. Davis-I ask the Clerk TO road The
ninth section.
The Chief Clerk read the ninth section
Of the amendment
Section 9. zRd be ffJHrfher enacted,
Tha, the Secretary Of War be, and he Is
hereby authorized and required 70 de
liver 70 the Governor Of each State rep.
resented in the Congress Of the United
States, at the seat Of government OF such
Stale, as many serviceable Springfield
rifed muskeis Of caliber ffty-eighi, with
accoutremenis and equipments complete,
AZ the Governor Of such State shall re
R quire for the use Of the militia .s-S.si1l