And be it further enacted, That all able-bodied male persons of African descent, between the ages of 20 and 45. whether citizens or not, shall be enrolled and made a part of the National forces; and, when enrolled and drafted into the service, his master shall be entitled to receive $300, and the drafted man shall be free.Mr. S. H. Boyd, of Mo., suggested that only loyal masters be entitled to the $300 bounty; which Mr. Stevens readily accepted; but, on motion of Mr. Webster, of Md., it was afterward decided--67 to 44--that any bounty accruing to a drafted man who is a slave shall be paid to his master. Mr. B. G. Harris, of Md., denied “that you have a right to enlist or enroll a slave.” Mr. Fernando Wood, of N. Y., denounced the measure as “clearly, palpably in violation of the Constitution.” Mr.
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1 At an early stage of the war, a son of old John Brown influentially aided the enlistment of a regiment of volunteers in Northern New York; and, uniting zeal and ability with some military experience, was appointed a Lieutenant therein; but his brother officers evinced such dissatisfaction that he was obliged to resign.
2 “I have never,” said Mr. Broomall, of Pa., in the House (Feb. 11th, 1863), “found the most snaky constituent of mine, who, when he was drafted, refused to let the blackest negro in the district go as a substitute for him.”
3 July 8, 1862.
4 July 9.
5 July 15.
6 July 16.
7 Feb. 10, 1864.
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