tentive, and enthusiastic, displaying great natural
capacities for acquiring the duties of the soldier. They are
eager beyond all things to take the field and be led into action;
and it is the unanimous opinion of the officers who have had
charge of them, that in the peculiarities of this climate and
country they will prove invaluable auxiliaries, fully equal to
the similar regiments so long and successfully used by the
British authorities in the West-India Islands.

"In conclusion, I would say it is my hope--there appearing no
possibility of other reenforcements, owing to the exigencies of
the campaign in the Peninsula--to have organized by the end of
next fall, and to be able to present to the Government, from
forty-eight to fifty thousand of these hardy and devoted
soldiers.

"Trusting that this letter may form part of your answer to Mr.
Wickliffe's resolutions, I have the honor to be, most
respectfully, your very obedient servant,

"D. HUNTER,
"_Major-General Commanding_."

Mr. Wickliffe seemed to feel that he had received an exhaustive reply
to his resolution of inquiry, but his colleague, Mr. Dunlap, offered
the following resolution on the 3d of July, 1862, which was never
acted upon:

"_Resolved_, That the sentiments contained in the paper read to
this body yesterday, approving the arming of slaves, emanating
from Major-General David Hunter, clothed in discourteous
language, are an indignity to the American Congress, an insult to
the American people and our brave soldiers in arms; for which
sentiments, so uttered, he justly merits our condemnation and
censure."

There was quite a flutter among the politicians in the rear, and many
army officers felt that the United States uniform had been disgraced
by being put upon "fugitive slaves."

Within a few weeks after the affair in Congress alluded to above, two
United States Senators,[92] charmed with the bold idea of General
Hunter, called upon the President to urge him to accept the services
of two Negro regiments. The "New York Herald" of the 5th of August,
1862, gave an account of the interview under the caption of
"_Important Decision of the President_."

"The efforts of those who love the negro more than the Union to
induce the President to swerve from