Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-08-15
MFrom the New York Journal Of Commerce. J
The Loyal Blacks,

Among the tricks Of the radicals is one vers
foolish one, which is frequently attempted,
espicslly by the newspapers, in talking about
the Southern negroes as the "loyal children OF
the Republic" and in pretending to believe ths,
we have but to speak the word to have four
millions OF "Unionists" in the Southern States.
II these radical gentlemen honestly mean to
treat the slaves of the South as men who have
an interest and who are to be counted in the
fate of the Union, then there is no manner of
doubt that they are ten to one against us. The
proof is already too great to be doubted They
don't want to help the Union against their mas
ters Wepropose to these willy politicians test
of their sincerity. If we are to treat the blacks
Of the South as men In this matter, leaving the
property view out Of question, then it Is clear
shat we ought to treat all that we capture as
prisoners of war, and exchange them or punish
them as traitors, or give TO them the same treat.
ment which we give to white men taken 10 the
war. A slave who has worked on Southern
entsenchments, or served rebel soldiers In the
army, should according to the radical doctrine
be treated as o rebel.
Il is notorious that thousands of slaves are
attached in this way to the rebel cause, but we
do not hear any AbOlitionists expressing indig-
nation against the black traitors OF the South
Why mott The pretence that they are under
compulsion would do very well were il not that
the whole Southern army is under precisely the
same compulsion. The oonscripts :ha. fought
at Richmond are under compulsion as clearly as
the slaves that dug their trenches, or cooked
their meals, But no one sympathizes very
strongly with the conscript army, and we don't
hear the Tribune or the EUsaine Post ca ling
them loyal sons Of the nation, or proposing pro.
clamation Of freedom In their behalf. The fact
Is that the proposal of the radical gentlemen ls to
free slaves against their wishes. 1t 10 to declare
mea free, who choose bondage; the object of the
proposal being the punishment of the master,
with no reference whatever to the good, or to
the wishes, Of the black man. In truth the
AbolitIonists would make cruel and tyranni-
cal use of the slave to produce an effect on his
master, and to this their boasted philanthropy
really reduces itself. Where is the Abolitionist
to-day that advocates furnishing black traitors :
We hear great deal about Tour million loyal
blacks, but hear nothing about four millions of
staunch servants Of the rebels, who refuse all
temptations to insurrection, who reject every
offer Of freedom, and large part Of whom are
to-day In very truth she free-will supporters of
the rebellion. Take the case of soldiers ar
irving here In New York as prisoners of war.
having black servants with them. The servants
are turned adrift at once. Why7 Give them
their choice and they would continue to serve
their rebel masters. Are they loyal blacks7 7
All this talk about loyal blacks ia pure decep.
ton. Il is too bald a misstatement to impose
even on the enthusiastic men who profess to be-
lieve II. If the negro Is to be used as militia
~ element In this war, the negros in immense
majority would fight for the rebels. No man
who knows any thing about the South has any
doubt of this, and q year and half of war has
given abundant proof of It for oil who choose
to Judge with their eyes open. And the proof
that the Abolitlonists themselves believe it, will
be found 10 their unWillingness to treat negroes
as rebels under any circumstances and return
them as prisoners Of war, or hang them as trail
tors They prefer to deceive the public into the
idea that every negro lie q unionist, and only
needs asking to hghsfOr the Union. The whole
negro population of the South may be set down
as thoroughly attached TO the cause their sew
eral masters espouse, whatever that is, and IL is
q trick of abolitionism, TO catch thoughtIess
people, this notion Of calling the slaves loyaists