The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-02-21
Fred. Douglass on Black Soldiers.

In speech, delivered the week be-
fore las, at the Cooper Institute, in
New York city, Fred. Douglass made
the following pertinent remarks about
negro soldiers. He says
| know it is said that the negroes
won't fight. But distrust the accuser.
In one breathe the Copperheads tell you
the slaves won't fight, and in the next
they tell you hat the onl y effect of the
Proclamation is 10 make The slaves cut
their mas crs' !hroa and stir up insur-
rectionS all over the South. The samc
men ell you that the negroes are lazy
and good for nothing, and in the mex,
brea they tell you that they will all
come Nor,h and take the labor away
from the laboring white men here
In one brea they tell you that the
negro can never learn the military art,
aid in the next they tell you that there
Is danger that white men may be out
ranked by colored men. may be par
doned if leave these objections to their
own contradictions and absurdties -
They are like the Kilkenny cats, and
here is fair probability of the same
result. But who are those who are now
opposing the measure of put ing arms in
The hands Of colored men? Who are
hose who are opposed 10 raising colored
troops! They are the men who would
gladly dsarm every white soldier now
fighting for their country, and hand the
country over, bound hand and foo, into
the hands of Jefferson Davis. You
know the men, and ought to know how
much weight should be given to the
counsels Of such men. Would these
men rather drown than be saved by a
black man! Would ;hcy prefer to see
their dwellings, burnt to ashes than to
have the flames cStinguished by colored
men? If they would not, then are they
trai ors in disguise: and very little dis
guise at that, when they refuse to the
country, now in lis peril, what they
would gladly claim for themselves. -
They exhibit their unmtigated hollow
ness by opposing the enrolment of
colorcd troops. know the cplored men
of the Nor h ; | know the coored men
of the South. Give them chance to
seek the baub,o reputation at the can
mons mouth. Stop telling them they
can't fight, and tell them they can fght
and shall fight, and they will fight, and
fight with vengc ance. Give them a
chance. The most delicate lady in the
city of New York can ride by the side
Of blackman, if he is there as SER
want Even he most fastldious. of our
Generals can be wal ed on by colored
men. Why should they object to our
fighting! We were with you on the
banks of The Mobile, good enough to
fight with you under General Jackson.
Why no, lc' US fight by your side under
General Hooker! We shall have u
chance yet, and | tell you to whom I am
looking for this. | have great faith, as
| told you more than Il year ago, in tho
vlr ue of the people of the North |
have none in the vlllainy of the South.
| tell you that under their direc ion we
shall yet be able 10 accept the aid of the
colored man. Away wi prejudice,
away with folly, and in this death strug-
gle for liberty, country, and permanent
securi y, let the black; iron hand of the
colorcd' man fall heavily on the head of
the slavc-holding raitors and rebels and
lay them low. Give them a chance
Give them chance. l don't say they
are great fighters. | don't says they
will fight better than other men. All
say is, give them chance.