Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-06-27
Fen Years OF Henry Wilson

The following presents a 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 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 re-
turned to Massachusetts,, and by his per-
sonal labor raised 1890 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
soldiers
One to facilitate the discharge of dis
abled soldiers.
One to improve tile organization of
the cavalry forces.
One Ca second bilI) to increase the pay
of soldiers. This bill. caused an in
crease of So per month.
One to incorporate national military
and naval asylum for disabled officers
and soldiers.
One to accept, organize and arm col
ored men for military purposes, and to
make free the mothers, wives and chill
dren of all colored soldiers.
One providing that all colored soldiers
should, on being mustered into the Unit
ed States service, become free.
One to. incorporate a national freed
mems bank.
He introduced a bill which abolished
slavery in the District Of Columbia, and
which became a law April 16, 1872,
thereby making 3 900 slaves free forever,
and slavery forever impossible in the
national capital.
The bill to make colored persons a
part of the militia, and to authorize the
President to receive them into the mill
tary and naval service, and to make free
the mothers, wives and children of all
such persons, 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 law on the 21st of May, 1862,
providing that persons of color in the
District of Columbia should be subject
to the same laws to which whitepersons
were subject that they should be tried
for offenses against the laws in the same
manner in which 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 nullified the brutaliz-
ing, degrading, and inhuman black code
of the District.
He introduced innumerable bills secur-
ing to the ssoldiers their bounties, pen
sions, back pay, and all other rights
which they so dearly earned.
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 govern
ment.
During the beginning of the war he
spent his time and money in franzing,
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 in
public life for the right, the culture, and
elevation of all men, without distinction
of race or color.
Mr.. Wilson was prominent candi-
date before the Chicago convention of
1868 for the Vice Presidency, but was
beaten by Mr.. Colfax He gains now
what he lost then.