The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-22
POWERFUL SOUTHERN RESOURCE
BLACK REGIMENTS.

The following paragraph from the Richmond
Wing furnishes hint which the disunionists
of the South should not fail to improve. The
Wing says:
"On Saturday night, when the troops were
making ready to leave for Charlestown, Lomax
B. Smith, a free man of color and the we'll known
barber in the basement of the Exchange Hotel,
fastened to the Office of the Mayor, and offered
his services and those of his colored friends for
the work at Charlestown. He said he and his
comrades were ready to put themselves under
the Governor and Mayor for any service they
might require of them. If any fighting was to
be done in behalf of Old Virginia and the white
folks, they would do their best if not, they
were willing to accompany the troops in the
capacity of body servants, and shave them, and
brush their clothes, and black their boots, or
do anything else that might be wanting of them.
Now, Smith is a man of responsibility, intelli-
gence, and property, and is more of gentle
man than any Aboltionist in the United States
for his principles and his depor ment are both
those Of the gentleman which cannot be said
of the canting advocates of the 'irrepressible.
conflict. Here, then, is a striking illustration
of their fidelity and attachment to their own
homes and real friends, of the Southern people
of color, bond and free. We are sure there is
his hand against his master and his masters
family, under any circumstances. And yet the
Abolition villains at the North affect to mourn
over the sad condition of the Southern slave
a condition infinitely superior, in all respects,
to their own
" We wish the Governor had constituted the
guard at Charlestown of slaves entirely, with
the exception of about one white man to ten
negroes. We think such guard would have
been amply sufficient. At least, we should have
been willing to repose the utmost confidence
in it,
Now, if the Union is to be dissolved, The
Southern people must necessarily adopt this
suggestion Of the Richmond Wing. They WI
be compelled to change their policy, as it req
CARDS the negro race, free and slave, and, in
stead of treating it with harsh tyranny and sus-
picion, necessity, which knows no law, will
compel them to mitigate the rigor of Slavery,
to ameliorate their black codes, give the me-
gro sense of home, of love to the land of his
birth, and then rely upon him to take up arms
in defence of his country.
If the South wishes to be formidable, or even
respectable, as an independent Power, it should
at once begin to organize black regiments.
Southern statesmen should study the policy of
Russia towards her serfs They will find that
the serfs constitute her armies, and the fact is
well known that the armies of no country are
more faithful in their allegiance than those SER
vile Muscovite hosts, who are inspired at once
by a sense of the honor and confidence reposed
in them, and by the promise of Freedom at the
end of seven years. The allegiance of the free
colored people might be secured at still
cheaper rate. 1t would only be necessary to
protect them in the rights they now have by
law, encourage them to educate themselves and
children, and confde in them by organizing
them into militia, or pay them as soldiers, to
make them loyal and faithful.
Here, then, lies the path of safety for the
South, whether in the Union or out of it. AS
a preliminary TO the organization of black regi
ments of militia, she should at once remodel and
ameliorate her code noir. She should show to
the negroes that in future they are to be q part
of the Commonwealth that they have rights
which will be protected that at least the sane
tity of marriage and other family relations viii
be recognised the privilege of reading the
Scriptures should be accorded to them, and
the hope of Freedom should be held out to
them, as a condition of industry and good be-
haviour. These virtues should be stimulated by
according to the slaves the privilege of holding
property, of suing and being sued, and of testir
fying in courts of justice. After adopting such
measures as these, it would be perfectly safe to
arm and discipline the negroes as soldiers, and
rely upon them to defend the country.
The effect of these regulations would be to I'M
crease the military strength of the South at least
three-fold. This proposition is susceptible Of
demonstration. Of the twelve millions of peor
pie who now inhabit the slaveholding States,
four millions are negroes, and nearly all OF
them slaves. These negroes are so many dead
" enemies in the bosom of the South, ready at