Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-06-27
Henry Wilson---The Services
of Ten Years. --.

The following presents brief view
of the services of Hon. Henry Wilson
during the last ten years:
+ At the close of the called session of
Congress in 1861, Lieutenant General
Scott emphatically declared, 'That Sen
ator Wilson had done more work in that
short session than all the chairmen of
the Military Committee had done for
the last twenty years. After the first
Bull Run battle, he returned to Massa-
chusetts, and by his personal labor rais-
ed $500 men Among the numerous
bills introduced by Henry Wilson was
one to raise 100000 men for three years
to enforce the laws. One to increase
the pay of private soldiers. One to
facilitate the discharge of disabled SOL
diers. One to improve the organization
OF cavalry forces. One "a second bilD
to increase the pay of soldiers. This
bill caused an increase of So per month";
One to incorporate national military
and naval asylum for disabled officers
and soldiers. One to accept, organize
and arm colored men for military pur-
poses, and to make free the mother,
wives and children of all colored SOL
diers. One providing that all colored
persons should, ON being mustered into
the United States service, become free.
Onel to incorporate National Freed
mems Bank.
He introduced bill which abolished
slavery, in the District of Columbia,
and which became law April I6, 1872,
thereby making 5000 slaves free forever,
and slavery forever impossible in the
national capital. The bill to make col
ored persons part of the militia, and
to authorize the President to receive
them into the military service, and to
make free the mothers, wives and chill
dren of all such persons, was introduced
by Henry Wilson, and passed July IL,
1862. He advocated the emancipation
of the slaves South as far back as 1885.
He introduced a provision, which be-
came law the 2lst of May, 1862, pro-
viding that persons of color in the Dis
trict of Columbia should be subject to
the same laws to which white persons
were subject; that they should be tried
for offenses against the laws in the same
manner.in which the white persons are
tried, and if convicted, TO be liable to
the same penalty, and no other, that
white persons would be liable to for the
same offense. This act nullifled the
brutalizing, degrading and inhuman
black code of the district. He intro
duced innumerable bills securing to the
soldiers bounties, pensions, back pay
and all other rights which they had so
dearly earned. ...f..- ..5.,rlr ~.
In addition to his vast labors in Con-
gress, he Travelled through the States
and delivered more than 100 speeches in
support of the war, and in vindication
of the anti-slavery policy of the Gov
ernment. During the beginning of the
war he spent his time and money in
franking, writing letters and giving
money to assist the wives and families
of soldiers who called upon him in
Washington. For thirty-two years he
has toiled in public life for the right,
the culture and elevation of all men,
without distinction of race or color.
Dir. Wilson was prominent candi-
date before the Chicago Convention of
1865 for the Vice Presidency, but was
beaten by Mr.. Colfax. He gains now
what he lost then.