The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-07-18
Negro Labor for the Army.

We cannot understand why Il Is that there
should be such an aversion to the employ
mcnt OF the blacks to do any sort Of labor in
bur army which they arc capable Of perform
inc. The fact however rename that GER
tain class Of men, rather than SEQ tho SOL
dicrs relieved by such help, would willingly
we we've about to say-see our cause fall
In the Hshrd experience thsi Is fast pass
ing away and we shall soon sec NIL oas som-
mapders m the field using all tho means ut
their command to gain victories over the en-
envy. Aud ons OF ,hesc means. and very
powerful one. s wc conceive, rs tho employ
ment Of the black laboring men Of the South
We SEQ the following in the correspondence
OF the daily Tribune.
"The arrival OF the President nc Harris
on's Landing yesterday, took everybody by
surprise. Salutes were fred and demonstra-
tions OF respect and qualification wero freely
INDUCED In. The President was ut onco
waited on by Gen. Mcclellan, and he was
preparing to visit the line Of dcienses aud tho
army
Probably many, inside a. we'll, as outside
of the army, win be not little astonished
to leasn that Gen. Mcclellan has sent alt tho
way to Burnside for 500 negro labocrs, and
that vessel dispatched for them some days
since IL now atseRt. The immense advan-
tage which tho rebels have oil the while had
over US, and never before 50 much ~ IN tlrse
days, in having negroes TO labor while their
soLlieIs were preserved and drilled, cannot
longer be resisted. Why vessel should bo
dispatched to North Carolina tor negroes
when thousands couh BE- had for the nsking.
right at home, | cannot shy. Some may add
the suggestion, u the negro Is useful with
q spade, now that you hare broken down tho
barriers that kept him from being serviccablo
to the Union cause, why not try him with n
musket?
After week Of battles, during which cur
troops fought six Of European magnitude,
the weayied men, without being permitted
scarcely an hours rest, were required to lay
down the musket, take the spade, and go to
digging trenches and here they have been
working by the thousand, with scarcely an
opportunity to rest, adding TO tho frarful liss
OF bruised and broken.down men, while tho
enemy rested, an army Of blacks doing tho
digging. All theories or fine spun objections
break down under arguments like this (; and
the fact is too important to he lost sight OF,
that measures have been taken 10 relieve our
soldiers by employing negroes to build our
Notifications. ] confess that have not yet
yielded to tho Arguments Of the Tribune in
favor Of arlning the blacks but rs nm OBJ
server and chronicler | cannot forbear to
mention tho progress of this idea wi,hin tho
last two weeks. cannot sly that the argu-
ments Of the Tribune, or OF those It reprcs-
ents, find Endorsements; bot ] have heard
officers Of the army formerly opposed to such
q course, assert the same conclusion, and de-
clare themselves in favor Of employing all
the agencies within reach 10 pu, down the
rebellion. don't think the negro san bo
made trustworthy soldier. bat he can labor
and DO Of the greatest service with ihespade.
This latter conclusion appears to have been
adopted In tho army OF the Potomac, and
there 10 no saying that the Degro's adnptaiion
To the musket may not yet BE- discovered by
those whose business It y to get soldiers aud
fight our battles.