Year: 1862

Mr.. Wright have few remarks to
make on this subject, without regard to
any particular section Of the bill had
intended somo weeks ago 70 say some
thing on the confiscatiOn bill, but my
health would not justify it. SO far as
the question Of slavery is concerned, be-
lieVe the Senate will bear me witness
that have never mingled in the debates
on that subject; and am very sure that
il no one would ever introduce it here
until had done so, the subject would
never be submitted TO the Senate of the
United States; yet think | shall be
thoroughly understood before conclude,


We have passed a bill on the sub
iect Of conlischtiOn, which givcs the
President power to employ negroes to
work at his discretion. believe he had
the power without that bill; aud ! will
take this occasion to say 70 my friend
from New York Mr.. Harris that so far
az the exercise of that power is concerned
by our generals, my information is not
OF the character he gives TO us in the let
ter from General Mcclellan. | have
letter before me, written in the South,
from gentleman that ! have known for
many years, and lpurpose now to read
an extract from il in relation TO General
llalleck's order No. 3, Ny friend writes
as follows:


Hallcck's order No. 3, has killed at
least ten thousand of your western SOL
diers. Non can see them in every car
and on the corners of every street At
Hamburg, four miles above Pittsburg
N Landing, there were two thousand seven
hundred soldiers sick, and six hundred
had been taken away the day before we
were there. | saw detachmcnts of our
troops making roads in the hot sun;
/ saw the boats being unloaded by them A.;
Pnd, in fact, young men, noble men who
had sprung 70 arms 10 save the country,
were performing labor which was enough
/ 10 break down the constitution Of the
strongest; and did not see a single black
man at work on any Of the landings on
the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers I;
/ but did see two stout fellows blacking
The boots Of rebel prisoners on board the
steamer Uncle Sam at Pinsburg Land
/ ing" .. ... ."r


This is the authority of a gentleman /
can youch for as a man of frespectabihty
lie sent me another fact He inclosed
me list offour hundred and seventy sick
men who were then on board one steamer.
mostof whom were from my OwnState and
Ohio; and out of the whole list but three
were wounded in battle, They were
all afflicted with the diseases the coun.
try, as shown from the list opposite to
each name, and but three were wounded
only refer to this 10 show the fact that
! will 80 as far as any man in prosecu-
ting this war, in upholding the generals
in the field, in sustaining any proposition
that may be necessary, TO employ these
men, not only al work and labor, but "a
do whatever else may be necessary. with
the vast means God has given MS, TO save
the life Of the Republic. But, sir, I wisl
here to protest against bringing this sub.
ieot again before the Senate dav after
day. When IL has been once passed
upon, think we ought to be satisfied
We have solemnly passed a bill giving
! this power to the President; and if n,
will not exercise the power, / do no


know wha. more we can do than enact
new article of war This, however. Il


not the direct subject 20 which ! desir,
to call the attention Of the Senate


My tifst proposition ON the subject o


this bill Is this: i have believed from th


commencement Of this war, and / an
more confirmed in that belief every dar
as il progresses, that we have not relic,
enough upon the patriotism Of this conn


try. Had tho drafting Of this bill falle