Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-08-05
From The Life al john JRy, IS William Jas Vol.
i pp 81, SO.
Alexander Hamilton Cd a@0 Alnies
Uealanallar.. Mo- Ia. 70

AAcNktt lkAAlN+Rss AitAfNtl 4 ka ".
70 John Jog:-DEAR SsR:-Col.
Laurens, who win have the honor Of deliv-
lring you this lette,, is on his w.N d South
Carolina, on project which, | think, il
tue preseps situation Of aiftia there, Is
very good one, and deserves every kind Of
sdppoG ana encouragement This is, to
raise two, three Or four batbions Of ne
proes, with tho assistance Of the goYe'n-
ment Of that State, by contributions from
tho owners, in proportion % the number
they possess. IT. YOU should think proper
to enter upon the subject with him, he will
give detail Of his plan lie wishes to
have 4 recommended BY Congress to the
State; and a. an indueament, that they
should engage to take those battalIons IN
Is continental pay.
1t appears to me that an expedition Of
this kind, IN the present state Of Southern
affairs, Is the most rational Chat can BE-
adopted, 4ad promises very important adj
yantages Indeed, hardly see how sGf
iicient force can be collected ia that quar-
Ten without it; AMI The eaemys operations
Nhere are growing infinitely more serious
and formidable. | have not the least
doubt that the negroes viii make very ex-
cellent soldiers, with proper management;
and | viii venture to pronounce that they
cannot be put into better lnds than those
If ar. Laarens. lie has Ill the zeal, in
teligence, enterprise and every other quail
fcaiion necessary to succeed in such an I'M
dertaking. Ii is a maxim with some great
military judges, that, with sensible Officers
soldiers can hardy be too stupid; and. on
this principle it IS thought that the Rus
SLAMS would make the best troops in tia
world, If they were uudr other officers
than their own.
The King of Prussia is among the uum
Der who maintain this doctrine, and has a
very emphatic saying on the occasion,
which DO not exactly roeoliect. | men
Mon this because hear il frequently OBJ
iected 10 tie scheme Of embodying ne
ogoes. that they are too alpid to make
soldiers This is SO far com appearing
to me valid objection thatC think their
want Of cultivation, (for theirratural facul-
ties are probably as good as curs,) joined
10 that habit Of subordiaation which they
acquire from life of seryitule, viii make
them sooner become soldiers than our
white inhabitants. Let officers be men Of
sense and sentiment, and tie nearer tho
soldiers approach to maehies perhaps the
better.
/ foresco that this project VIII have to
combat much opposition from prejudice
ami splf inter-. The contempt we have
been taughI6 entertain for the blacks,
makes us fancy many things that arc
founded neither in reason nor experience;
and an unwilIingness to pant with prop
erty Of SO valuable 3 Kind will furnish q
thousand arguments 10 show the imprac-
ticabilty and pernicils tendency ofascaene
which requires such sacrifice, But il should
DO considered chat if we do not make use
~ them ID this way to contefact the temp
tatons they will hold out will DO to offer
them ourselves. An ESSENTIAL part Of the
plan is to give them their freedom with
Their muskets. This will secure their fidei-
ily, animate their courage, and / believe,
Will have a good infaence upon those who
.re main, by opening door 3 their enamel
patton. This circumstance, confess, has
no small weight in inducing mo to wish
the success Of the project; for the dictates
ofhumaniiy and true policy equally interest
me- in favor Of this unfortunate class Of
men.
With the nuest respect and esteem
ain, sir, your most obedielt servant.
ALEX. HAMILTON.