Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-06-20
Ten Years Of Henry Wilson.

THE following presents brief view OF
his services during the last ten years:
| At the close of the called session of
Congress in 1861, Lieutenant General Scott
emphatically declared, That Senator
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 re-
turned to Massachusetts,, and by his per-
sonal labors raised 1900 men.
Among the numerous bills introduced
by Henry Wilson was one to raise 500,-
900 men for three years to enforce the
laws. ..-
One to increase the pay of private sol.
diers.
One to facilitate the discharge of dis
abled soldiers.
One to improve the organization of the
cavalry forces.
One Ia 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 color.
ed men for military purposes, andto make
free the mothers, wives and children OF
all colored soldiers.
One providing that all colored persons
should, on being mustered into the United
States service, become free.
One to incorporate National Freed
mans Bank
| He introduced a bill which abolished
slavery in the District of Columbia, and
which became a law April 16, 1862, there
by making 5000 slaves free forever, and
slavery forever impossible in the National
Capital.
| The bill to make colored persons part
of the militia, and to authorize the Pres
ident to receive them into the military and
naval service, and to make free the moth
ers, wives and children of all such per
sons, was introduced by Henry Wilson
and passed July II, 1862.
He advocated the emancipation of the
slaves of the South as far back as 1885.
He introduced provision, which be
came a law on the 21st of May, 1862, pro
viding that persons of color in the Dis
trict of Columbia should be subject tC
the same laws to which white person,
were subject; that they should be tried fol
offenses against the laws in the same man
ner in which white persons are tried, and
if convicted, to be liable to the same pen
atty, and no other, to which white per
sons would be liable for the same offense
This act nullified the brutalizing, degrad
ing and inhuman black code of the Dis
trict.
He introduced innumerable bills secur
ing to the soldiers their bOunties, pen
sions, back pay and all other rights
which they had so dearly earned.
In addition to his vast labors in Con
gress, he travelled through the States and
delivered more than one hundred speeche:
in support of the war, and in vindicatioI
of the anti-slavery policy of the Govern
ment.
During the beginning of the war hi
spent his time and money in franking
writing letters and giving money to as
sist the wives and families of soldiers
who called upon him in Washington.
For thirty-two years he has toiled il
public life for the right, the culture, anC
elevation of all men, without distinction
of race or color.
Mr.. Wilson was a prominent candidate
before the Chicago Convention of 1856
for tine Vice-Presidency, but was beateI
by Mr.. Colfax. He gains now what Ii
lost then.