The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-06-27
From the Pennsylvania Enquirer.
The Status of the Negro at the Revo
luton.

Zieo lanatlcism that has possessed the minds
Vi many Northern people, than the constant
assertion that the Declaration of Independ-
ence was designed to cover the black man as
Wen as the white; that both orders of men
were considered at the time as being equally
interested IN our Revolutionary war; and that
as consequence, slavery in the United States
ceased TO exist on the 4th of July, 1875. So
continuously has this absurd falsehood been
repeated IN and out Of Congress, that do
not doubt OF great many we'll meaning peo-
pie beng deluded into belief of its absolute
truth. There is no use in wasting time on
the character and motives OF those who prom
agate TINS proposition; | suppose we all know
what To think Of the man who deliberately
declares thing to be true. which is not only
absolutely false, but which is shown to be
| false ON the least investigation. But to give
an idea OF the actual condition of the case, |
Will reclte few of the leading authorities
that bear upon il.
In the frst place it must he remembered.
the earliest attempts at an army against Brit
ain were made in New England. The pro-
vince oil Massachusetts Bay set on foot an
armed organization against Cages troops in
Boston. 1t was soon found too costly and in
expedient an undertaking for the few New
England colonies to maintain. and when the
continental Congress met at PHILADELPHIA.
they We're very glad to have united America
assume the contest and expense of what had
hitherto been purely local business. Thus
the New England became Continental Ar
my!
1t thus becomes proper to examine first,
the position Of the negro under New Eng
land regulations; and next, to ascertain how
/ he was regarded after Congress took the con-
/ test OF the army.
On the 8th July 17I5, the Massachusetts
Committee of Safety, expressly instructed the
oiiicFs OF the several regiments of the Mas
sachasetts Army, that they should not enlist
| into the service ANY stroller, neqip. or vaga-
bond This was not an inconsiderate nor an
IDLE step. The Committee were virtually the
| Executive of the colony, as the Provincial
/ Congress was its legislature; and that on this
| particular question both bodies were of one
mind, sufficiently appears by the proceedings
of the Massachusetts, Provincial Congress of
! 9Th June, 1775, and of 18th October. IVA; on
which last named day that body considered
letter that was addressed to it. This COM
munication was to the effect, that in their
own efforts to preserve themselves from
slavery, they ought to "take into cosasider1-
ton the state and circumstances of the Nero
| Saues in this ProUince"~ The matter was
debated, and the whole business voted down,
without even a reference to Committee.
thus we see that up to the time the New
England army went into Continental service,
the negro, bond or free, had no acknowledged
existence in it. Let us see how his st,,tus
was affected by the transfer.
Among the very first orders issu,d after
! o-b, kai-s
Congress was regulation by Gates, the new
Adjutant General, doth July, l775) forbid
ding the enlistment of any negro. On the Sth
October, l163, Council of War was held
present, Generals Washington, Ward, Charles
Lee, Putnam, Thomas, Spencer Heath, Sui
Ivan, Greene and Gates-of whom one was
a Virginian, two were of English birth, and
the remaining seven New Englanders. The
question came up again; and it was unani
mously agreed to reject all slaues from the ar.
my; and by a great majority, to reject all ne.
gToes altogether. Further, in the same month
a conference was held between Washington
Committee of Congress, and the chief civil
authorities of all New England; and it was
again decided that negroes should be excluded
from the army. (See Forces American Ar
chives, 4th series, vol. l. p. 642-voI. III. u
1868, 1892, 1620-vol. Iii. D. 1889, 1855,
ll6l.) And it was a standing order to seizt
and punish any negro found Struggling abou
the lines after tattoo.
Thus we see conclusively what the hacl
mans position was down to the Declaration O
Independence. 1t differed not at all from hi,
condition in slave State to day. He was ,
mental character in no respect the white man,
equal; nor possessing the same political rights
!, He was subject, not citizen. Did the De
, claration alter this state of affairs 4? It di,
not; unless we are to suppose that every par
of the Union swarmed with knaves and vii
, lains, whom we call to-day patriots. Now
can not interfere with Northern gentlema,
pronouncing himself rascal and liar: h
may possibly tell the truth in the assertion
But object to his fixing the charge of frau,
and perjury on his grandfather when tina
grandtather's glory belongs to the Who'll
country. We all know that the Declaration
was the handiwork Of Thomas Jefferson.
it was meant to prohibit slavery, how come
;t that Jefferson continued a slayeiIolde
! through the rest of his life We all know
that John Jay was one of the signers, who's
grandson OF the same name has signaIize,
himself by liberal contributions to old Johl
; Brown wten he was in a Virginia jaiL.-
jail. Now, the original Jay was himself O
opinion that slavery was wrong; vet he die
not feel that it was prohibited by, or contrar,
to any law of our land. After the signing q
the Declaration he bought slave for hi
own use, as his father had often done befor
/ him. He held this slave q refer now to on
case, the testimony which is published in hi
life) for some time; and finally subscribed
written instrument, promising to free tn
: man, when by his labor he should have PAL,
for himself Surely this does not look as
Mr.. Jay-whose legal intelligence made hin
) the first Chief Justice of the United States
l esteemed slavery either NAHUM prohibitun
, or a NAHUM in Sc. If it was unlawful. but i,
; itself wicked, he would have freed the negr
outright, and paid him for his past labor
But let me cite stronger, and even more il
lustrious witness. l have examined an origi
| nal autograph letter of Washington, writer
in 1885 It's subject is his own volunteer et
forts to catch and put in Jail the runawa,
. slave of friend. Gen. Washington caugh
the negro, and sent him to the most suitabl
l Jail; but in a critical moment, the fellow slim
ped off, and had not since been re taken. de
spite the dilligent search of our great Genera
and patriot.
Now, unless we are to believe that Wash
ington Jay, Jefferson, and all the Southern
revolutionary leaders, as well as great man
of the Northern, were ineffable villains, who's
whole life was lie, how can we receive tn
doctrine that they persisted to hold slaves il
violation of the laws they themselves ha,
created? How can we believe that Greene
:, of Rhode Island, Quaker by birth, her
and patriot by conduct, could have been S,
base as to accept the present of Southern
!, plantation from the gratitude of South Caro-
lina-and, abandoning his native soil, be con
! tent to end his days there stakeholder +? |
may suit with the tastes Of some people t.
maintain doctrines that are not only untru
.. in themselves, but which logically depend up
on the fathers of our State having been double
eyed scoundrels Such doctrines do not sui
me- Independently of the personal feeling
that must entertain for the memory of th,
,, friendship and confidence that, in greater o.
less degree, existed between Washington
! Knox, Jay, John Adams, and others of tina
rank, and persons from whom | have learned
much of what know respecting the affairs o
this country-I do not intend that the Amer
lean people shall be so maligned without
contradiction. The simple reference to thu
New England newspapers Of the Revolution
will show how entirely they were then pro
slavery people. Their merchants grew rich ir
the slave trade. Their houses abounded il
slaves. / believe am authorized in repeat
ing the assertion of Bostonian, ttat some O
the most furious Boston Abolitionists are the
descendants of Boston shareholders. No char.
acter in that town was too pure to buy and
sell a negro. No spot was too sacred to Free
dom to be disturbed by the fall of the slave
auctioneer'S hammer! On the Sd OF Janua.
ry, 1875, the Boston Gazette Advertises in
the sale of the effects of deceased clergy.
man-"also, likely negro lad; the sale to be
at the house in Auchmuty's Lane, West End.
not far from Liberty Tree"
The journals contain plenty more such no.
tees, all through the Revolution; but when
one reflects what the Liberty Elm of Boston
was, and how its clergy behave to-day, think
this particular citation ought to be rather hard
of digestion. At all events, do not think it
will be easy to show that black men and
white men stood on an equal footing in the
Revolution.
| P. s, had almost forgotten to mention