Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-07-15

lOld Words OF n Bold Soldler.s.Geu. Lew.
Wallace upon the Conduct Of the War.
Among the soldiers that have made this
war business and not pastime is Gen.
Lew. Wallace Of Indiana, now Major
General. He has been one Of the most act
I've officers in the army, and has dealt the
rebels and rebellion some heavy blows.
Having been ordered to report at Washing
ton it is supposed for some important
in the East) he was serenaded on
Wednesday night last andih return made
a stirring speech, which it does one good to
read. His position upon the negro ques-
ton is that Of soldier and not pOliti-
clan, and no charge Of "abOlitiOnism, in
its political sense, can be made against
him. From his speech we make the fol-
lowing extracts:
THE REPUTATION OF INDIANIANs.
There is particular reason why we from
Indiana should be particularly proud. In
the beginning Of this war we rested under
a cloud. No less a person than Jefferson
Davis published to the world, and had
printed on the pages Of history, that we
were cowardly. [ A vOice-"that isn't SO. ]
No il isn't as we have proved. When this
war began, therefore, when we took our
banners and flung them to the breeze, each
man Of us did it with distinct resolution
that it was to be the redemption Of our
State honor or it was to be death. 'SThats
So, and applause.l had the honor TO
lead q regiment among the first to the field.
Pardon me for referring to an event in the
history Of that regiment. When the ban
-. e,;.-o., a IN f-nni Of the Capitol,
| had them kneel down, and with uplifted
hands swear to redeem the good name Of
Indiana. Good, and applause. Not
many weeks ago, the old flag under which
we took that oath, was given back, and put
away in the Hall from which it was taken.
At Donels0n its stEiPss 1EarEssn Essnilo6 hl the blue
Union was shot out of it by shell. rAp-
! plause. 1t was but tattered fragment
of its former self and its original glory
when given backs Wherever it foated we
had yictyry. [Applause.1
SHALL WE USE THE NEGRO.
was at the Senate Chamber to-day.
They were discussing the policy of the war.
The question in agitation was, or what at
least seemed to be the paramount question,
Should the negro be used or not ~ GCries
Of " Yes, dyes" and q Mo- "no."7 Well,
1 find my audience precisely as I found
the Senate. Laughter and applause. !
Some said eyes, and some said "no -
just as you are saying Laughter. A
Voice" Win you give US a soldiers opin-
ion ?'l Yes, let me speak about that as a
| soldier "GOod' not as politician.
F" Do n'twant any politicians" He would
be poor soldier, in my opinion, who would
fail to use every element Of war which God
Almighty gave him, if he could use it to
his advantage. Prolonged and enthusi-
astio cheering think you concur with
me in that at least TCries Of q" Certainly
we do;' Every sensible man willn1 Now
then, if we find the negro before us, or
around US, as we advance, planted there
by some accident-ProEidence may have
had great deal to do with it--and we can
find his services available, would not that
General be crazy man who would refuse
to use them Most assuredly," and ap-
plause.l So it seems to me, and my posi-
ton may be plainly stated upon that If
by the services Of q negro can make my
soldiers comfortable; if by the services Of
a band of negroes l can relieve them of
onerous duties and hard work; if 1 can
make them available to dig my trenches
' That's right, shall I not do it2 TCries
of Yes, yes" Loud applause Yes, and
l viii do it. VOeifeFous cheering. A
voice" Soldiers viii follow you to the
death for that Another voice" Put no
arms in their hands" Several voiees-"0h |
yes, as many as they Wuut."1 Now, then,
let me speak about that Cries of GAli |
right now;" "You are mighty good boy.''1 |
If accept of the services Of a negro, andhe |
works well and faithfully, fed by us. cloth
ed by US, and he stands by my gallant reg
iment relieving them of the hard duties I |
have mentioned, would it be human, would
it not be cruel, to put him into the army. in
the way Of shot, and yet give him nothing
with Tzhiob AFnd foud and continued cheer
ing My fellow citizens, speak as a SOL
her all the time, recollect; am not view
ing this matter in its political aspect, for
have as much prejudice against the ne
gro politically, and am as much opposed
o Slavery agitation as any of you can be.
ct where he can be made available let us !
make him so. Then what shall we do with
i'm voice-''Place him in the rear.
NO, put him in front. p Applause. J Voice !
In the ditch. " Stop one moment there
5 policy in war as well as in politics.
me thing IS very certain; nothing is to /
e SO carefully guarded against as the pre- /
ldlees OF the soldiers, and unless it was +
ONE desperate occasion, some last resort, !
hen even soldiers would be grateful for :
heir assistance, would not propose to put q
i'm in the line of battle to the front- =
Z That's the true doctrine and applnuse. I ?
ut to every brigade 1 would have regi- \
tent Of working negroes-to every com n
any would have fair complement of +
'oks. Applause. 1 would feed them. !.
would organize them, and to each one Il
ho did good service would at the end of
le war give him his or her freedom. Tim N,
ense cheering. Let me make one re- d
ark further. The common impression n
Is been that this was war in which we Il
I'd all the advantages Now. then. listen u
my practical experience. / tell yeu it q
IS not been such war of inequality in n
II favor as many suppose. have visit ~
plantations in the course of marches -
have asked, Where is the man of the "a
'usef He is in the army. 1 have looked q,
ound. have seen his harvest field full ia
stalwart negroes. They reap his har- az az
st and they put it away as well and as nv
refully as if the man had been at home to
ID not In the army and what was the IT,
suit = lie had plenty to eat--a SUPER
Of which ne was sure
,uld come to the sustenance of that ha
uthern army. There are supposed to be un
10000 Of negroes. Do you suppose that an
ferson Davis, if we went humbly to him thr
seeehing sueha thing, proposing to him cit
u have 5000 600 Of operatives belonging cit
your people in the South; under our Tn
icy we may not touch them-not mo- ms
t them. If We win leave them at your tn,