The mountain Democrat., 1863-08-01
should Negroes be Used as Soldiers. =
John J. Crittendcn, of Kentucky, in q
recent war speech at Lexington said on

John j. Crittenden, of Kentucky, in q
recent war speech at Lexington said on
this subject:
"In pursuance of these principles, I
voted against the bill for enrolling the
militia. When it was called up on its
passage. asked, if it is the intention Of
this bill to require that the slaves Of my
constituents shall he enrolled in the
militia, and that free HcgrOes shall be
thus enrolled al<oy That seemed tn be
the intention of the hill and an amend
ment waR 'Ysss'trt that 101er the prnviS
ions of this Law free negroes and slaves
should not be- enrolled. The amendment
tailed, a'd voted against the bill Ap-
plausp wanted the whole pow r Of
the country employed TO Int down the
rebellion. What is the whole power uf
the countryp Whose country is its
IL it not the white mans country, t 3
| white VANS Government [Great APP
IalauSr.l 1t is the y hte man no boaGtS
# his liberty and of his free Government,
and is he to shrink from defending it,
and call in his slaves to assist him
Shall the liberties of this great country
lie dependent on slavery for their preser-
vHtiUny turn With Srnrn from the idea
hrer> am not without sympathy
Inr these people. believe there is more
affection fur the black man in Kentucky
thun in the whOle of New England; not
that believe the people Of New England
are hypocrites about slavery. They are
more fanatical than you are, but you
have more real kindness toward the
blacks. You will shake hands with the
old negro more cordially, and give him
greater comfort than those people who
have never been accustomed to his ways
This is the result Of the force of habit
and Of association, but the advantage is
real. But shat white man is there who
is willing to make himself an equal with
the ncgro-to stand side by side with
him in the daily Walks of life-to sleep
with him to shed his blood with him as
an equal in the battles Of our country?
No, sir; | believe the white man is q
superior race, and will not be the man
to let our race down. or, what is the same
thing, raise up an inferior race to an equal
ity with him. Neverl | will endeavor
to make my countrymen believe to the
last-for it is glorious delusion, if it is not
fact-that this race of ours is the great
est and noblest people on earth. The be-
lief, at least, will go far to make them
such. don't want any negro armies to
help save our country. What brave old
Kentucky father could hail with triumph
the return of his son from the war, if that
son should say: "Oh, but father, had
negro to go before me, and when shot
came he had to take it." Such ignomin-
ions patriotism no noble. hearted father
could take pride in. would rather see
our young men brought home corpseS
than see them saved by such unSoldierlike
means. 1t would leave no wreath on the
patriot brow. What more glorious con.
duct than to fight for ones county when
necessity demands it! Aud il We who
claim it as our own are not spfficiD mt for
the contest, or basely throw it upon our
slaves, do we not show ourselves unwOr-
thy to possess the great hoonP What a
disgrace would it he to have history re
cord that we and our children enjoy the
Liberty saved from deStruct bv the
hands Of our slaves! few more of our
suns might die on the battle field, but
more of them would live in inperishable
glory hereafter.