The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-01-24

THE RoLlCY OF 4 HEGRo ARMY
lYrcn sAe Lo.Asa sDsesaAsr. DsssnAss 10, zeal :,
II the statesmen Of the North had any mora
perspective in their minds, IL they could see the
advantage Of having point Of aightto which all
their efforts should converge, Il they could sp-.
preciate the vigor lent to the intellect even Of
inferior politicians BY keeping constantly on the
iookou. Is I}osta6iGss e fultbsf sns great
purpose, they would now, We think, be fairly
prepared TO take up new policy Of inconceiva-
BE importance which events have fairly forced
upon them, and which might bear fruit in grad.
nal solution ofths mort difficult problem Of their
"destiny" 49, -
The 6rst negro regiments have been raised.-
They have shown remarkable spirit and remark
able subordinasion. One Of them, raised BY
General Jim Lane, won the day against heavy
odds In ltue engagement at Island Mounds o.
the 9th efNetoheh \ company Of the savsst
negro recsuits ssiled % he Sapslc,si Florida,
under Colonel Besrd, early IN November, twice
landed under I heavy Ere and dispersed theft
enemies, and behaved altogether With the most
ardent enthusiasm and courage during this. their
first military trial The negro volunteers are q
eager and forward q the American recruits seem
much more smsnabls 70 discipline than Tie native
Americana There IL Just the difference in cast
between them and their white officers, whiehsis
the secret Of I'll effective military discipline
And for them now, evsn more than for NE North.
ern white laborsrl, there is beginning 70 30 .
purpose ia The WI. Every State now gained
for the North will strengthen the foundation Of
their freedom end exteld the ares Of thsif own
safety. The difference IN The future Of the negro
race between 0ouaA closely hsomed II bya
free and compact Uniop,-an South strong
enough 70 dominate divided Continent will b
enormous. None can nov have the same stake
in the contest - the negroes themselves All
this is beyond the possibility of question, and u
quite clear 70 the negroes Of Port Royal and Of
Kansas themselves But the Statesmen Of the
North have failed, - yet 70 zee the bearing Of
it. They ne drifting blindly, and almost fsiuc.
family, into IN emancipation policy; and 90 may
lose halt the political fruih Of u slf they make
must become, II the Wae lasts, Its obscure unee-
cognixsd csntre-they might grasp hundred
opportunities which would Otherwise escape
them. And especially ~ : eopprehensive CON-
sstency OF policy (which Il b almost hopeless to
expect from them) they might now turn impend.
ing anarchy at homo and military languor into
coherent purpose and regimental zeal. At pre-
sent this truth has scarcely glimmered on the
statecraft of the shiftless American Cabinet
The New York Tribune complains that even
the Negro Regiment Which won ito military rank
at Island hounds, 10 ct present no part Of the
''National Army" but an 'irregular levy, expos.
Cd even by the laws Of war to the fate Of guer-
rillas taken In arms without authefity." We
know we'll what fate this would be ct the hands
of the South. And the New York Tribune 10
right in saying that the very first step Of the
Union should be 70 give I'll the negro regiments
lutely enforce the treatment Of prisoners taken
from amongst them by the South in al respects
% prisoners Of war. Without this step how is
it even possible 70 expect negro recruits for .
flaw which disowns the first risk! The simple
truth 10 that the value Of negro army has not
yet dawned upon the politicians. And Federal
Generals are still permitted to issue such pieces
Of Official insanity % this Of Gen. Boyles in
Kentucky, dated Nov. eth: "All commanding
officers serving in thiadistrict are ordered not
to pernitany negroes or slsves to enter the
canpA and al officers or privates are forbidden
to interfere or intermeddle With the slaves in
any way" That such . politician should be
running on side BY aide with negro recruiting
system is one Of those innunerable, little facts
which show us that statesmanship does not exist
away at the war like 80 many fnoies, never
knowing where they may emerge, and never O.
ring to secure that their efforts shall be CONVEX
gent. Let as look for moment ct the tirre-
pressible negro" from the military point Of view
and see how many problems he might, if stead
lily regarded in this light, help to solve.
In the first place. the negro would probably
supply the north as good OF oven . better mill.
tary material than the mean whites supply to the
South. They are quite - strong and quite AZ
hardy, apparently % courageous, nearly @ in
telligent much more faithful II well treated, and
much more deeply babitpated 70 that obedisnt
attitude Of mind which 10 tho essence of mill
tary discipline. The Northern army he's always
been free and'easy army; fighting brassly, i,
il said, but also determined = sxeecle the right
Of public opinion - to the moment when they
have doue their share. The notion ssisss them
ought to be expected Of them, and then no Of
ficer can force them 70 40 more. This IL not
business in military affairs. The Southera troops
accustomed 70 an aristocritic CASTE do not judga
for themselvsstn this way. They spend them
selves At the command Or their ofRcera And
thus. too. It would Id al probability, be With
negro army Their fidelity and thsir .respscsfo
| the white sacs would alike keep tight tie bonds
(of military authority, now ~ lools akthe north
(The negroes would b sepoys without any dispo
sition to tseaehsry, and With mere thar Che Sc
boy physiaoe. Heesevsr, ttey we,la g lees e1-
|poesd 70 tkssunalaEias tlon fths South
ern climate than the Soutbsrners themselvs.-
Again the negrojuJt released from slavery would
thsnkfuly sceept low. wsess ial - northern u.
nv. instead Of ths senosnops bousty and PAY
nov claimed 81 every yhits yo,uniesr and they
would b = easy % sassfy With wholesome ~
kions Of any kind g :the prsssat amy b hard,
Eyery element q ~ seldsss - - 30 found ID
SO negro, unless Il b nstaral military tastss
md this Tie cause supplisa sfhses y physical
6treneth aaaa Sody 66sd ~ snlinitsd' hasdShipa
Fhere 10 dSletenos 81 spifit.S casaship asbstwser
I'M and mas, and aasctieaAts Adelity e saps
riors. Thee ID tAs willing Ihasds without thl
meddling head, and tho greateet u ~ notvel
for desperate vslof. ryr- = ,.g4sye.
But next, large as1iliary negro army would
hslp 70 solves great political problem. Unde'
20 Prssidssss smsssipAdsa poliey!A great nam
bar Of negrosa miuas b stts1ctea horthwEd and
Sc greatest jsslosey y f.lt b - nosthssn 10