The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-03-12
AEi.li.lg Negroes.

"Mynheer priest" queried dubious
the Hebrew prophet Elisha made iron
SWIM
Il certainly do, was the quiet reply.
.'Do you believe an Ak could nolC be
made to swim p
"Certainly, if he who attempted it had
undoubtiug faith that God would SO
illustrate his power"
Well, haue faith-here goes p
Away went the AK into the lake, and
down it went to the bottom, like very
dense stone.
..7here-I hne,o It uouh2nt," exclaimed
the Dutchman, chagrined at his fcl!y aud
his loss.
If the experiment Of arming Blacks to
fight their natural enemies, the slave
holding Rebels, be tried in this spirit,
says the New York TtiJune, it is certain
To fail Ii 1t be hedged about By every
restriction or annoyance-lf men are
invited to volunteer to be stoned and shot
for their country as matter of exceeding
condescension and fav or to them-lf they
are to nave inferior pay. privileges and
consideration, to other suidlers-lt they
are torewarned that they eau never win
promotion or commendation-if they are
TO be jeered, abused kicked, and stoned
by other Union soldiers for their presump-
ton in attempting to serve their country
we presume all they will do is of small!
account. Spartans would lot volunteer
to fight in defiance of such indignities.
In the Revolution, aud again IN the
- -. I.
began by being very fastiGiouS as to the col
or Of their musketeers. We are not sure
that any color was per Sc prescribed, but
in rs it was nearly voted scaEdalous 10
think of recruiting our armies with stuces.
Before the war was nearly through. we
lad thoroughly conquered. our preju
dices," and hundreds OF shareholders who
were drafted to serve In our Continental
armies sent their negroes Instead, pronlis-
ing them freedom # they would fight
gallanlly through the War, and then (some
not al, Of them) trying to svadc to fulfill
ment of their contract. The Courts of
Virginia in those days brought these
repudiators UP all standing, compelling
them to execute ueeds of manumlsslon,
though the Justice Of the United States
denies 60 slaves all standing in his Court
and declares that. In Revolutionary times,
they were regarded as having no rights
that white men were bound to respect"
He could have said nothing more repug
nant to History.
Blacks-bosh free and slave-played an
important part IN the comnats OF our
Revolutionary War, though 1T first they
were scarcely allowed to enter the ranks
as favor. The gallant defense of Fort
Red Bank on the Delaware was mainly
the work Of Blacks. In the battle OF
Rhode Island they bore conspicuous and
honorable part. In the Last War with
Great Britain great effor;s were made to
enlist them toward the end aud Gen.
j Jackson organized fighting battalion OF
them for the defense Of New Orleans. and
publicly thanked them for their gaiiantry
Ia battle Generals Of his sort Lever
trouble themselves about soldiers color
they only want to know that he eau drill,
march and shoot.
If Blacks are to do any good in oar
present contest, they must te organized
and led by officers who bei.ece IN Hem =
Gentlemen who cam bear the suiell of an
African Except when handing plates over
said gentlemen shoulder) will never get
any good out OF them. 40 IA general rule,
every officer in Il black regiment should in
the first place be true man /; next, he
shuuld be ore who treats every human
being according 10 his essential worth, /
regardless of his color-and didn't begin
to do this after he thought of becoming
IN officer Of Blacks Given the right men
~ officers, un6sr system which treas