The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-02-14

Il BURLINGTON "
they she'll think tia asne eYpsdisnt, to take
measures Immediately for raising three thou
sand ablesbodied negroeSi ssr 50 YazSss -
ate corps. - battallions, according to the ar
commanded by white commissioned snd non
commissioned officers" fa
In order to give effect to this action, Cons
gress on the same day passed the following
preamble and resolution
whereas John Lsurens, Esq, who has
heretofore acted as sid.de camp to the COM
msnder-in chief. is desirous of repairing to
South Csrolins, with . design to sssist in the
defense Of the Southern States: ID .5
"Resolosd. That . commission Of lieutenant
colonel DO granted to the said John Laurens,
Esq" s...' 'I.' es's : iso4
10 pursusnoe Of this action Of Congress, q
commission was issued TO Colonel Lsurens, and
he entered upon his mission with great seAl.-
He, labored faithfully With the authorities u
South Carolina, and urged upon them The
pressing necessity Of carrying out tie purpose
Of Congress. His efforts failed to sooouplish
any good result He sdvisedr JWsshipg ton Of
bis inability 70 d.. any thing in South Carolina,
but expressed his determination to proceed to
Georgia and see whether there was not pstri
otism enough in that State to enable him to
effect some more favorable result in regard to
hiSimportsnt mission. His efforts oil proved
fruitless. Why was this sol why did not
those States respond to the known desires of .
largs proportion Of the true patriots within
their own limitsi The gentleman from Ohio
Mr.. Cox undertook toanswer these questions,
and quote his language, Is follows 2" bul
"What became of this project The historian
tells Us that lit senconuptered st once that
strong, deep seated feeling nurtured from ear
lest infancy among that people, which wsa
ready to decide, with instructive promptness,
Isgsinst . measure ofso threatening IN aspect,
aud 90 offensive 10 that republican pride
which odisdains to commit. their defense "a
| seryile bands, or share with color to which
the idea Of inferlority is insepsrably connects
cd, the profession Of srms, and that spproxi-
nation Of condition which must exist bet ween
the regular soldier and the militia man.
IA this pointin the gentleman's speech asked
| him to yield to me for Q moment that might
give him the true cause Of the failure Of Colonel
Laurens' mission. The gentleman declined "a
yield, and it was wise in him 70, do 10; for the
facts which ] proposed to furnish in explanation
OF that failure would have. spoiled bis whole
speech. presume the gentleman knew this
for he seems to have fesd the history of this case
and doubtless knew that the truth in regard t.
it might look like . reflection on the motives
sentiments and notions of himself and bis polt-
ical associates. Lnow read what 7 proposed t
read then. II il letter from General Wash.
ington to Colonel Laurens, in 1852, and full,
explains the causes which prevented the enlis,
ment of black troops in South Carolina snt
Georgia. 80 corr Eas biuG5e I .fs4Y sos
In this letter General Washington says: 'o'
\ Il must confess that I am not at all surprised
at the failure of your plan. That spirit Of free
dom, which, at the commencement of this con
test, would have gladly sacrificed everything {,
the attainment of its object, has long since sub
sided, and every selfish passion has taken it
place. It Is not the public, but private interes
which influences the generality Of mankind, no
can the Americans any longer boast an excep
ton. Under these circumstances, it would "a,
Their have been eurprising if you had succeeded
nor will you, fear, have better success ii
Georgia" .Ha.n .Ha sf 4u7
Here We have the true causes of the failure
Selfish passion" had driven the spirit of free,
dom" from the minds Of the people Of the tw,
States mentioned. "Private interest" had as.
serted superiority ever the public veal. Patri
q
at the commencement of the contest was con-
quered by selfish passion, prejudice and 1privat,
\ interest. There were "peace men" in those DAYS
i We have them in these days Of our nation
4 greatest peril, and have not yet been able I,
discover the difference between the two classes
and will here assert my firm convictios, that i
gentlemen on the other side of this House hat
bestowed one half the labor to arouse and kee,
alive the consuming patriotism which swept owe
this land Immediately after the capture Of For
Sumter, that they have to excite prejudice. in.
J fame sel6sh passion, and obstruct the admins
tration of the Government this war would nov
be among the things of the past; peace woul,
prevail in the land, and the Constitution and law
reign supreme through all the length aud breadtl
4 of the Union. 1a an
But, cir, instead Of pursuing that course, they
have been seeking to indame the passions Of th'
people BY appealing to personal interests an,
partisan prejudices, and they intend to continu
say the passage of this bill will produce-that ID
. divided North. hope they may fail; I believ,
they will; for the people are beginning to under
stand them. and that 10 all that 10 wanted to de-
feat their purpose ~
] Now, sir, in reference to this policy, hav
cited the opinions Of some of the most eminen
; men ia our history, and have cited the acts o
Congress and OF the Legislative Assembly o
Rhode Island. Knight present the acts Of othe
States where the employment Of men Of African
descent in the army was considered sxpedient
4 Bat the cases cited are sufficient to show tina
during the struggle for our Independence th
employment of colored men as soldiers IVES 70.
garded of great Importance. Every man VII,
has read the history of his country knows ths
We have many practical examples Of the employ
ment of these men in the service of the country
not only in the revolutionary war, but also dur
ing the war Of 1912 between this country an,
Great Britain; and have yet to learn that tn
nation regrets the performance Of any act by th,
black man which advanced its interest; and
have yet to learn that the truly loyal people o
the country will object now to the performanc
OF any act by any man, white or, black, which
will tend to the restoration of the Union. til,
maintenance of the Constitution, and the enforce
ment of the laws. z . aGia7i.sz
4 Mr.. WICKLIFFE. Will the gentleman Al.
low me to do the reputation of General jackson
an act Of justice!
NJ. WILSON. I have sought the floor, tim,
II ASpA = r.