Year: 1864

The consideration of the joint resolution to
equalize the pay of soldiers in the United States
army was resumed as in Committee Of the Whole,
the pending question being on the amendment Of
Mr.. Wilson TO the amendment of Mr. Collamer,
and Mr.. Fessenden spoke as follows:


Mr.. PRESIDENT: desire to say few words in
relation to this matter, rather with view that
my own position in regard to it may be under
stood than for any other reason, inasmuch as
feel called upon TO vote sometimes against what
might seem to be just in itself, taken by itself
In order that may make myself understood, L
Will, with the permission of the Senate, say a
few words with reference to the position of the
bill, and call the attention of my friend from
Massachusetts, MIR. Wilson, to the subject, in
order that If | in any degree misstate him he
may correct me.


Some two years ago when we passed the orig
inal bill for the enlistment and employment of
persons of African descent into the ARMY we
provided a definite, fixed sum per north, for
their payment AT that time as is well known
the honorable Senator from Massachusetts
knows it as well as anybody-there was diff
ference of opinion upon the subject That bill,
IL remember rightly, was passed at quite a late
period OF the session of 1852. 1t was my opin-
ion at that time, whether expressed publicly or
not do not know, but certainly expressed in
conversation to him and to my friend from Iowa





ments as well as my own on the subject. that
the black troops thus raised ought to be put
upon an equality in all respects with the white;
not that we were of opinion that in all cases
they would earn the same pay and would de-
serve it, for in some cases was of opinion then
that they would not for the simple reason that
taking the slaves on the Mississippi they could
live much cheaper than white soldiers and for the
further reason that the Government was doing
great deal more for their wives and children
Nevertheless was of opinion at that time that
they ought to be put upon the same level in or
der that there should be no ground for any dis
tinction by the enemy between colored troops
and white troops, that il should not lie in their
mouths to say that we ourselves had made a
distinction, and that therefore they were at lib
erty to consider them upon any other footing
than the regular soldiers of the United States.


My friend, the chairman of the Military Com
mittee, was not of that opinion at that time, Is
he Will remember. He thought that the amount
fixed in that bill was ample; and he thought,
moreover, which undoubtedly was the controlling
reason in his mind that there would be danger
in making an amendment providing for giving
the colored troops the same pay, as we might by
so doing possibly lose the bill itself through the
lapse of time. That being the opinion of the
Committee on Military Affairs, we did not make
any strenuous objection to the bill as it stood,
and it was passed; remaining, however, of the
same opinion then as am now.


Under that bill very largenumber of our
men have been employed; large number of
those who were formerly slaves have been en-
ployed, and have been employed with their free
consent; and in some of the free States colored
men have been employed with the perfect knowl-
edge and understanding of what the provisions
Of the bill were, that they were to receive ten
dollars month and no bounty; Opinions diff
fer as TO the number, but perhaps fifty or sixty
thousand of them have been enlisted most of
them, the large mass, understanding perfectly
the amount they were to receive, content with it,
making no objection to it, for the reason un-
doubtedly that they understood as well as we,
that the differences had existed which have
stated.


1t seems, however. that Notwithstanding our
law, under permission given by the Secretary of
War to the Governor of Massachusetts, two
regiments were raised in Massachusetts, and
raised under enlistment papers specifying that
they were to receive the same pay, &C., as other
volunteers. The honorable Senator from Mas
sachusetts Mr.. Sumnerl undertook to show
that was done legally and properly, whether
permission was given or not. | think he failed
10 show it to the satisfaction of the Senate, and
think he was mistaken in the view he took of
the law. The Governor of Massachusetts, how
ever, gave the authority, and two regiments
were thus enlisted and mustered into the service
Two other regiments were enlisted in South Car
olina called the first and second South Carolina.
think, the Colonel of one of them and perhaps





the other commanded by Colonel Montgomery.
! have been furnished in n letter written to me
by one of those officers, with the original au-
thority from the War Department under which.
as il is said, those two regiments were enlisted,
and will read it to the Senate. 1t was ad-
dressed to General Saxton:


You are also authorized to arm. uniform equip
and receive into the service ofthe Uued states such
number of volunteers of African descent as you may
deem expedient, not exceeding five thousand, and
may detail officers to instruct them in military drill
discipline and duty, and command them.


"The persons SO recsiyed into service and their Of
fcers to be entitled to and receive tho same pay and
service. EDWIN III. STANTON,


Secretary of War"


Now, in regard to these cases, allow me to say
as TO the two regiments from Massachusetts,
that do not understand that under any au-
thority given by the Secretary of War, the Gov
,ernor of Massachusetts was authorized to prom
ise them any more than ten dollars a month
Nevertheless he did so, that is to say, the papers
were drawn up in that form, and ii was SO un-
derstood 1t seems to them very hard, that
they cannot receive the thirteen dollars month
like other, soldiers. understand with regard
to the South Carolina regiments, that for time
they were paid the thirteen dollars month, and
finally il was cut down to ten dollars month,
and that now there is some apprehension that
the over-payment, as it is called, of the three
dollars before is to be taken from their pay
which may be received after this time.


In the last case it would be more manifestly
unjust that they should not be paid from the be-
ginning the thirteen dollars month; and as
has been contended by the Senator from Yer
mont, if the two Massachusetts regiments were
thus enlisted it is said, and mustered into the
service under that enlistment, and no objection
whatever was made to the contract thus made
by them, as between them and us it is manifest
ly just and proper that they should be paid the
thirteen dollars month. do not undertake to
dispute that, and have not from the beginning
but they are individual cases. There may bs
!. one or two other regiments in the same catego.
ry. will say TO my honorable friend from