The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-11
The African Regiments.


The passage Of the bill for arming and
equipping negro regiments has stirred up
the bile of some OF the anti Administra-
ton newspapers, who vent their anger in
the most bitter terms. Would 1t not be
more polite, as well as more patriotic, 90
let the plan be tried, now thatit has be-
come a law of the land? Angry clsmor
and abusive words will not repeal the
law, and their only possible effect will be
to stir up dissension in the loyal ranks.
We were opposed to the law because we
doubted its practical utility, but il is
law, and therefore we are for seeing it
fairly and judicionsly tried. We never
will make faetious opposition to the laws
of the land. II is unwise, and at
time like the present may greatly injure
the cause of the nation. There is nothing
inTinsically wrong in making negro
shoot down a white rebel who, with gun
or sabre 10 hand, is endeavoring to MUIR
der white loyal soldiers. A black loyalist
is certainly to be more respected than
white traitor, whose hands are red with
the best blood of the Union. Suppose
Intelligence should come that the negrOes
had risen in Richmond, seized JEFF. DA-
Wis and his Cabinet cut the rebel garri
son to pieces and held possession of the
city, would any loyal man regret the
achievements On the contrary, would
not unanimous shout go up from the
ranks of the lovers of the Union No pa
triot would regret TO hear that Vicksburg
had been captured by African soldiers.
If the rebels use slaves 10 dig bitches, to
throw up entertainments, to build fortif-
cations, to work on gunboats and to act
as pickets and sharp shooters, and spies,
TO enable them 70 destroy the Govern.
ment; why should the Government
have any hesitation TO employ negroes,
wherever they can be made useful, in or
der to crush out the rebels We see but
one difficulty in tne way, aud that is, can
the negroes be made available? Will
they fight? Will they make good SOL
diers? If these questions can be an
swered by fair trial in the affirmative
then most assuredly the Government
will be justified, by every principle of
sound reason, in using negroes 10 fight
the rebels. Some tenderhearted people
are fearful of offending and exasperating
the rebels by this measure. Oh yes;
there are people who never do anything
in religion, or politics, for fear OF Offend
ing somebody. Great achievements are
never wrought by such persons. If we
do nothing until we can secure the APP
proval Of our enemies we shall never do
anything. Let us exercise our own
judgments in this matter, and employ
every fundamentally aud agency which
will weaken the rebellion. If we en-
ploy one hundred negroes, TO throw up
an entrenchment, constitutionally, why
may we not, just as constitutionally, em-
ploy another hundred to fire guns at
traitors from those entertainments We
do not understand that logic which holds
that a negro with a pick or spade in
an army is quite constitutional, but a
negro with gun in his hand in the
same army is highly unconstitutional.
We would just as soon see a negro shoot
minnie ball through the head of Gene
raj BRAoo or General FoRREsT, az to see
him haul logs for a fort6cation to pro-
teot US against those enemies of the hui
man race.
Let US then make no faetious opposi-
tion 70 this law.