The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-12-27
A Leaf from His, ory,

A volume has recently been published in Bos.
ton, by George Livermore, entitled "An Histor-
ical Research, respecting the opinions of the
Founders of the Republic, on Negroes, as slaves
q citizens and soldiers" As 80 much has been
said by the tory press about the outrage of
allowing blacks to assist in defending the Union,
perhaps little light from the Fathers will serve
to enlighten their minds on the subject We
append few extracts made by the n Y. Even
ing Post:
In relation to the question of using negroes as
soldiers, Mr. Livermore has collected 3 most i'm.
portant mass of evidence, all going to chow that
the wisest and foremost men of the revolutions
~ struggle we're favorable to the employment of
negro soldiers; and that, in fact, black men were
in the revolutionary armies in considerable num-
bers, and fought bravely-often desperately
for the cause Of liberty, theirs as much as any
ones.
Crispus Attucks was a mulatto slave, adver-
tised as a runaway, for whose return ten pounds
would be paid, in 1850. Twenty years after
wards, on March 9th, ITO, he rallied wavering
crowd of citizens, led them against the soldiers,
and himself fell by their FIRE, the first martyr in
the Boston massacre, of which Daniel Webster
said: "From that moment we may date the sew
erance Of the British empire"
Attacks was buried with public honors, and
the stone placed over the four victims of the
massacre had this inscription:
"Long as in freedoms cause the wise contend,
Dear to your country shall your fame extend;
While to the world the lettered stone shall tell
Where Caldwell, Attacks, Gray and Maverick
fell"
At the battle of Bunker Hill, on the meuSra.
10 re
side by side, and fought bravely with their white
brethren; and Peter Salem, a--negro soldier,
once slave, fred the shot which killed Major
Pitcairn, of the British Marines, who led the
assault. Colonel Trumbull, in his celebrated
historic picture Of this battle, introduces con-
spicuously the colored patriot. Peter served
faithfully as soldier, during the war, in Colonel
Nxon's regiment.
Concerning Salem Poor, another negrs sol.
der who served in the same battle, Mr.. Liver
more prints petition to the Massachusetts, Gen.
eral Court, for reward, sent in by officers of
bis regiment, as being due him for behaving 'like
| an experienced officer as well as an excellent
soldier"
Samuel Lawrence, of Groton, at one time
commanded q company whose rank and file were
all negroes of whose courage, military discipline
and fidelity, be always spoke with respect On
one occasion, being out accommodating With this
company, be got SO far in advance of his CON-
mand that he was surrounded, and on the point
of being made prisoner by the enemy. The
| men, soon discovering his peril, rushed to hs
rescue, and fought with the most determined
| bravery till that rescue was ehectuslly secured
He never forgot this circumstance, and ever af-
| ter took especial pains to show kindness and
hospitality to any individual of the colored race
who came near his dwelling.
At the commencement Of the war, says Mr..
Livermore, it appears to have been customary for
the free negroes to be enrolled with white citi-
zens in the militia. In many instances the slaves
also stood in the ranks with freemen, but shortly
| it was ordered that only freemen should be ad-
mitted to the army, and by various regulations
of most of the States it became the rule that a
man who had served the country against the
enemy was by that act made free.
South Carolina, in l775, authorized the en- :
rollment of slaves as pioneers and laborers,"
but the selfish Shareholders Afterwards revoked
this permission, though the best patriots in the
State urged that negroes should be employed
not only as pioneers but as soldiers. M. Liver.
more remarks
Although slavery existed throughout the coun
try. it is significant fact that the principal OPP
position to negro soldiers came from the States
where there was the least hearty and eficien,
support of the principles of Republican govern
ment, and the least ability or disposition to fur
nish an equal or fair quota of white soldiers.
1t would seem that in this respect at least
South Carolina has not changed.
/ South Carolina and Georgia contained 80 man,
tories. at one time, that it Was supposed the Brit
ism officers, who elsewhere wonld, BY proclama-
ton, free all negroes joining the royal army
might hesitate 70 NEEDLE with them in tbest
colonies, lsst the Kings" should suffer thereby