The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-02-05

from Annapolis, in 1881: awe have re.
solved to raise Immediately seven hun
dred and fifty negroes, to be incorpo-
rated with other troops, and bill is now
almost completed"
Gen. Washington wrote these words to
Laurens, of South Carolina, who made
continual efforts, without success, to pro-
cure the enlistment of blacks:
Il must confess that / am not at all
astonished at the failure of your plan.
That spirit of freedom which at the COM
mencement of this contest would have
gladly sacrificed everything to the attain
ment OF its object has long since subsidized,
and every selfish passion has taken its
place. 1t is not the public, but private,
interest which influences the generosity
OF mankind, Lor can the Americans any
longer boast an exception"
Thus it will be seen from the facts
which we have stated that negroes fought
in The war of the Revolution, and were
cosnidered desirable soldiers Gen Wash
.ington, and the patriots of his day, were
not so squeamish as people are in onr
times. Let us look at the fighting quail
tiles of negroes as displayed in another
field.
In st Domingo, in the year 1894,
emancipated slaves rallied voluntarily to
the aid of the French Governor, against
the English and Spaniards A negro,
1oulsslant L'Overture was finally APP
pointed Commander-in-C Chief of the whole
army, composed of French and negroes.
Under his management the tide of war
was turned against the English and
Spaniards. In 1897, the English were
driven from the island by Touissiant,
who then obtained exclusive control of
affairs Under his administration. the
colony fourished and commerce revived.
The whites were reinstated in complete
possession of their estates, and blacks
and whites were placed on an equality.
This state of affairs continued until Ma
poleon Bonaparte, then First Consul, re-
solved to restore slavery in St Domingo.
Then it was that the negroes rose to
arms in selfdefense-not in servile in
surrection, for they were free-and after
tremendous conflict succeeded in driv-
ing the French also from the island.
Gen. Jackson, in 1914 and Is, in bis
defense of New Orleans, employed ne
gro troops, and was delighted with the
experiment. Just before the celebrated
battle of the 8th of January he delivered
to the negro troops the following address.
in the presence of the who army:
To the Men Of Color:
SoLDIERs-F'rom the shores of Mobile |
l collected you to arms I invited you
to share in the perils and to divide the |
glory of your white countrymen. / ex-
pected much from you, for l was not un-
informed of those qualities which must |
render you so formidable to an invading |
foe. | knew that you could endure hun
ger and thirst. and all tha, hardahi-;---rt
your nativity, and that, like ourselves,
YOU had to defend all that is dear to man;
but you surpass my hopes. | have found
in you, united to those qualities, that no
BILE enthusiasm which impels to great
deeds Soldiersl the President of the |
United States shall be informed of your
conduct on the present occasion, and |
the voice of the representatives Of the |
American nation shall applaud your
valor, as your General now praises your
ardor. The enemy is near; 'his sails
cover the lakes" but the brave are uni
ted, and if he finds US contending among
ourselves, it will be for the prize of
valor, and fame, its noblest reward.
How different jackson, who cast preju
dice aside, and thus gained good and
willing soldiers, from Vallandigham and
others of his ilk, who would rather see
the Union destroyed than have negroes
aid its preservation. At the beginning
of the present war the people of the
North were much opposed to the en-
ployment of negroes as soldiers. They
are fast, however, coming to their senses
There are now several negro regiments
in the Federal army; and steps are being
taken for the organization of more.
The negroes of the plantations are
hardy, capable of enduring the greatest
privations, and the seventies of the hot
climate of the South. They seize gladly
upon the opportunity of fighting in a
war which they know will bring about
their freedom. The negro troops en-
ployed on the coast have proved to be
obedient, willing and capable soldiers.
In the skirmishes in which they have
been engaged they have conducted them
selves SO as to elicit the admiration of
their commanders.
1t is asked, What shall be done with
the negroes freed by the Proclamation of
Emancipation? Organize them into
regiments. Let them not only assist in
building Notifications, &C., but let them
fight
The London Spectator, in an elabo-
rate article upon the subject of the EN-
ployment of negroes as soldiers, con-
fesses its inability to understand why the
North should hesitate to avail itself OF
the aid of class whom it believes are
fully capable of rendering the most etfec-
tive service in ending the rebellion.