, 1862-08-21
Gen, S1ek1es on Negroes and negro
Labor Mt the Shufh.

Gen. sIek1es On Negroes and Negro
Labor at the South.
An 1mmenFe war meeting Was held at
Brooklyn, On Friday evening, the 18th inst,
addressed By Brigadier General sickles. In
the course Of his speech the general alluded
to the appreaended lnilux Of negroes and |
negro labor st the North, showing that the
fear is not only unfounded, but that emanci- |
patton would inevitably draw to the South the |
free negroes now scattered through the North !
EN- etates. He said: |
"There is an Impression existing among the
laboring masses OF the North, especially those
OF foreign birth, that this war is being prose
cuted by those in power for the immediate
the result will be that all the 1aboring men Of
the North, now fighting the battles OF the
country, will hereafter be brought into ruin
Gus competition in the labor market with the
liberated slaves Of the South, and that the re-
labor at the North. This is IN existing i'm
preston every day gaining ground in the
minds of the great masses Of the North, and
more especially among the population Of cur
large cities. I believe it. however, to be
decided error-a mistake-I might say hal
lueination. would not broaeh the question
nor al1ude to II, except in the discharge Of
solemn duty to look square in the face all
those tacts and difficulties which stand in the
way Of the mission which cause5 my presence
here to-day. I have been sent here on the re-
erniting service for the armies OF the United
States, and in alludfng in this way to the facts
have named, it is with the view Of removing
every erroneous impression that may inter
fere with that most Important branch Of the
government service. Ny duty has brought
me in contact With many who ere willing to
assist me, and-[Here was great noise at
the entrance Of the hall, caused By the shouts
Of those who could not get in, but who were
| gested By several that the speaker should
| comply with the demand and 60 ont in front
| Of the City hall to address the people; but
the proposition was SO vigorously resisted By
/ those already well situated inside the hall,
and, on consultation, Gen. sickles decided to
conclude his remarks, and then, if his strength
| would permit him, TO address q few words to
the immense crowd outside waiting to hear
him.l was proceeding to say, he continued,
that q great obstacle to recruiting is the pre-
valliDg idea among the laboring classes that
The war is for objects foreign to those which
are confessed, and that itB aims and purposes,
az well as its sure result, will be the luunda-
ton of the whole North with rival class Of
laborers-the emancipa,ed population Of the
here to discuss any political question, and to
declare that when became soldier ceased
to be politician-[applause]- and while
Won1d denounce any one who would introduce
| politics Into the question Of the war, / must
say that this is matter that demands the seri-
ons attention Of every thinking man, and it is
the duty especially Of those having diverse
opinions to express them reasonably, without
coming into collision with those who differ
, from them. Now, in order That I may
be entirely understood, permit me to say that
, am one Of those who was formerly associa.
: ted with the dominant power Of the South.
! IVES entirely opposed to any party who could
| even think Of having any interference witt
the affairs Of the southern States. I believed
that every question between the North ani
: | the South should be settled in the Union, ant
; by the peaceful influence Of the ballot box
/ | This was true; and have never ceased tt
r deplore that those Of the South with whom
E acted oyerthrew this well founded hope. Whel
declared var upon the constitution an'
the territory of the whole nation, in
s1lting our time honored flag, aud mass
ed ar1nits, armed for the purpose Of subverl
; which they had grown and Increased in pros
IA perity and wealth, enjoying pence and protet
% ti0n and feasting in power and safety, the
1 made themselves Responsible to the gigantl
l. power they had aroused. [Applausel Wha1
n ever consequences may result to Houther
:. commerce, to Southern institutions, to Sontl
u ern property, to Southern soil, or to the livt
ID Of Southern men. are consequences Of tt
r war, for which no Northern man and no al
n thority Of the government can ever be bel
responsible. Emancipation may be one
d the results Of this war. loud cheers, 70
le lowed by bissing; repeated cheering and SOL
|v hi=Eing, agaia drowned by loud applause, an
- cries Of Put him out!"l Put no man ou
IS lam not responsible for war nor for the r
es suits that follow in the train of war. I q
5, not responsible for history. No human pow
y can control them. We must accept them
~ we find them. All We can do is to look at Il
lie result boldly in the tace. I said emancipatit
e may be result Of the war. It may and it nj
h..f not be. No living man can see that, becau
it will greatly depend upon what direction Il
p war may take, and upon the spirit in whit
1e the South chooses to conduct it. # the co
I'd test is to be continued in the spirit Of Il
is proclamation OF JEFF: Davis, which refuses
l recognize our officers and soldiers as priso
ar ers Of war, according to the practice Of civ
ie lied nations, and If that sep be followed I
i1a | BY other atrocities which are SO apt to ari
out Of civil War, but which General McCit
Il Ian has always so studious1y avoided-(lo,
of n]-if the South, animated by dark mali
.. nifty and recklesSness arising out Of the ds
.. peration Of her ause, should follow the d
~ tates that are now prevailing in her con0se
ed the inception Of the rebellion, then It Will
IN IN -what measures Of retaliation, OF hostility,
%ef e epoliation and Of punishment may becol
|
"a the inevitable triumph of this goye1
!n ae ment in the conflict. [Applause] Noa
"a. have word to say to my fellow citize1
9st and especially to those who ha
"a: "a hitherto done me the honor to concur wi
mein my views Of public affairs In the event
u the result Of the var terminating in eman
"a patton, wish to say that mems minds sho1
70 at once be disabused Of any false notions til
- i may have conceived. 1he la5oring man Of
.os o5 North need not suppose that the freed men
'ne soit them in the labor naar1et Of The North.
20 must be borne in mind that since this gr
u ~ conEulsiOn Of the country the South has I
sn saz been able to produce enough Of rice, cottt
M tobacco, com, sugar and the other staples
zen which she Is SO famed. The demand Of I
:c. world has been great, but she could not N
ne ~ them. For more than year not more tt
55ty one-half Of their usual crops have been p
ue duced. And remember the demand is a1W.
ose is increasing for all the staples Of the So,
.as m produced by negro labor. Remember t
" " there is more cotton land. and rice aud sa
" " now nncultyated in the South than there
ao been hitherto cultivated BY all the plaut
~ ~ who hourished there but o single year q
hoa, thss, Remember that this demand must 60 on c
a aas tnually Increasing and the supply be gfea
OF. diminished for years to come before cap
lea can resume its former channels. Gannot es
oo' see it, that tohe7t peace shat be restored,
su uus demand for negro la6or in tho South Till b
ser Increased that an The blacks throughout the co
"J AHt W to t'tt h@o
eS! ard there be entirtly absorbed2 So that so
anu from the labor of the blacks ceaslng to be
VI demand on the cessation Of war and the re:
an an ration Of peace, the demand for the great
ole pies Of rice, tobacco, sugar and corn-wh
eEy will and must be scarce-Will call the SER
ave Of every black 1aborer into instantaneous
,eo aen continuous requieition, and q new imp,
oas- will be given to every branch Of productive
@ the dustry. The prosperity OF the North, MT
u .Iu y. while, is not to cease. Capital, enterpl
N IL Is thrift, are still here among us, and vii
5oV- then as now; and we will not only have
are same demand for labor with liberal Wages,
pro the same reward for enterprise and indus
o.e. but, in my humble Judgment, every brl
orts oftfade and commerce and domestic indu
can tr;11 r;ce into new life when the I1,1ion
uity tha constitution s1alI he riniicefe1 and =,
!. ny. reetored.'f
~ A Scorc1aing Article from the RI
!, ~ monl Examiner on Jeff. D1
Z ~ Administrations.
IN. IN The Wheeling IateuigenceT copies the
It is lowing article from late number Of the T
not mond Examiner received in that city:
~ ! One Of the most important duties that
.4 oe devo}Ee upon Congress at its approaching
nttg sion will be to recruit the strength Of ou
ol mics, The executive branch Of the go,
49,