Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-23
WHY ARE NOT THE NEGROES "CALLED INTO
THE CONFLICT 7"

In his eloquent letter to the Committee on In
vitations appointed in connexion with the recent
meeting held by Loyal Leagues" in the city of
New York, Mr. Secretary CHASE, after predicting
the destruction Of slavery as " consequence as
On object Of the war, (and whether as one or the
other he thinks matter of indiference,) pro-
ceeded to hold the following language:
ITO me it seems that Providence indicates clearly
enough how the end of slavery must come It comes
in rebel Slave States by military ORDER Decree pro-
clamaton, not to be disregarded set aside in any
event nuly, but maintained and executed with per-
feet good faith to all the enanchsed and it will in
the loyal Slave States by the unconstraned action Of the
people and their Legislatures aided freely and generously
by their brethren of the Free States may be mistaken
in this but # am another and better why will be re-
v,aled
" Meantime, it seems to very necessary to say dis
tncy what many yet shrink from saying The American
blacks must be called this conflict not cattle, aot
contrabands but In the free s. ates
and by the proclamation, the rebel States they free
men. The Attorney General, in opinion which defes
refutaon has pronounced these feemen citizens Of the
United States Let, then the example of Andrew Jack
son, who did not hesitate oppose coored regiments to
British invasion, be fearlessy followed Let these
blacks, acclmated familiar with the country capable of
great endurance receive suitable military organization and
do their part We need their goodwill and must make
them friends by showing ourselves their friends We
must have them for guides, for scouts for all military
service in camp or field for which they qualified
Thus employed, from burden they will become support
and the hszards prvaon abors of the white soldiers
will be proportionaly diminished. Some will object of
There always objections TO every thing prac
teal Let experience dspe honest fears, and refute
captious or dsoya cavil
We do not know precisely what new aspect Of
the question presented itself to the mind of the
distinguished Secretary when, in simply affirming
that "the American blacks must be called into this
conflict" he supposed himself to be saying some.
thing which "many yet shrink from saying"
There certainly has been reserve in the express
sion of opinions to the same effect on the part Of
all who share the views of Mr.. Chase as to the
efficiency of negro troops enlisted from among the
slaves Of the South. Indeed, we have heard of
but little else for many months past in the discus
sions that nave arisen outside of the army among
journalists and politicians Of a certain class. For
instance, the New York Independent, in the month
of January last, merely re-afirmiug views it had
before repeatedly announced, held the following
language
Congress is in dispute over bill to arm and equip
10000 negroes to in the Let it stop the de-
bate The is settled the problem is solved the
gument is done Let the recruiting sergeants beat their
drums The next levy Of troops must not be made n the
Nor h. but the plantations Marshal them line by
regiments and brgades The that have picked cot
ton must now pick ints Gather the great third army
years UOVefnHent Deen eedrcnng, Ia an
enemys country for path to victory only the negro
find Give him gun and bayonet, and let him point the
way! The future fair: God and the Negro to
The interval between the destruction and the salvation
of the republic measured by two steps emanci
pation the other military The 6rst is taken
the other delays How is 10 be acheved There but
answer: by the negro
The negroes the final reliance Of the Government
They are the foorn hope Of the republic They the
last safe keepers Of the good We must make a
ance with them, or our final success is mperilled."
A candid statesman like Mr. Chase will have no
hesitation in admitting that many who question the
expedicncy of employing negroes as regular SOL
diers influenced simply by considerations of
military expediency. Looking to the facts as they
are, and to men as they are they suppose that the
Union arms will lose, in point of resultant efhcien
cy, more than will be gained by calling such allies
to our aid. This may be mistaken view, as Mr..
Chase conceives it to be, but there be no doubt
that it is sincerely entertained by many who have
no Difference for rebel slavery" to use the lam
gusge applied by Mr.. Greeley to President Lincoln
in the celebrated "Prayer Of Twenty Millions"
But those who entertain this opinion are without
any power to impress their views either the Ad-
mnistration or on the party which brought it into
Office. And after having given expression to these
honest opinions, as candor and duty required at
their hands, they remit the whole subject to the de-
cision Of the President and Of his supporters who,
having the power to make, under this head, what
ever decision seems good in their eyes, must be
tent to take the responsibility of either acting or
refusing to act in the direction urged by Mr. Chase
When he says the American blacks must be called
into this conflict we have no reply to make save
simply to ask, "what hindcrs the Administration
from calling them p The Congress has, by statute,
authorized the President "to employ as many per-
sons Of African descent as he may deem necessary
and proper for the suppression Of this rebellion"
and for thspurpOse," It'll, added che may organize
and use them in such manner as he may judge best
for the public welfare" Does Mr.. Chase want any
more ample authority than this2 Why, then, are
not the negroes called into this con6ictr' Is it
the President who "shrinks ?" If so, we can see
the propriety and point Of the Secretary's letter
But if it be the negroes themselves who I" shrink"
from being called into this conflict" we do not
perceive very clearly how the matter is to be helped
by saying to Loyal Leaguers in New York that the
neoroes of Sou th Carolina Alabama and Of the whole