A Patriotic Member of Congress

 
Here's a story - sarcastic headline and all - found in the Covington Journal of January 11, 1862.

[From the Philadelphia Inquirer.]
A Patriotic Member of Congress

James S. Jackson, M.C. from Kentucky, writes that he will not be here to  take his seat in Congress this winter, unless such a calamity should befal the patriots of Kentucky as to have an order issued by the War Department for the army to go into winter quarters. Should the war go on, he will not be seen in Washington so long as there remains a single rebel in Kentucky. - He is out of money, has received no pay for his services in the army, and has sent here to collect some that is due him, and to draw his pay as member of Congress.


Col. Jackson has not taken his seat at the present session of Congress, and yet sends on for his pay both as a Colonel and a member of Congress. This is accounted patriotism. If drawing pay for imaginary services is an evidence of patriotism, a fair case is made out. If not, not.


Either of the positions held by Colonel Jackson would satisfy the ambition of most men. In truth there are few men qualified to fill them both at one and the same time. - We have no mean opinion of the ability of Col. Jackson, but at the same time we believe the country would not lose anything if he were to resign one of the important positions he now holds. 


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Here is a previous post I wrote about him.  It looks like he had already resigned from Congress when this article was published, but perhaps had hoped to gain back pay from his elected position or maybe it was just a case of news traveling slowly. 

Newspaper article: The Negro in Congress

This is from the Covington Journal of December 7, 2011.

The "Irrepressibles" in Congress are moving with a high hand.

Senator Trumbull has given notice of a bill to give freedom to persons in slave States.


Representative Elliott proposes to advise the President to emancipate all slaves in any military district in a state of insurrection against the government.

Representative Campbell proposes to confiscate the slaves of rebels.


Representative Stevens offers a resolution directing the President to declare free all slaves who may leave their masters. 

Representative Gurley proposes to apprentice the slaves to loyal masters and after a while colonize them. 


Senator Wilson has introduced a bill to punish officers of the army and soldiers who may return fugitives from slavery.

The same Senator has introduced a resolution directing the committee on the District of Columbia to inquire into the expediency of abolishing slavery in the District.


All of this is the work of a day or two, and it is only the beginning. 

In this connection it is a significant fact that a resolution reiterating the Crittenden resolutions of last session to the effect that the only object in carrying on the war was to re-establish obedience to the Constitution and the Union, was on a motion of Mr. Stevens laid on the table by a vote of 71 to 65.

No one can mistake the purpose of the leading men of the party in power. If their counsels prevail the war will hereafter be prosecuted for the abolition of slavery. 

Lyman Trumball and Thaddeus Stevens