Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-03-17

being given; this indicates Qulelus unlll
the roaas dry up.
| was grisved to learn Of the death Of
lit. Col. Mckee; he was a true patriot
Your paper continues to come REGULAR for
which we shall ever be Indebted. | must
close with promise to write when circum-
stances permit. have written hurriedly.
r. F. McGoNIaAL.
Men or Color to Arms-A Call by Frederick
! Douglass.
| When first the rebel cannon shattered
the walls of Sumter, and drove away its
starving garrison, | predicted that the war
then and there inaugurated would not be
fought out entirely by white men. Every
months experience during these two
dreary years has confirmed that opinion.
A warundertaken and brazenly carried on
ioT the perpetual enslayement Of colored
men, calls logically and loudly upon color
ed men to help TO suppress it. Only a
moderate share of sagacity was needed to
| see that the arm Of the slave was the best
defense against the arm Of the Shareholder.
Hence with every reverse to the National
arms, with every exuiliug shout of victory
raised by the slaveholding rebels, have
implored the iinperrillsd nation to unchain
against her foes her powerful black hand.
Slowly and reluctantly that appeal is be-
ginning TO be needed. Stop not now to
complain that il was not needed sooner,
Ii may, or it may not have been best thai
| it should not. This is not the time to dis
cuss that question. Leave it to the future
When the war is over The country is eayed,
peace is established aud the black mans
rights are secured, as they will be, history
with All impartial hand, win dispose of that
and snndry other questions. Action ac-
ton! not criticism is the plain duty Of this
hour. Words are now useful only as they
stimulate to blows. The Office of speech
now is only to point OUT when, where and
how to strike to the best advantage There
is no time for delay. The rise is at its
| flood that leads On to fortune. From east
to west, from north to south, the sky is
written all over with snow or never"
Liberty won by white men would lack half
its luster. Who would be free themselves
/
free than to live slaves. This is the SEN
tinent Of every brave colored man among
US. There are weak aud cowardly men in
all nations. We have them among us.
They will tell you that this is the "whlte
mans war;" that tie getting of you into
the army is to sacrifice you on the FIRST
opportunity" Believe them not-cowards
themselves, they do not wish to nave their
cowardce shamed by your brave example.
Leave them to their timidity, or to what
ever other motive may hold them back.
have not thought lightly Of the words
| am now addressing to you. The eoun-
sci / give comes of close observation of the
great struggle now in progress--and Of
deep conviction that this is your hour and
mine.
In good earnest, then. and after the
best deliberation, now, for the first time
during the war, feel at liberty to call and
counsel you to arms. BY every considera-
ton which buds you to your enslaved fell
low countrymen. and the peace and wei
fare Of your country; by every aspiration
which you cherish for the freedom and
equality of yourselves and your children !;
by all the tics of blood and indentily which
make us one with the brave black men now
/ fighting our battles in Louisiana, in South
Carolina, | urge you to fly to arms, and
smite with death the POWER that would
| bury the Government and your liberty in
the same hopeless grave. | wish could
tell you that the State OF New York calls
you to this high honor. For the moment
her constituted authorities are silent on the
subject. They will speak by and by, and
doubtless on the right side; but we are
not compelled to wait for her. We can
get at the throat of treason aud slavery
through the State of Massachusetts,.
She was first in the war of Independence;
| first to break the chains of her slaves; first
to make the black man equal before the
law; first 70 admit colored children to her
common schools and she was first to an
ger with her blood The alarm cry Of the
uation-when its capital was n1enaced by
rebels. You know her patriotic Governor,
and YOU know Charles Sumner need
add no more.
Massachusetts now welcomes you to
arms as her soldiers. She has but small
colored population from which to recruit.
She has full leave Of the General Govern
ment to send one regiment 10 the war, and
she has undertaken to do it. Go quickly
and help I'LL up this first colored regiment
| from the North. | am authorized to as
sure You that you will receive the same wa
ges, the same rations, the same equip
ments, the same protection, the same treat
ment and the same bounty secured to
white soldiers You will be led by able
and skiIlfull officers--men who will take
special pride in your efficiency and success
They will be quick to accord to you all
the honor you shall merit by your valor-
and see that your rights and feelings are
respected by other soldiers. | have as
sured myself on these polnts-and can
speak with authority. More than twenty
years answering devotion to our common
cause, may give me 81 ne humble claim to
/ be trusted at this momentous crisis.
4 LII -. ~. L.