The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-07-15
Negro Troops an Element or
National strcngth-Preoedent
-

--COmnnOn Sense.
In the present civil war there are but
two parties, In fact, one Of patriots, the
Other Of traitors. The patriots are 80
unoondaiOnalg. Indeed, the term cOndi-
tlOnal patriot is as absurd as the term con.
didonal e%uiStian, or conditionally honest
man. The conditional patriot is a,heari
o traitor, aud he will be an armed traitor
whenever his conditi ion is assailed. lie
is a patriot not from = love Of country but
from an opinion, and bis patriotism van
ishes when his opinion is not the stand
ard Of tho nation. The nation 10 to.dAy
begirt with perils Of extraordinary mag
nitude. Wibin there are stlifo and
bloodshed, and abroad foreign mOnar-
chies view this struggle Of the American
Republic with no desire for its triumph
The people sympathize with freedom, but
their kings and mobiles bate IL with un-
mingled bitterness, and long for It's over
throw. In this multitude of dangers IL.
is the part Of patriots to lay aside all false
opinions, and all old prejudices, and
employ every means 10 destroy the South
ern rebellion. We say DESTROY, and not
subdue, or suppress. A mortal enemy
must be slain, not conquered merely. We
must seize hold of every means Of de-
stroying this rebellion. We must muster
every element Of power into service,
when our free Institutions, our Liberties,
and our national existence are all in i'm
minont danger OF destruction. If we
are really patriots we will do this, ever
though we have TO surrender long cher
Ished preIudices aud opinions. How can
we ask others 10 surrender their lives TO
our common country, if we will not give
up our predictions, and OpiOionsf
There are over three hundred thous-
and stout, vigorous, well acclimated
slaves in the rebe'lious States, who are
eager and anxious 10 give all their help
70 tho Republic as soldiers. Shall we
take them into the ranks and bid them
charge upon the lines Of JEFF. Davies ar
mIes, or shall we drive them back when
they escape to our lines, and declare
thEt we will perish before we will &C.
cept their AssiStancee
But as many prOfPssOdly loyal men
deny that negro soldiers would be serv-
iceable, lot as briefly inquire Uhether
or not MA troops I0ouH b an sIen4sntof Ha.
honal strength.
The first objection to their employ
mens Is, that they aro an inferior race and
therefore q woud b inham0n 70 use them.
The negro is certainly not inferior 10 the
white man In physical power, in cspa.
bility Of endurance, or in readiness TO
submit 10 discipline; and these three
points constitute the valuable common
soldier. The negro has stout bones,
tough sinewB and muscles, and has been
educated to live on the rudest fare while
exposed to all sorts of inclemencies.
His physical training would have excit-
ed the admiration Of q Spartan; it can
not be excel ed.
Nor is tho objection Of inlHSantty
more valid, for the most polite and
Christian nations, and humane Generals
have set numerous precedents for the
employment OF negro soldiers. Great
Britain sought 20 employ them and did
employ them, through Lord Dunmoro
and other commanders, during the Revo-
lutionary war. General Washington
employed them, aud the Legislatures Of
many of the Colonies made provisions
for their enlistment, and freedom after
their discharge from service.
Spain employs negro troops; Louis
Napoleon not only employs negro troops,
bat keeps an African Corps as an Impo-
rial Body Guard to the Prince in his
rides through the streets Of Paris. The
rebels are oStOpped from Directing 70
their employment by tho Federal Gov.
eminent IN the ground Of inhumanity,
fer they raised a regiment of negroes in
New Orleans at the Of the
rebellion, and disbanded them only when
they found reason to suspect their sym
patty for the Gauss Of the Union, and
the public are familiar with the fact that
the rebel Vigilance Committee Of Nom
phis called for the organization Of negro
troops In the daily papers Of that city.
General jackson, whose sAgaoity aud
practical good sense rs well as patriot
Ism, none will question, called for negro
troops In Louisiana during the war Of
1919. and used them greatly to his sat
isfaetion.
II this question Is TO DO determined by
precedent II lie already settled as there
lie the highest authority both IN this
country, and in Europe, for the employ
msnt Of negro troops. But suppOsiDg
that Il were q new question, its solution
need not be difficult II we discard pr'ju-
dice, and examine II in the light Of COM
mon sense, without any help from pre-
eedent At all There Is no reason why
the negro should not make an effective
soldier. He Is q human being, and no
possesses all the physical and mental
powers and ondowments Of Aman. Grant