The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-08-01
Gen. Wallace on the Negro Question

o CLOCK, numDeT OF Iu0hDlhnb toDuer0n
Maj Gen. Lew. Wallace q serenade at his
quarters at the National Hotel in Washing.
ton. An unusually large eoncourso was
present on the occasion. After several ma
tional airs BY the band, Gen. Wallace made
bis appearance upon the balcony, when he
vas greeted with most enthusiastic shsering.
In tho course Of q very spirited and telling
speech, which was warmly applauded. Gen.
Wallace said -
am no politician. (Ctics Of "Good for
that" and Dent want any now.a. days
Probably FOR a regular speech, had been
much obliged to some Of my political friends
II they had made it for me. ("Keep them
in the dark" and laughter.) II IL 10 ex-
pected that am to speak on subjects Of q
political character tonight, kuow should
have been Obliged for some Of them to have
performed tho task for mo. II l toush upon
them bear no witness the, speak Of them
not 90 o politician, but as q soldier. ZAP.
piause) Twas at tho Senate Chamber to- day.
They we're discussing the policy Of the war
The question 10 agitation was. or what at
least seemed to be tho para mount question,
SHOULD tho ncsro be used or not - (Cries
Of "Yes," "yes," and mo-" "no.") Well,
| fnd my audience precisely as l found
the Senate daughter and applause. -
Some said Eyes" aud soue said "no"-
just o. you are saying. Uaughter.) "a
Voice-"will you give US q soldiers opin.
ion y Yes, lot me speak about that as =
soldier ("good"), not Is politician. Don't
want any politicians" Ho vsuld be q
poor soldier, 10 my opinisn, who would fail
to use every element Of war which God
Almighty gave him, If he costd use it to his
advantage. prolonged aud enthusiastic
cheeriug.) l think you concur With me in
that st least. (Cries of "Certaialy We do !"
Every sensible man will.") Now, then, if
we And the negro before US, as We advance.
planted there by some accident-Provi-
dence may have had o great deal to do with
| it--and we can fnd his services available,
would not that General bo eraxy man who
would refuse to use them (Most assured.
ly," and applause.) So it seems to mo, and
my position may be plainly stated upon
that. Ii BY tho services Of o negro l can
make nv soldiers comfortable; If, by the
services of a band Of negroes. can relieve
them of onerous duties and hard work il
can make them available to dig my troncb
es ("Tbat's right"), shall / not do it
(Cries Of "Yes" "yee." Loud applause.
Yes, and will do it. (Vociferous cheering.
A voIce--"solders will follow you TO .he
death for that" Another voice-"Put no
arms in their hands" Several voices
-"Oh yes, as many as they want.") Nov
then, lot me speak about that. (Cries ol
"Ail right now; "You arc a mighty good
boy."J If accept of the services Of no
gro, and he works we'll and faithfully, fed
by Us, clothed by us, and he stands by my
gallant regiment, relieving thom of the
bard duties have mentioned, would il be
human, would it not be cruel, to put him
into the army, in the way of shot, aud yet
give him nothing with which to defend him.
self !? tCries of That's so" snd loud and
continued eheoring.) My follow-eitizens, l
speak as soldier all the time, reco'lsct.
am mob viewing this matter in lis politica
aspect, for have az much prejudice againsl
tho negro politically, and am as much op
posed to slavery agitation, as any Of yol
can be. Yet where he can be made availa
bio, let us make him SO. Then what sbAl
We do with him !? IA voice-"Plaoe him il
the roar" No, put him to the 'front.'" ZAP
pIause A voicc--"In the diteb." StoI
ono moment, there 10 policy in war as vel
as in politics. One thing is very certain
nothing 10 TO be so carefully guarded
against as the prcjudicss of the soldiers
and unless II was some desperate occasion
some last resort, when even soldiers. would
be grateful for their assistance. would not
propose to put him in the line of battle to
the front. That's the true doctrine" aud
applause But TO every brigade l would
have q regiment of working negroes-to
every company would have fair compile
vAent of cooks. [Applause.] would feed
them, would organize them, aud to each
one who did good service, would at tht
end of the war give him or her freedom
Immense cheering.1 Let me make on
remark further. The common impression
has boon that this was war in whic
: we had all advantages. Now, then, iiste
to my practical experience. l tell you
|, has not boon such war of inequality in ou
favor as many suppose. ] have vsite
plantations in the course of marches.
have asked, Where is the man of th
bouse He is in the army. have Iooke'
around. 1 have seen bic harvest field ful
of stalwart negroes. They reap bis bar
vost and they put it away as we'll and a
carefully as if the man had been at home
aud not in the army; and what was the ro
, suit? He had plenty to eat-a superabund
ance-some of which he was sure woulc
come to the sustenance of the Southerr
army. There are supposed to be 1900 o0(
: of negroes. Do you suppose that Jefferson
Dvais, If we went humbly 80 him beseechini
such thing, proposing to him You have
4,00O, 900 of operatives belonging TO YOU
people in the South; under our policy W,
may not touch ttem-not molest them
: We will leave them upon your farms tt
: work, will you agree to leave US 100000
: of operatives home on our farms, in ou
!, shops, unmoIested Do you suppose ,ha
t Jefferson Davis would agree to that p
8 r"No i"l Yet he would have to agree to i
0 before equality of advantage was established
' between Us. Applause.] Jefferson Davi
10 bettor manager, becauke he 10 q dcsper
ate man. [Appladse.l
We cannot forbear repeating the elosin
remark of the General -
"Oh, that could get little back bon
, into those who arc governing us; i: coul
. but animate them to use the great power
! at their command If could induce ther
! to let US [the armyl make wSr, it is all
ask"
= A NICE SCENE IN CONGRESS "A disgrac'