The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-04-25


were wise and more manly to meet them
squarsly and at once. We are in The
midst of the greatest revolution that ever
occurred in ancient or modern times. Such
armiesas are new marshalea In hustile ar
ray onsth1 continent,in point Of numbers,
equipment, and expense, have been hither-
TO unknown in the annals of mankind
We are imposing burdens ii the form Of
taxes that will be felt by unborn genera
tions. We are suffering mueA now ne
expect and ars willing to sufer more. -
And wig Because we desire TO preserve
the integrity of our nation because we
believe that Heaven designed us to be one
people with one destiny the freest aud
happiest on earth. 1t was to preserve
that unity Of our national existence that
our sons and brothers have gone forth to
do battle. For this it was that the gal
liant men oIows have freely, ,triumphantly,
laid down their lives at Wilson's Creek,
Blue Mills, Belmont, Fort Donelson, Pea
Ridge, and Pittsburg. And shall we,
after these great sacrifices of life and
treasure, hesitate about employing any Of
the instrumentalities in aid OF the country
that are known to civilized warfare Shall
we not be rccreant TO our high trust if we
doubt or delay in this particular ?
This war will 20 on until rebellion is
subdued. Upon this point there need be
NO controversy. Rely upon it, the north
western States will submit to no tempor-
izing or compromising policy. They are
too much in earnest; they have suffered
too much already they know too well
what they would be compelled to suffer in
the future to allow treason to 60 unpun-
ished. Il is because they desire to pre-
vent the recurrence of the rebellion that
they demand that it shall now be thor
ougly crushed: Among things necessary
to be done to fully accomplish this purpose
We must conquer and hold all of The forts
and strong positions Oh the south Atlantic
and Gulf coasts. How shall they be
garrisoned when capturedy This is a
question we shall soon be compelled to
answer; and am prepared for ITS solu-
ton. | answer it uLhesitatingly that we
should garrison them, in whole or In part,
BY soldiers of African descent that in
stead Of returning slaves to their rebel
masters to fight against US, we should en-
ploy them in our own military service.
! know very we'll that this proposition
encounters at once all the prejudices that
have been engendered by differences of
race, education, and social position but
let US look at it q moment soberly and
practically. 1t is assumed asadmitted by
all that the southern forts must be cap
tured and strongly garrisoned for some
years to come. They are situated in a
warm and cneryating climate, and the
particular location of nearly all Of them
renders them more than usually unhealthy,
even for that section Of the country. In
addition to the forts already established,
We shall be compelled to build new ones.
The rebels rely upon the diseases Of their
climate to decimate onr northern army in
the summer and autumnal months; and
their Conscience il we'll placed Our troops
will wither before the fevers Of the Gulf
coast as vegetation does before the blast
of the sirocco. Now, we have in our
midst thousands of hardy, athletic colored
men, fitted by nature to endure the heat
and miasma Of the tropics, and some Of
them accustomed to it, who are painting to
be employed in the capacity Of soldiers.
Many Of them having been in state Of
bondage. have been abandoned by their
masters, and are now thrown upon us for
support. Some Of them were forced BY
our enemies into their military service,
and have deserted from it. They implore
our protection, and we must give it, If VIC
would not become "scorn aud derision"
among the nations OF the earth. They
have shown, ON divers occasions, both on
sea and land, that they belong to varlike
race They are obedient and teachable.
They can be subsisted much cheaper than
white soldiers, .an perform more labor,
and are subject 70 fewer diseases in
warm climate.
Now, with these facts before us, shall
We refase to employ them? What sub.
stantial reason can be given for not doing
20 lsft because they have not the prop.
sr capacity fof commando Then give
them white officers, as is done by tho Brit
ish Government to the same race, by the
French Government to the Arabs, and BY
the Russian Government 10 the Tartars
and other semi -barbarous soldiers within
that empire. Is it because they do not
possess the average courage Of soldiers?
In addition to the testimony In disproof
Of this. furnished q few days ngo by the
Senator from Massachusetts,, Mr.. Will
son,] refer you to your vessels Of war.
whore you have hundreds of these men
md hone more valiant. Ii it
because they ars not obedient to com
mand! The whole history Of the race
shows the contrsry, for il there is apy one
thing for which they are remarkable more
than another i ss their cc.Ga;nS SUI Is
sinn In tha vill of thar snnorinrs r. IL