Litchfield enquirer., 1863-02-05
THE POLICY OF A NEGRO ARMY
 FOR THE NORTH.


 If the statesmen of the North had any nor al perspective in their minds, if they could see the advantage of having point of sight te could appreciate the vigor lent to the intellect stantly on the lookout for opportunities to fur think, be fairly prepared to take up new pol
 icy of inconceivable importance which events have fairly forced upon them, and which might bear fruit in a gradual solution of the mos, difficult problem of their destiny"
 The first negro regiments have been raised. They have shown remarkable spirit and re- markabe subordination. One of them, raised by General Jim Lane, won the day against heavy odds in 8 little engagement at Island Mounds on the 27th October. A company of the rawest negro recruits sailed up the Sapelo
 in Florida under Colonel Bearl, early in No ycmber. twice landed under < heavy ire and dispersed their enemies. and behaved altogeth
 CT with the most ardent enthusiasm and cour age during this, their first military trial. The negro volunteers are as eager and forward as tEe American recruits seem now ;o br rcluct ant. What is n.ore, they are much more ama- nablc to discipline than the native Americans. There is just the difference in cast between them and their white officers, which is the Sc cret of all effective military discipline. nd for them now, even more than for the Northern white laborers, there is beginning to be a pnr- pose in the war. Every State now gained for the North will strengthen the foundation of their freedom and extend the area of their own safety. The difference in the future of the ne- gro race between South closely hemmed in by free and compact Union-and a South strong enough to denominate a divided Conti- nent, will be enormous. None can now have the same stak in the contest as the negroes themselves. All this is beyond the possibility of question. and is quito clear to the negroes of Port Royal and of Kansas themselves. But the statesmen of the North have tailed as yet to- see the bearing of it. They are drifting blindly, and almost reluctantly, into an eman- cipation policy; and so may lose half the po- litlcal fruits of it. If they make this the re cognized centre of their policy-as it must become, if the war lasts, it's obscure, unrecog- nized centre-they might grasp hundred op, portunities which would otherwise escape them. And especially by a comprehensive consisten- cy of policy (which it is almost hopeless to expect of them) they might now turn impend ing anarchy at home and military langor into coherent purpose and regimental zeal. At present this truth has scarely glm nered on the statecraft of the shiftless American Cabinet. The New York Tribune complains that even the negro regiment which won its military rank at Island Mounds, is at present no part of the " national army" but an irregular levy, ex- posed even by the laws of war to the fate of guerillas taken in arms without authority" We know we'll what fate this would be at the South
 And the NeN York Tribune is right in saying that the first step of the Union should be to give all the negro regiments the full privileges of Union soldiers, and absolutely enforce the treatment of prisoners taken from amongst them by the South in all respects as prisoners of war. W thout this step, how is it even possible to expect negro recruits for flag which disowns them at the first risk ' The simple truth is, that the value of a 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 a General BoYle's, in Kentucky, dated Nov. 27th :-" All commanding officers serving in this district, are ordered not to permit any ne- groes or slaves to enter the camps, and all off. cers or privates are forbidden to interfere or meddle with the slaves in any way" That such policy should be running on side by side with the negro recruiting system, is one Ot tuO3e lUuuHctaUiC 1issaC A~Sso WHICH snow us that statesmanship does not exist at the North. The republican leaders work away at the war like % many moles, never knowing where they may emerge, and never caring to secure that their efforts shall be convergent. Let us look for . moment at the !. irrepre ;sibIe negro from the military point of view, and zee how many problems he might if steadily 1 regarded in this light, help to solve.
 ' In. the first place, inc negro would probably
 supply the North as good or ven better mil
 itary material than the mean whites supply the
 South. They are quite as strong and quite a.
 hardy. apparently quite as courageous, nearl,
 as intelligent, much more faithful iftweIl treat
 ed, and much more deeply haIituated to tha
 oLedient attitude of mind which is the essenc,
 of military discipline. The Northern arm, has always been free and easy army: 6eht ing bravely, it is said. but also determined |,
 exercise the right of public opinion as to tn moment when they have done their share. Tn
 notion seizes them in battle that they have ac F eonplished all that ought to be cxpectcd o ! them, and then no officer can force them to d more. This is not business in military affair, I The Southern troops, accustomed to. an aristt
 cratic caste, do not judgs for themsslves i