New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-04
arriving NEGROEN.

"Mynheer priest" queried dubious Dutch
man, do you really believe that the Hebrew
prophet Elisha made iron swim 2"
- certainly do" was the quiet reply.
"Do you believe au Ak could nOio be made
to swim y
" Certainly, if ho who attempted IL had
undoubting faith that Ged would so illustrate
hi, power"
"Well, / hare iaith-berc goes ~
Away went the OK into the lake; and down
it went to the bottom, Like q very dense
stone.
Tere--I knee ii could MI" exclaimed the
Dutchman, chagrned at his folly and his loss.
| Ii the experiment of armng Blacks TO fight
their natural enemies, the sayeholding Rebels,
be tried in this spirit. il is certain to fail. Ii
it be hedeed about by every restriction or au-
noyance--if men are invited 10 volunteer to be
stoned and shot for their country as a matter
Of exceeding condescension aud favor to them
it they are to have interior pay, privileges
and consideration, 10 other sodicrs-if they
are forewarned that they can never win pro-
motion or commendation-if they are to be
eered, abused, kicked and stoned by other
Union soldiers for their presumption in attempt
ing to serve their cOuntry-we presume all
they will do is Of small account. Spartans
would not volunteer to fight In defiance of
such indguities.
In tho Revolution and again in the Last
War with Great Britain, our fathers began BY
being very fastdous TO the color Of their
musketeers We are not sure that any color
was per Sc prescribed, but in rs it was
grayely voted scandalous to think OF recruiting
our armies with sidees. Before the war was
nearly through, we had thoroughly conquered
our preudces," and hundreds of Shareholders
who were drafted to serve In our Continental
armies sent their negroes instead, promising
them freedom if they would fight CALAMITY
through the War, and then (some, not all, of
them) trying TO evadc the iulfllment Of their
contract. The Courts of Virginia in those days
brought these repudietors up all standing, COM
pell,ng them to execute deeds of iaanumissiOn,
though the Chief Justice OF the United States
denies 10 slaves all standing in his Court and
declares that, in Revolutionary times, they
were regarded as "haying no rights that white
men were bound to respect" lilo could have
said nothing more repugnant to History.
Bncks-both free and save-played an i'm
vOrtant part in tho cou,bats of our Revolu.
tonary War, though at first thoy were scarcely
allowed to enter the ranks az favor. The
gallant defense of Fort Red Bank on the Della.
ware was mainly the work Of Blacks. In the
baltic of Rhode Island they bore a conspicuous
aud honorable part. In the Last War with
Great Britain great efforts were made to enlist
them toward the end and Gen. Jackson or
ganized a fighting battalion Of them for the
defense Of NewOrleaus, and publicly thanked
them for their gallantry in battle. Generals OF
bis sort never trouble themselves about n SOL
diers color: they only want to know that he
can drill, march and shoot.
If Blacks are to do any good in our present
contest, they must be organized and led by
officers who Jeiiere in them. Gentlemen who
can't bear the smell Of on African Except
when handing plates over said gcntlemens
shoulder) will never get any good out of thc1n.
AS a general rule, every officer in n Black
regiment should in The first place be u true
man; next, ho should be ono who treats every
human being according to bis essential worth,
regardless of his cOlor--and did MT begin to do
this after no thought Of becoming On officer of
Blacks. Giveu tho riQat uea a. officers. under