Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-18
The Question OF ArmIng the Negro
Interesting correspondence OF Gem
erals Butler and Phelps.

We publish in the letter of our New Orleans
correspondent an important correspondence which
has taken place between General Butler aud his
subordinate officer, General Phelps on the ques-
ton of arming the negroes, together with Gen.
Buffers report on the subject to the War De-
partment As the negro is a very good servant,
but very bad master, and as in his proper place
he is highly useful to the community, so General
Phelps IS an excellent soldier and a meTitorious
officer, if he only knew how to keep his place.
From his letters, as well as his former proceed
ings, we fear this is the principal difficulty with
him, and that he aspires to be a statesman, for
which position he is evidently unfit.
Gen. Phelps first gained some unenviabie dis
tnction by initiating the foolish proclamation of
Fremont, but outstripping even him in ZEAL in
asmuch as he assailed the religion of the people
of Louisiana as well as their cherished instilu-
tons. He now apes General Hunter in trying
to raise black brigade, his zeal again outrun-
ming his discretion and leaving Hunter far be-
hind, though it does not appear that he has been
very successful in the practical work of organic
ing the men. He proposed to raise three regi-
ments; but at the time he brought up with a sud
den turn by Butler he had only organized five
companies, though he sent acquisitions for arms,
Announcements, clothing, camp and garrison
equiDage, &C., for whole black brigade. With
great tact, Gen. Butler directs him to employ
between his camp and the lake, in order TO re-
move any cover in which the enemy might shell
ter himself for an attack on the Union troops;
also to clear the ground for the cooperation of
the gunboats on the lakes; finally, to erect abat-
tbs for defense, and TO prepare some of the tim
Der for firewood for the army in the city, of
which there was great need. Here was abund-
ant employment for the negroes, and which would
have to be done by white soldiers if there were
no negroes Mt hand.
In reply TO this letter Gen. Phelps declares that
he is unwilling to become "slave driver" and
tenders his resignation Gen. Butler not only
declines 10 accept it, and rebukes him for offer
ing to resign in the face Of the enemy but per-
emptorily directs him to carry out his orders as
to the employment of the African laborers, and
reminds him that heretofore negroes have been
purposely omitted from our volunteer system,
and that he General Butler) had no power, even
If he had the inclination, to organize them into
regiments, the clothing for Louisiana volunteers
being expressly limited to white men. That was
reserved for the discretion of the Presidents
discretion which it will crafty Gen. Butler to
learn Mr.. Lincoln has already exercised in the
negative, by refusing to accept black regiments
rendered at the North.
1t remains to be seen whether General Phelps
will now obey the positive orders of his superior.
If he does not it will be a clear case for the ac-
]
from the service, if not to punish more severely
by the sentence of court martial According
to General Phelps, to cause black men TO cut
down trees is slave driving; but to cause white
soldiers to do the same thing is all right 1t fol-
lows from this that the abolition General thinks
the black man infinitely the superior of the white
the very claim made for him by brother Gar
nett at Shiloh church. General Buffers COM
ment is pertinent and to the point: "The sol
diers of the army of the Potomac did this very
thing last summer in front of Arlington Nights
Are the negroes any better than they!" 1t is
evident that Brigadier General Phelps thinks
they are.
Now as to the danger ofarming the blacks, the
statement of our correspondent as we'll as the
letter of General Butler to Secretary Stanton
about negro insure ction is very conclusive
1t seems that few miles up the river. the ne
groes had assumed such menacing attitude to
the white women and children left alone on
the plantations that it was necessary for fed
eral armed boat passing by TO interfere for
their protection arrest the ringeader and threaten
vengeance on the rest if they attempted any fur
/ Their outrages. Yet these the revolving scenes
of anarchy, disorder, brutality and massacre
which the Abolitionists would inaugurate through
out the South-proceeding which could not adj
vance the good cause of the Union, while they
would make Americans blush forever hereafter
on the score of their humanity and civilization.
1t is libel on the white race of the North, num-
bering two to of the inhabitants of the Sonth-
ern Statcs-whites and blacks included-to say
they cannot put down the rebellion without arm
ing the slaves against their masters wives and
children; but If they cannot, will not then will
it be in vain to resort to an act of barbarism
which the Union men Of the border States, who
best understand the subject, pronounce to be a
suicidal policy on the part of the North; and Mr..
Lincoln, who was born in border slave State,
and took mp his abode in border free State,
knows too well the folly and criminality of such
a step ever to adopt it under any amount of
pressure from the Wades, the Lovejoys, the
; Chambers, the Summers the GarTisons, the Gree
leys, the Phllipses, and the other leaders of the
revolutionary radical school.--N y Herald.