Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-01-13
The Policy of Negro army for the
North.


From the London Spectator, Dee 10, 1869
If the statesmen of the North had any mora
perspective in their minds, if they could see tn,
advantage OF having point of sight to which al
their efforts should converge, ii they could ar
preoiate the vigOr lent to the intellect even OF
inferior politicians by keeping constantly on the
lookout for opportunities to further one rren
purpose, they would now, we think, ha fairly
prepared to take up a new policy of inconceivn-
BILE Importance which events have fairly forceO
upon them, and which might bear fruit in n pra
uuhl solution Of the most difficult problem OIL
their ''destiny"
The first negro regiments have been raised
Whey have shown remarkable spirit aud remark
anle aubordnation. One of them raised by len,
jim Llhe, won the day against heavy odds in Il
llttle engagement Mt Island Mounds on the 27th
octoher. a company Of the rlwest negro re-
eruits sailed up the SnpelO ia Florida. under
Colonel Beard, early in November, twice landed
under heavy fire and dispersed their enemies.
aud behaved altogether with the most nrdpnt en-
thusaam and courage during this, their frat
military trial. The negro volunteers nre as
eager and torwarlas the American recruits seem
now to be reluctant. What is more, thtv are
much more amenahle 10 disc plue than the mn s.
tive Americans. There is just the difference in
cast between them aud their white officers. which
is the secret of NIL effective military discinline
And for them now, even more than for the North
cru white laborers there is beginning to be a
purpose ia the war. Every State now gained
for the North will strengthen the foundaiion of
their freedom and extend the aren of their owu
safety. The difference in the future of the
negro race between South closely hemmed in
by free and compact Union,-nu II South
strong enough to dominate a divided Continent
will be enormous. None can now have the aams
stake in the contest ns the negroes themselves
All this is beyond the possibility Of question and
is quite clear to the negroes Of Port ROYAL and
OF Kansas themselves But the statesmen of the
North have failed as yet to sea the bearing of n
They are drifting blindly, aud almost reluctantly
iuto m emancipation policy; and 80 may lose
nall the political fruits of it. If they make this
the recognized centre of their policy-as it must
become, If the war asta, its obscure unrecop-
nlzel centre-they might grasp n hundred np.
pOrtunities which would otherwise escape them
And especially by a comprehensive consistency
OF pohcy (which II Is almost hopeless to expect
oi theml they might now turn impending aunr-
chy at home and military langor into coherent
purpose and regimental zeal. At present this
truth has scarcely glimmered on the atatecraft Of
the shiftess American Cabinet. The New York
Tribune complains that even The negro regiment
which WOn Its military rank ut Island Mounds.
is at present no part of the national army .
but an 'irregular levy, exposed even by the laws
OF war TO the fate at guerllas taken la arms
without authority" We know well what fate
this would be at the hands Of the South. And
the New York Tribune is right in saying that
the very first step Of the Union should DO to give
all the negro regiments the full privileged of
Union soldiers, and absolutely enforce tho treat
ment OF prisoners taken from amongst them by
the South ln all respects as prisoners Of war =
Without this step how is it even possible 10 ex-
peel negro recruits for flag which disowus them
at the first risk Z The simple truth is that the
value OF negro army has not yet daWned upon
the Federal politicians. And Federal Generals
are still permitted to issue such pieces of official
insanity as this Of General Boyle'a, in Kentuc-
Ky dated Nov. 9th :-''All commanding officers
serving in this district are ordered not 10 permit
any negroes or slaves to enter the camps, and all
officers or privates are forbidden to interfere or
ntermedde with the slaves in any way" That
such policy should be running on side bvtsido
with the negro recruiting system is one Of those
nnumetahle little facts which shows us TINT
slatesmanship does not exist ~ tho North The
republican leaders work away at the war like 40
many moles, never knowing where they mny
emerge, and never caring to secure that their
efforts shall be c0nvergent. Let us look for n
moment at the "irrepressible negro" from the
military point Of view, and see how many pro-
blems he might, if steadily regarded in this lieht,
help to solve.
lu the first place, the negro would probable
supply the North as good or even a better mill
tary matcrel than the mean whites supply TO the
south. They are quite as strong aud quite as
hardy, apparently quite as courageous, nearly as
Intelligent much more faithful il we'll treated,
and much more deeply habituated to that obe
dent attitude of mind which is the essence or