Congressman Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania, a leading Radical Republican, introduced a bill on January 12, 1863, authorizing the enlistment of 150,000 black soldiers. After a debate in which opponents denounced the measure as “suicidal and seditious” and designed to “exterminate and drive out the white people” of the cotton states, the bill passed and was sent to the Senate. William Parker Cutler, a Republican congressman from Ohio, witnessed the final vote in the House and later discussed the issue of black soldiers with President Lincoln. The Stevens bill was withdrawn from consideration in the Senate after Henry Wilson, the Massachusetts Republican who chaired the Committee on Military Affairs, reported on February 13 that the president already had authority to enlist blacks under the Militia Act passed in July 1862.
Feb 2 After a long contest over Mr Stevens bill to raise Negro regiments—it finally passed to day 83 to 54. The Democrats seemed determined to make capital out of the idea of putting a Negro on an equality with the white man—by making him a soldier. They have made every effort to rouse up the worst prejudices of the army & the people—& seem to glory & exult in the opportunity presented to degrade & tread down Gods image in the person of the Negro. Surely there is no solution to terrible complications of our situation except in power & strong arm of God himself. The Democrats claim a strong reaction in their favor—& seem intent only upon increasing the universal dissatisfaction & turning it all to their own account in building up a peace party. Political demagogues rule the hour—The people are bewildered & in the fog. The true friends of the govt & of the great principles which underlie this contest are groping around without a leader—absolutely no one to command entire confidence—& yet progress is being made daily. This vote is a recognition of the Negros manhood—such as has never before been made by this nation. We say in the hour of peril—come save us. “Our God is marching on.”
Feb 9th Called this morning on Pres. Lincoln to present him a petition signed by—say 30 members of Congress asking him to appoint Capt Carpenter of the famous Jessie Scouts as Col. of one of the Negro regiments—in case the bill passes the Senate. He said the great difficulty he feared was the treatment these Negroes would receive at first from the rebels in case they were captured. I remarked that it was the more important that the regiments should be of good material & well officered so as to take care of themselves in a fight. He assented quickly to this—But remarked that he was troubled to know what we should do with these people—Negroes—after peace came—I remarked that I supposed the same plantations that now required their labor would then need them just as much. He said that “Whatever you and me may think on these matters peoples opinions were every thing”—He seemed to be sticking in the bank because of the popular delusion that nothing can be done with the Negro if he is free. Interest will settle these questions—If land owners cant get the Negroes labor for nothing—he will pay him for it—that is all. Washburne of Ill. was in the room at the same time & read a letter from Grant at Vicksburg dated Jan 29th—in which he said the canal cut there was only 9 feet wide at the top & of course was of no account. He was trying a larger one—But thought he could take the place by getting a channel through into the Yazoo & operating from the Mississippi side. The Mississippi was then bank full. Lincoln said that Richmond papers stated that the gun boat which run the Vicksburg blockade was doing mischief below.