Year: 1865

/ Mr.. SUMMER. L say what favoritism
can there be under the law as it exists
I Is it not open to all the States alike -
There is no State that may not send its
| agents there, precisely as it is said Mass
achusetts has sent hers, Let us under
stand each other. Do not let US vote ig-
noraDtly. The Senator says that the law
as it now exists operates unequally that
it opens the way TO favoritism either from
the President or from the Secretary of
War Sir, he can show no such thing
The law as it exists operates equally
throughout the whole country. If one
State is more active in its recruiting agents,
if it rushes swiftly 10 that field of exsrtion,
there is no favoritism in il. That is from
the activity and the energy OF the State,
and not from any favoritism or indulgence
here in Washington, Therefore, sir, that
argument of the Senator put aside.
came back, then, to the question with
which L began when | was interrupted by
the Senator from Iowa, what abuse, what
| evil example has been shown 7. Not one.
| Senators, if they vote for this proposition,
must vote under the influence of prejudiees
and lot of reason. There are Senator's, l
|
| listment oi colored troops but | make an
appeal to the patriotic Senators on this
floor those who love their country, and
who hate beliigereEt slavery, not to yield
to any such prejudice. can understand
that the Senator on the other side who
smiles, the able Senator from Indiana
alwsys does vote against the employment
oil colored troops. He, therefore if be sus-
tains the proposition Of his friend, will act
naturally and in harmony with all he has
done and said on this floor. am sorry
that he feels obliged to take that COURSE
1t Is not for me, however, to criticise him


But how other Senators who do not follow
the lead of the Senator from Indiana and
the Senator from Pennsylvania can strike
at this enactment when no abuse under it
has been shown, when, in point of fact, no
reason has been adduced for its repeal, |
am at loss to understand.


havessid thatnothing as been brought
against the existing law. | may add now
that something can be said in its favor
1t has stimulated recruiting ; it has secured
to the public service certain soldiers who
otherwise would not have borne arms for
their country; and that alone .sir,is an all
sufficient reason for keeping it still longer
Oh the statute book.


Mr.. GRIMES. 1t will be recolleeted
| by the Senate that this question was be.
fore it at the last session, and by several
decisive votes it was decided that the law
as 1t now stands ought not to be the law
of the country. In other words, we re.
fused upon several occasions to allow any
State to 60 into any other State for the
purpose of recruiting and filling up its
quota. There was disagreement between
/ II is body and the House Of Representa-
| tives, and the question was referred to
! a committee of conference, and in some
way, after l left the city, this provision
was adopted, contrary to the expressed
opinion by yea and nay vote several
times made, of the Senate, and by very de-
cisive votes | trust now, sir, when we
have the opportunity to do 50, that we will
put ourselves right on the record in this
regard, and that We shall declare that if
there are colored men in Savannah OF in
any other place to be recruited, they shall
be recruited into the service of the Uni
ted States and not into the service of any
,
that we will feed them, we will give them
the bouniies, We will furnish them with
arms, I'VE will become responsible, politically
and morally, for their safe-keeping, and
not allow this State or that State to as-
sumo to become the superintedent of these
men, and claim them upon their quotas,
and compel the other States that do not
happen, perhaps, to have quite as prompt
a Governor as the Senator from Massa.
chusetss says they have, to fill up their
quotas with the young white men of their
States. These colored men in the rebel
States are a fund that belong to all of US,
and neither the State of Massachusetts,,
nor the State of Iowa, nor any other State
should be permitted to 60 and draw upon
that fund SO as TO fill up its own quota, and
thereby impose the necessity of still
greater draft upon the States which do not
see fit to do THE, or have not the opportu
nifty to recruit these colored men. Ii is
manifestly unjust, aud trust the amend
ment of the Senator from Pennsylvania
will be adopted


After remarks by Mr. Wilson, Mr. Davis,
Mr. Teh Eyck, and Mr. Sherman, Mr. Pow
ell of Kentucky, said =


"Mr. President, the only equitable way
to furnish men in this war is for each
State, out of its own population to furnish
its quota. When you put the negroes who
are residents of the seeded States, or the
rebel States, ia the Army, they must be
credited to the general qouta, and that it
would lessen the draft upon all the ad-
hereing States. That is the only equitable
way ia which it can be done and that was
the sentiment of the Senate al the last ses-
sion on more votes than one. If you want