The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-10-03
Affairs at Hilton Head.
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BlArkS.
The Prejudice of our SOldiprS Against
Hunters Negro Brigade.

In the Ereuing Post of last Friday we
find an interesting letter from Hilton
Head, in relation to affairs in Mitchell's
Qate Hunters@ Department, and the true
cause of the failure of the Negro Brigade.
We quote what the writer says of
THE ARMY AND THE BLACKS.
1t must be confessed, however, that to
General Hunters plan there was one great
obstacle which had not been taken into
account. | refer to the disposition evin-
ced towards the poor negroes by the SOL
diers of this army Here we have some
thing as bad as can well be conceived
something that should fill us with the deep
est shame and sorrow. Whether it be
that the General was somewhat too en-
phatic in his patronage of the negroes, or
whether it be that the northern soul, as
here represented, is utterly inverted and
dishumanized on this subject, certain it is
that the Generals course has OccasiOned
some of the vilest and meanest exhibitions
of human depravity that it has ever been
our lot to witness. Many, very many of
the soldiers, and not few of the officers,
the cOarsest and most brutal insOlence and
inhumanity never speaking to them or
Of them but to curse and revile them, to
say all manner of evil against them, and to
threaten and imprecate all manner of evil
upon them. Again and again have been
made thoroughly heart-sick at hearing the
unmeasured ribaldry and profanity and
indignity which have thus been spew-
ed. as if from the gorge OF he'll itself,
upon these unOtfending, much-sutfer-
ing people. God help them for I
fear there is no mercy nor justice for
them in the white man. And Gen. Hun
ter's earliest benevolence towards them
has but purchased for them ten fold re-
turns of cruelty and abuse from the SOL
Jiers Of his command. Every act of kind
ness in their behalf seems to be resented
by these savages OF the army as an intol-
cradle atfront to themselves. And, as the
negro stands helpless and detenceless be-
fore them, their miserable spite take the
most cowardly way Of venting itself upon
him. From the speech and action ofthe.e
creatures q dare not call them men), one
would really suppose the negroes alone to
blame for the Internal rebellion which the
Shareholders have raised. Often, while
rejecting on the matter-often am I say
ing to myself 40, God! 0, God! where
is this to end 4? and what is to come of it ?"
Indeed, | can hardly think of these things
but that | feel almost ready to despair Of
my countrys cause. For, surely, if right,
if justice, if mercy, if manhood, be dear to
Heaven, we can expect nothing but the
sternest and severest discipline as a nation,
until this horrible savagery shall have
been chastised out Of our people. What
do we, what can we deserve, but to be
scourged without pity, till we learn to have
some pity on our wrOnged and suffering
tellow-men.
l tell you what, Messrs. Editors, there
has got to be great change in public sem
timent in and throughout'the loyal states
before the controversy now pending can be
fully settled. Till that change comes,
Providence has controversy with us
controversy not to be slaked but by riv-
ers of blood and tears. Think you that
we can, with impunity, worship Freedom
and still do voluntary sacrifice to Slavery I?
That we love freedom only heightens our
guilt if our conduct be such as to prove
that we love it all for ourselves and none
for others. The people of the great, free,
powerful North, and the national govern
ment as their representative, must learn tc
respect freedom and justice and the COM
mon rights of humanity in the negro race
| And l speak advisedly when / say that,