The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-09-11
State of Maine.
Colored Troops in New Orleans.

The South has not shown SO much reluct-
ance to put arms into the hands of colored men,
and to use them for military purposes, as have
the people of the North During the coned-
crate reign in New Orleans, a military organi-
cation, known as the "Native Guards" existed
consisting of free people of color, the organize
ton existing by State authority and its officers
commissioned by the Governor. In his order
of March oath, Gov. Moore said that the Com
mander-in-Chief "relied implicitly upon the
loyalty of the free colored population of the
city and State,for the protection oftheir homes,
their property and Southern rights" and he
further said that the organization of colored
men existing previous to that date, Selected
praise and respect for the patriotic motives
which prompted it, and it was for these rea-
sons that they were called upon to 'maintain
their organization" and for their commander to
'report to the Maj. Gen. commanding the mil
itia of the State"
Thus it will be seen that negroes were used
for military purposes in the South, not simply
to act as 'home guard" but to act for the
protection of Southern rights "from the polu-
ton of a northern invader" 1t has been very
common for a class of persons and papers, not
overburdened with loyal spirit, to deny the
facts here referred to-that the negroes have
been used in the rebel war service-but the of
fetal order from which we have quoted-and
which order is before us as we write-is au-
thority on this point. 1t does not occur to
us that we have met with word from
those opposed to the military use of ne
groes, denouncing the southern chivalry for
thus arraying themselves with black men, or
setting forth the insult offered to the white reb-
elsoldiery by, or the degradation resulting from,
such an "unholy alliance; !" nor do we recolect
having seen word of complaint from the same
quarter that such swarthy troops are thought
good enough by rebel leaders to march against
and oppose, face-to-face, the white troops COM
posing the loyal army.
1t seems Gen. Butler has come to the very
rational conclusion that men who are good
enough to fight for rebellion may very proper
ly be employed to fight against it, and he has
wisely ordered, under date Of Aug. oath, that
Moore's "Native Guards shall find more hon
orable employment than that of defending
portunity to participate in the glory of re-
erecting the stars and stripes over the soil now
desecrated by the feet of traitors.
In his General Order Of the date referred to
Gen. Butler. referring TO the Louisiana colored
State troops, says
The commanding general believing that
large portion of this militia force of the state
of Louisiana are willing to take service in the
volunteer forces of the United States, and be
enrolled and organized to "defcnd their homes
from ruthless invaders; to protect their wives
and children and kindred from wrong and out
rage to shield their property from being seized
by bad men; and TO defend the flag of their
native country as their fathers did under Jack
sou at Chalmette against Pakenham and his
myrmidons carrying the black flag OF "beauty
and booty" approaching their motives, rely
ing upon their "well-known loyalty and patri-
otism," and with praise and respect" for these
brave men-it is ordered that all the members
of the "Native Guards aforesaid, and all other
free colored citizens recognized by the first
and late governor and authorities OF the state
of Louisiana, as portion of the militia of the
state, who shall enlist in the volunteer service
OF the United States, shall be duly organized
by the appointment of proper officers, and ac-
cepted, paid, equipped, armed. and rationed as
are other volunteer troops of the United States,
subject to the approval of the president of the
United States.
Will those papers that have exulted and
chuckled over the late difference between
Gems Butler and PhelpS and who have de-
nounced the latter for his efforts and zeal in
the organization of eolored muscle, be fair and
manly enough to give their readers the benefit
of the facts brought out in the foregoing?