Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-04
Gen. Lew. wallaee on the 'NlEger Ques.

Gen. Lew. Wallace on the "NIEger Ques
tiOn."
An immense war meeting was hold g
Cincinnati on Thursday evening, the pa
pers estimating $4,000 people to have beer
present. Among the speakers was Gen
Lew. Wallace, one Of the lighting Generals
General Wallace is not an abolitionist in
the political sense Of that term, but is in
favor Of hurting the rebels in every possi-
bic way. In speaking on this topic, he
prefaced his remarks by saying that he
"despised the negro race and couldn't help
it." But he looks at the question as a
military man, and thus defines his posi-
ton:
We made mistake in supposing the
negro an element Of weakness in the
South. Now we and him an element of
strength.
How 2 inquired voice.
"How-how2 will tell you how, and
the General proceeded to illustrate it. You
are called upon TO enlist You stop and
think; you say that you are poor man, a
mechanic, or a farmer; that you have a
wife ana family that II you 60, they will
stsrve, and your farm or workshop 20 to
ruin. And it is a good reason, and one
that touches his heart nearly. Now change
the picture. Suppose me, what It is al
most impossible for me TO suppose, re-
cruiting-ofhcer down South. / 20 to a
strong, able-bOdied man, who looks fierce
and ready to bite, and say we have estab-
ished new Government, and the Yam
KEGS are coming down to destroy it and
put it down. Win you enlist to sustain
itr He says, just as you do, that he's got
a wife and family that his cotton is
planted and his corn ripening. He says I
can 60 and leave my wife and family, be-
cause my negroes will pick and bale my
cotton, and gather my corn. Aud there
are about four millions of that kind of
labor to take care of the families and in
dustry Of the rebels. Now, suppose I |
should 60 to JEFF. Davis with proposition
that he should leave four millions of the |
white labOring men of the North undis- |
turbed, and provide for their families. /
Would he do it? No, he'd treat the propo-
sitiOn with seorn. You are the men he /
wants to get at. Now, if he won't let /
four millions Of your laboring men stay /
at home to pursue your usual ayocations, |
why, in Gods name, should we allow his
four millions to 90 on undisturbed? !
Cheers, and cries of that's the talk
that's right And l hold it to be our
duty in the field to do all we can to weaken
The enemy, and If in 80 doing w9 can
strengthen ourselves, in the name of God
why not do it7 If slavery is the base of
the rebellion, why not knock away the
If take the property Of the rebel-his
lat cattle, his horses, his grain, for the use
If my soldiers, you say that is right, but
f l take his nigger, there's a huilabaloo
lbout it. The General proceeded next to
Ihow the advantage to be derived from
such policy. There are twenty-five
cams to 3 regiment, and twenty-five team
tiers, of course generally doubled, making
he number forty-four. They are detailed
or the time. In the eleven regiments
orming my division, there are, therefore.
"A men detailed for this duty-almost
egiment. Our regiments are broken in
numbers now. Can we afford to assign
hem to that duty: and if we can find any
'ody, not soldiers, to perform that duty,
What shall we do2
n NO4Ce- 4HhS CH6 ulgBeI, Oeuefdl.
/" see you get my idea. Take the mig
,er, of course, and if am permitted, 1
will do it. [Great cheering, and you are
light
"Well, when on the march I've seen
weary soldiers halt for the night, dofF their
and stack their guns, and take
Ip the spade and dig bitches, and throw
lp breastwOrks, to be prepared against
he enemy in the morning. Now, suppos-
ng to each brigade there was regiment
# negroes, whose duty it was to dig and
lot to fight, wouldn't the boys, wearied
With their long march, dOf their KNAPP
Iacks, stack their guns, roll themselves up
n their blankets, have good sleep, and
,e fresh for the enemy in the morning ?
Very well, now if by taking the nigger we
weaken the enemy and strengthen our
jelves, what shall we do?
Many voices Take the nigger, and
'heers.l" |