Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-07-12
western Testimony.


Gen. Lew. Wallace who recently arrived in
Washington from the west, where he has serv-
ed with distinction since the commencement of
the war, was serenaded Wednesday evening,
by some of his Indiana friends. In a short
speech from the balcony of his hotel, he al
luded to and answered the current nonsense
about the sentiment of the western army rel
alive to using the service of slaves, and pro-
tecting the property of traitors =
Bear me witness, said he, that if l speak of
political questions, | do it not as politician,
but as soldier. He would be a poor SOL
der, in my opinion, who would fail to use
every element of war which God Almighty
gabe him, if he could use it to his advantage.
prolonged and enthusiastic cheering.) l
think you concur with me in that at least.
(Cries OF Certainly We do; Every sensible
man wilI.') Now, then, if we find the negro
before us, or around us, as we advance, plant
ed there by some neutrality-suspicious. may
have had great deal to do with it-and we
can find his services available, would not that
general be crazy man who would refuse
TO use them? (''Most assuredly," and APP
plause.) So it seems to me, and my position
may be plainly stated upon that. If by the
services of a negro | can make my soldiers
comfortable; if by the services of band of
negroes | can relieve them of onerous duties
and hard work; if | can make them available
to dig my trenches, ('That's right,') shall |
not do it? (Cries of ayes, yes" Loud APP
plause.) Yes, and will do it. (Vocifcrous
cheering. A voice-"Soldiers will follow
you to the death for that" Another voice
'Put no arms in their hands" Several
voices-"Oh, yes, as many as they WANT
Now, then, let me speak about that. (Cries
of ''All right now; !" ''You are mighty
good boy.'') If accept OF the services of
negro, and he works well and faithfully, fed
by us, clothed by us, and he stands by my
gallant regiment, relieving them of the hard
duties l have mentioned, would it be human,
woafd it not be cruel, to put him in the army,
in the way of shot, and yet give him nothing
with which to defend himself? Cries of
''That's so" and loud and continued cheer
ing.) Where he can be made available let us
make him so. l would feed them; | would
organize them; and to each one who did good
service | would at the end of the war give him
or her freedom. cloud cheers.)
He then alluded to the immense advantage
which the labor of these four million slaves
gave to the rebels, to the dash and audacity
which had characterized all their movements,
and closed with the following spirited appeal ;
VIII this congress before it adjourns-and
the time of its adjournment, l am told APP
proaches-will it have the courage to leave be-
hind on the statute book drafting law?
fear not. And yet they ought, by all means,
because the time may come when every strong
arm i'll the north and in the border states, too,
may be required to sustain the government.
We have been dealing in atfectatiOns. Let us
discard them. We have been accused of van
ity by the people of the Old World All peo-
pies are vain. 1t was natural that we should
be. Let us not carry our vanity, however, to
the point of destruction. If need be, repeat
again, let us summon to the battle field every
man in the land who can carry a gun or stand
beneath the flag. Oh, if l could get little
backbone into those who are governing
US! If | could but animate them to
use the great powers which God has
given us in one year, the very results of
the prosperity he has given us. If l could
but stimulate them to the point of courage
when they dare do their duty as our soldiers
in the field dare to march to the lannon's
mouth, and could induce them to let us make
aCGT, that is all ask. And there may be some
around us now. | turn to them, and in the
name of the sodery, the regiments l com
mand, and say that | want to be allowed the
privilege, when | march through secession
districts, to make my soldiers comfortable on
secession property. Understand me, would
not make war barbarous. | would cultivate
every amenity that belongs to civilized war
fare, and God knows they are few enough
But never again want TO lead a column Of
troops through land rich with comforts and
luxuries belonging to the enemy of my gov
eminent, without having the privilege of Civ
ing portion of them at least to the gallant
soldiers who follow me. Gen. Wallace re.
tired amidst enthusiastic applause.