e
of the oppressor there is power.

"My purpose is not to leave that heritage of shame to my children,
that I forgot those whose blood fed our rivers and crimsoned the sea,
and left them outcasts in the 'land of the free,' preferring white
treason to sable loyalty. I rather vote death the penalty for the
chief traitor, all honor and reward for our soldiery, and a ballot,
safety, and justice for the poor."

On the 15th of January the discussion was continued by Mr. Kasson, of
Iowa, who said: "Much has been said in this debate about the gallantry
of the negro troops, and about the number of negro troops in the war.
Gentlemen have declared here so broadly that we were indebted to them
for our victories as to actually convey the impression that they won
nearly all the victories accomplished by the armies of the United
States, and that to them are we indebted for the salvation of our
country and our triumph over the rebellion.

"I do not agree with them in the extent of their praise, nor the
grounds upon which it has been placed. One gentleman, I think it was
the gentleman from Pennsylvania, speaks of our debt to the negroes,
because they have fought our battles for us. This is a falsification
of the condition of the negroes, and of the history of the country in
this particular. _Those negroes fought for their liberty_, which was
involved in the preservation of the Union of the States. They fought
with us to accomplish the maintenance of the integrity of the country,
which carried with it the liberty of their own race; and what would
have been said of the negroes if they had not, under such
circumstances, come forward and united with us? While I yield to the
negro troops the credit of having exhibited bravery and manhood when
put to the test, I do not yield to them the exclusive or chief credit
of having won the victory for the Government of my country in
preserving this Union. Let us not, under false assertions of fact,
send out to the country and the world from this floor the declaration
that the white race of this country are wanting in the gallantry, the
devotion, and the patriotism which ultimately secured for our armies
triumph, and for our nation perpetuity.

"Unless intelligence exists in this country, unless schools are
supported and education diffused throughout the country, our
institutions are not safe, and either anarchy or despotism will be the
result; and when you propose substantially to introduce at onc