The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-08-08
Gen. Lew. Wallace on the "Nirxer
Question:

=
Gen. Lew. Wallace on the "NiExer
Question"
An immense war meeting was
held at Cincinnati on Thursday even.
ing, the papers estimating 30, 900
people to have been present. -
Among the speakers was Gen. Lew.
Wallace, one Of the fighting Gener'
ais. Gen. Wallace is not an Abo.
litionist in the political sense of that
term, but is in favor Of hurting the
rebels in every possible way. In
speaking on this topic, he prefacsd
bis rem arks by saying that he "de-
spised the negro race and couldn't
help It." But he looks at the ques
ton as a military man, and thus de
fines his position:
1--WE made o mistake in supposing
the negro an element OF weakness
~ the South. Now we find him an
element of strength.
"'Howa inquired a voice.
"How-howl | will tell you
how, and the Gen. proceeded to II,
lustrate IL. You are called upon to
enlist. You stop and think; you
say that you are poor man, a me.
chanic, or farmer; that you have q
wife and family; that ifyou 70, they
will stsrve, and your farm or work.
shop go TO ruin. And It is q good
reason, and one that touches HE
heart nearly. Now change the pic.
ture. Suppose me, what it is almost
impossible for me to suppose, re.
eruitiug officer down South. 20
to a strong, able.bodied man, who
looks fierce and ready to bite, and
say we have established q new Gov.
ernment, and the Yankees are COM
ing down TO destroy il and put il
down. Will you enlist to sustain
itp BE says. just as you do, that
he's got wife and family; that his
cotton is planted and his corn ripe.
ming. He says | can 90 and leave
my wife and family. because my ne
sroes will pick and bale my cotton,
and gather my corn. And there are
about four millions OF that kind of
labor to take care Of the families and
industry of the rebels. Now, sup.
poso | should 60 to JEFF. u wis with
proposition that he should leave
four millions of tho white lab ring
men OF the North nndisturbed. and
provide for their families. Would
he do i,a No, he'd treat the propo.
srtion with scorn. You are the men
he wants TO get at. Now, if he
won't let fonr millions OF your la.
boring mon stay at homo to pursue
your usual avocstions, why, In Gods
name, should we allow his four mil
lions to go on undisturbed2 (Ohcers,
and cries Of that's the talk, that's
right.D And hold it to be our du'
ty in the field to do all we can to
weaken the enemy, and il in 40 do.
ing we can strengthen ourselves, in
the name Of God why not do in If
slavery is the base Of the rebellion,
why not knock away the foundationl
If take the property Of the rebel,
his fat cattle. his horses, his grain
for the use Of my soldiers, you say
that lie right, hut If take his nigger,
there's hullsbaloo about il. The
Gen. proceeded next to show the ad,
vantage TO b, derived from such q
policy. There are twenty two o teams
to regiment, and twenty-five team
sters, OF course generally doubled
making the number forty .four.-
They arc detailed for the time. In
the eleven regiments forming my di
vision, there are, therefore, 444 men
detailed for this duty--almost a reg
iment. Onr regiments are broken
in numbers now. Can we afford to
assign them to that duty: and il we
can find anybody, not soldiers, to
perform that duty. what shall we do9
IA voice Take the niggs'
General
81 see you get my idea. Take
the niger Of course, and il I am
permitted, l will do il. [Great
cheering, and You are right.']
"Well, when on the march I've
seen weary soldiers halt for the
night, doff their knapsacks and stack
their guns, and take up the spade
and dig ditohes, and throw mp breast
works, to be prepared against the
enemy in the morning. Now. cup.
posing to each brigsde there was a
regiment OF negroes, whose duty it
was to dig and not to fight, wouldn't
the boys, wssried with their long
march, dotf their kuapsacks, stack
their guns, roll themselves up 10
their blankets, have a good sleep,
and be fresh for the enemy in the
morningf Very we'll, now il by
taking the niger we weaken the
enemy and strengthen ourselves,
what shall We do2
WMany voices--'Tsks the mig.
GER and cheers."]