The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-08-01
What Intelligent Slaves Think.

have talked with many intelligent men
of color on this subject. The superior man
of all is known as "Tom." l one day drew
him out of his guarded silence on this theme
BY saying, Il am surprised. Tom, that the
negroes in this peninsula don't fight for us
81 reckon you amt, Mr. W. You know
too much"
"Why don't they fight for us, Tom p
"They expected to, sir, and all the colored
men from here to Texas, expected to-
"Why didn't they"
"You know as well as /. We were driven
from your lines and camps, and pretty plain
ly told that you didn't want anything to do
with US; that you meant to carry on the war'
so as to leave US in slavery at the end of the
war. So We left you TO carry on the war as
you could, and pretty poor fist yen are
making Of it, too, Mr. w." said Tom, warm
ing into earnestness. "The North can't con-
quer the South, without the help of the
slaves. We men of color, who have COM
munication with each other through all the
states (the leading men mean) kior this.-
We know, too, that # the var lasts, one par
! ty Or the other party will give US our free
DOM"
"What is that you say-the Shareholders
free their slaves"
"They certainly will do it, if they can't
whip you otherwise. You may depend on
that. My friends through the South all tel
me so.
Our position, Mr. W., is like that of the
San Domingo blacks. They put their aid in
the market, between the whites and the mu.
lattoes it for sale. The price was then
, freedom. We mean to sell ourselves fol
freedom-re hope to you northern men. Il
your politicians and generals kick US away
We will try to make our market with the reb
els. But You had better bargain with US
had better free Us and arm US. How Ions
would this war last if We were freed by &C
of Congress and the presidents proelama
tion-both of them ratified in general order
by the commanders of all the Union armie
in the South? Why, the rebel armies woul'
melt away in week. Every officer and eve
ry private who had any interest of any kim
in plantation, or village even, would rul
: straight home to protect it against imagine,
d injury. Consider US armed there's no Us
of talking, Mr. W. The revolution at tn
South is accomplished, and the Union is saw
;. ed. and you can't Sare II rithom the socid
r reroluion. And, mark my words, Mr. w
v the attempt TO sare it withom doing us justic
IL ,riN end IN you own political slarery, an
yc,r rum, and in this England will be Ii
+ principal agent. There are eolored men
L Washington who know the value of the din
n ner-table talk of great men, and JEFF Davi
y and Keitt, and Floyd, have always mad
II much of the jealousy in England of manufa
n turers of your North. You have got to ha,
d us, Mr. W. Our climate will kill your troop
H. save in December, January, February, an
d March. The South is Wilderness, Yo
m are ignorant of it, and can be ambushe1 ev
p ry day. And it is so big that if with half
s million men YOU overrun it, it would take
'e million men to occupy it. And, then, VIII
at sort of Union will you have saved, in viii,
Il the people of thirteen states refuse to tai
IN political action, and have but TO raise the
~ fingers TO their slaves to set them loose U
Dc on you, and drive you northward. You hi
T. better take us, Mr. ". Indeed, you ha
e. got to take US. For If you ,cish to back 0
IN oftns war you ,ronf be permitted TO do IT.
lis You have got to conquer or be conquered.
know the shareholders. They went in
H. this war for power, and if YOU don't VII
D. them in Virginia and South Carolina. tn
OF will whip YOU in Pennsylvania and \,
'e' York, and then reconstruct the Union, wi
IS themselves at the top and you at the botto
Is You ,rhite men of the North wiN 90 into SD
A. cry, unless you take us black men Of t'the Sor
Us out of slarery: and, Mr. w., you hare not
S. great deal ct'time left in phich to decide ri
'eS you wiW do Flames rirer correspondence
i'll New York Tribune.