Mr. FESSENDEN. I have one or 2 amendments that I wish to propose to this bill if the Senfrom Massachusetts is willing that they should be made. I propose in line 6 of section tour to strike out the word “5” and insert “ 13, ” and after the word “regiments in the same line to insert the words “of which 8 regiments shall be composed of colored men, " and then to strike out all after the word “field” in the 13th line in the following words: and 8 regiments to be composedof colored men. to be Officeredby olficers of colored troops.who have servedtive yearsduring the war and who have beendistin uishedfor capacity and goodeonduct in the field: provided, That promotions in the colored regimentshereby authorized shall beconfined to the regimentsof that corps. So that the section will read: That there shall be 50 regimentsof infantry.to consist of the ten regimentsoften companies each new organized: the 9 remaining regimentsso die tributed that each battalion. with the addition of 2 companies shall constitute a regiment of ten companies and thirtcen additional regiments of which 8 regiments shall be composed of colored men of ten comnnics each and all the vacanciesin the grades of rst and 2nd lieutenant and 2/3rds of the vacanciesin the Gradesabovethatottirst lieutenant shall be filled by selection from among the officers and soldiersof veluntecrinfantry or nrtil lery and 1/3rd from officers and soldiers of the regular Army who have servedtwo yearsduring the war and have been distinguished for capacity and seed conduct in the field. The effect of this amendment will simply be to make the same number of colored regiments, but to strike out the clause which requires that those colored regiments shall be officered by officers who have been officers of colored troops leaving the whole list of officers to be selecte from althe troops indiscriminately. The section as it now stands would make a very great inequality. Those who have commanded colored troops would stand 3 or 4 times the best O once to get a command, on account of the comparative y small number of colored troops. y amendment will throw the whole selection open to be made from the best officers wherevert ieymaybefound. Ihopethisamendment will be accepted.