Year: 1863

Of that climate like alligstorc? Ii they are
ignorant Of the use OF arms. instruct them
in that use. Teach their "hands TO wsr.
and their fingers to fight" Arc they so
brutalized that they will not fight for their
own liberty? Shall we receive them and
educate them to arms for this purpose. or
shall we send our own sons there?


But the gentleman says that the employ
ment Of these people will turn this into
barbarous war. Why, sir. is it possible
that these::people, who for generations have
been under the humanizing. civilizing.
christisnizing influence of slavery, are still
such barbarisns that We cannot safely put
arms in their hands [laughser] without the
commission by them of barbarous outra-
ges upon their benefcent masters? What
has become Of the outstanding influence
of slavery?


No, sir; pu. arms in the hands Of these
men. and let them, if they will. shoot
down the rebels, who would shoot down
our brothers, our sons, and friends. Ifyou
do not choose to have your son aided BY
My son was in the battle of Vicksburg.
and there, understand. black men. force
ed perhaps by their masters to take up
arms against the cause they love. fought
in the ranks of our enemies. Gentlemen
rise here and denounce rs because we pro-
pose to secure every means we can to bring
this war to . successful termination.--
What If white men can put down this re-
bellion? Shall we not spare this precious
white blood If we can find black men in the
South who have two-fold inducement to
take part in this contest? Do you hold
the white man of the North at lower price
than the market value Of your slaves?-
Their blood, the blood of our soldiers now
in the field. is dear to oui hearts. 1t is
above price. We cannot estimate its val
ne by the treasures of earth.


Now, sir, shall we hesitate in this mat
ter? We do not hesitate to fire into the
forts of the South. We do not hesitate
TO destroy their ships. and all of their
property which may be used against us in
this war. We do not hesitate to strike
down white men in arms against US. But
We must protect slave property. as it is
more precious than the blood of our kind
red and friends. Is this property as it is
called. to be held as more precious than the
blood which courses in the veins of the no.
ble sons of the North?


The gentleman said--and it is state
ment frequently made by him--that the
money which should have been paid 10 our
soldiers or expended for their benefit, has
been employed in feeding and clothing idle
and lazy contrabands. i tried at the time
TO correct him. 1t is but few days since
that General Meigs. the Quartermaster
General. told me that such was not the
case. He authorized me to say so. Ne
groes are employed as teamsters and other
wise, and from their pay the Government
deduct's part which goes to support those
in the contraband camps. He sold me
also that they want more negro laborerS
than they can get here. The navy wants
them. The navy has applied to him for
them to serve on our ships Of war and 9TH
er vessels as stevedoers. and for other ser
vice. but he cannot furnish them.


The gentleman said that .he rebels had
shot the negro prisoners taken down South.
Certainly they have. But these negroes.
l suppose. in MS estimation, are not men?
They are not human beings? They have
not the rights of humanity? When the
blacks espouse our cause. to help us fight
our battles. and when they are taken pris-
oners. they are not TO be treated as prison
ers of war. Iwant to know whether that
is the treatment to which they are to con-
tinue to be subjected? trust that it will
never be submitted to-. Let US demand
that every man who fights fer our cause. no
matter whether his skin be black or white,
whether be be freeman or slave. Tha.
is one reason why / amwilling.to pass this
bill in the form desired by the President
Of the United States, so that he shall have
no embarrassment when colored men are
enlisted as soldiers. and the other side un-
dertake to treat them contrary to the usa-
ges of war. then should they shoot down
the black soldiers. we will make white
trait ors answer in blood for blood.