The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-09-03
The Negro Soldier Project a failure.

mater. lhey were not un anlTnouS on tne
subject and ii does not appear from the pro-
ceedings that any very exaulted sentiments
of patriotism. or indeed, that very ardent
| spirit of any kind animated and illuminated
the assembly. The negro brigade in the
division commanded by Gen. Hunter. at
Hilton Head, South Carolina is also tail
ure. To be sure, in that case the regiment
was raised by force that is. the negroes
were taken and uniformed, and arms put
into their hands, and white officers placed
over Them but like their brethren Of
Rhode Island, s'they were not unanimous
on the subject and in few weeks they
had 10 he dishanded. What the expert
ment of Gen. Hunter cost the Government
is not stated, bnt one thing is certain, that
many OF the negroes ran away, carrying
with them all the Government properly in
their possession, and one instance is men,
toned where a boat load of these sable me-
groes were ovefhauled steering Tor :'secesh
and old n massa." having forgotten to leave
behind the arms, uniforms and ammunition
with which the boat was laden. These
cases are sufficient 10 show the utter folly
and criminality OF attempting 10 use the
negroes of this CT uniry as soldiers AS a
totally wanting in all those elem ents which
are essential O make the brave and useful
warrior. They lack those moral and iate l.
lectual qualities which equip men for deeds
of daring on the field OF patient endurance
on the prntracied march of suffering and
discipline in the camp The negro has
none of these requisites. They belong TO
the white race, and hence, ihe superiority
OF the white man in all respects for v ar
purposes.
Bat again, this war is waged for princi-
ple--the restoration of the "Union as il
was :he enforcement OF The Constitution
it is''-and men who engage in il should
have some understanding and conception
OF what they are fighting for 1t is not
contest having for its object conquest and
subjueaton, the mere brutality OF blood and
buichery. Those who would use This war
for such purposes are traitors TO the Union.
and should receive a traitors doom r.,
therefore, the soldiers of the Union should
De animated by those high and patriotic
purposes stated, how can the negro ever De
used He may cook The soldiers food and
Clean his clothes and do all kinds OF menial
labor, but never perform the important du-
lies attached TO the soldiers position
What does negro know about the Consti-
l. L
have been made upon that instrument by
The men now in arms against the Govern
meRt? To him the Union is as much
mystery and matter OF incom prehensibili-
les, and yet the Abollionisls would put
arms into the hands OF the negroes and
make them instruments in carrying on the
war, the object of which is ont OF the reach
OF their understanding. II such material as
this be placed in The army, il will only en-.
cunber It's movements and paraIyze its ef-
torts in the proper direction. The true and
real strength Of an army lies in the intellect.
ual character Of the men composing it
Thar soldier fights best who best compre-
hends the great principles for which he is
Our Revolutionary fathers
knew il was for liberty and independence
they were perling their olives aud fortunes
and sacred honor +" and hence they enroun.
tered and conquered the trained soldiers of
Great Britain. la 1912 the sons of these
same men again met The veterans of Eng
land on the battle field. and again came of
victorious. In :his case, as in the struggle
for independence, the American people
fully understood the principles involved in
The issue, and this armed them in triple
steel. and gave them the victory against all
odds. IL vas intellectual force combined
with mere animal courage and endurance
that made the white men of 1875 and 1912
invincible, and il is the lack of these ele-
ments in the negro race which renders them
unfit for all soldierIy duties.
The truth is, this is a white mans quar-
rel. and none hut white men should be al
lowed 20 have part in It's progress and
settlement. All attempts 10 force the negro /
on tbs field OF action one of the parties 10 /
the controversy will only be productive of /
mischief. The aE.ipathy betxee the white |
and black man is intense and bitter enough /
at The present lime. without adding 10 il by |
arming the negroes and making them in
strumenlai in taking the lives of white men. !
This will be fatal mistake il committed |
by those who are really desirous of restor- |
ing ''.he Union as il was,f and preserving
he Constitution as it is" But 10 those /
who have no other purpose. in this war but /
a permanent division of the Sa;es-the !
Aboitionisis-this question of freeing the
negroes and using them in orr army is a
ich mine from which TO draw materials 10
lid them in ihei. reasonable work They
know what effect it will have in injurlng
he Union in the Nonb, and hence the
,ertinaciy with which they cling TO il, and
,rge its adoption by The General Govern
neRt