Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-08-28
NIeqER MCGEE !! NIGeER l.i

nl1YFh N1GGkR NIGGERt8
yrxEs ora KENTUCKY sIxvxHorDzR.
Col: 9nidss Metcslfs. of Nicbola,
county ~, has just published letter
of whieb2the following is the conclu-
sion:
They (the rebels) made war upon
our own country as unjustly as they did
upon Cuba, and for the same purpose,
TO conquer balance of power for the
negro owner, snd at time when their
negro property was protected BY the
strongest laws that could be devised,
and Eben no one was disturbing their
|rigbls in the negro or au5E other -preper-
ty: Now some Of the same men who
were foremost in the negro cry are try
ing 10 deny that niger has any thing
to do with this war. Don't let them
slip out in that way. Can't you all re-
member one year back? Can they now
make you believe that you were asleep,
and dreamed all that? If there had
been no Niger. there had been no tpQr.
Niger has been the pretext to ride into
office on for long years. They have
cried niger and abolitionist ever since
l can remember, to carry any point.
and the same cry was gotten up this
time to create q war. Thirty years
ago they attempted to get up war
upon the tariff, but the public pulse
would not vibrate to that call. But
now they want a war, and I'll they have
to do is to cry out "Nigg = danger,
and Just see what a terrible conflict fol-
lows. In the face of all this, will any
sane man believe the negro had moth
ing to do with the war?
Now, fellow citizens, which is the
best for us-shall we go on destroying
our own race, killing, staying, devasta-
ting; or shall we remove the cause of
the war and quit this wicked work, and
return TO the pursuits of peace and
pleasure, and meet again in quiet our
dear ones at home!
All! but they tell you that it is better
for the negro that he remain as he is.
Well, l grant it, but is it better for US?
Had we better do that which is better
for US, or that which is better for the
negro? Is it all the object-aim of our
lives TO take care of the negro? Must
the peace Of Sally and the childern,
their welfare and their happiness be
sacrificed, they turned loose, widowed
and impoverished orphans, that it may
be better for the negro?
Twenty tbousandsef our own race
were killed the othefisx - piriIinVud,
and hundred thousand more have
died and been slain in this war. Weep
ing AMI mourning now FIJI your land =,
what for?-in order that 1t may be bet
ter for the negro. You are not called
upon to sacrifice anything. You are
not asked TO give them away, but take
pay for them. They are Of no profit to us
in Kentucky. The money they would
bring-yes, the interest on it will do
more labor than they do. We lose moth
ing by the sale; then why not remove
the cause Of the quarrel and quit killing
one another?
was born slave owner, and am
now slave owner, and have been a
pro-Slavery man until l see plainly that
my country is iuaianger from that insti.
tuition. Ny country first. I for one
am willing to sacrifice my negroes with.
out compensation if it be required that
to save my country or to save our own
race from destruction, and be that is not
willing to make such sacrifice has no
soul, and is not entitled to the privileges
of free and liberal Government. You
must now make choice; you have nc
discretion in the matter. The ques-
tion is not now the way you would ralh-
er have it, but in self-defense you are
compelled to wipe out the institution or
90 yourselves with wife and Children to
ruin. You are now at the point that
you must decide. Your lives, your lib
erty and happiness, are now at stake
Weigh well the verdict. Remember
that Pharaoh's heart was hardened ;
that be was blind to reason and common
sense until he was overwhelmed in the
raging billows. A like fate awaits you
Let me warn you Of the impending dan,
ger. Do not fasten on your children
this everlasting warfare. The value o
property in your State will advance
many times the value Of your slaves al
soUn as you make the sale.
LEONIDAS METCALFE.