The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-05-08
The Aiming of Negroes.
SPEECH OF ADJUTvST GEN. THOMAS, AT LAKE
PROVIDENCE, LOUISIANA.

FELLOW SoLDIERs:--Your Commanding
General has so fully stated the object of my
mission, that 1t is almost unnecessary for
mo to say anything to you 10 reference to
1t. Sill, as | como here with full authority
from tho President of the United States, TO
announce tho policy which, after mature
elaboration, has been determined upon by
the wisdom of the nation, il is my duty to
make known TO you fully aud clearly the
features Of that policy. Il is a source of
cxtromo qualification to me to come before
you this day, knowing as do full we'll, how
glorious have been your achievements on
tho fold Of battle. No soldier can come
botoro soldiers of tried yalor, without hav-
ing the deepest emotions Of bis soul stirred
within him. Those emotions feel on the
present occasion; and bog you will listen
to what have to say, as soldiers receiving
from a soldier the commands Of the Prosi-
dent of the United Stalos.
l came from Washington clothed with
the fullest power in this matter. With this
power l can act as if the President Of tho
United States were himself present. am
directed to rofor nothing 10 Washington--
but to act promptly-whai have to do, do
at once-to strike down the unworthy, and
to elevate tho deserving.
I can only speak briefly, and cannot enter
into tho subject at present. 1t may be that
somo of you arc better acquainted with this
country than l am, but all my early militia
ry life was spent in tho South. know this
region we'll. l am Southern man, and, if
you will, born with Southern prejudices;--
but am free to sny that tho policy l am
now to announce to you, l endorse with nv
whole heart. You know full well--for you
have been over this country--that the rob
els have sent into tho field all their ayala-
bio Fighting men-eyery man capable of
bearing arms, and you know they have kept
at homo all their slaves for raising sub.
sistence for their armies in the Geld. In
this way thoy can bring to boar against us
all tho strength of their so.callod Confeder-
ate States, wbilo we at the North can only
send portion of our fighting iOrce, being
compelled to leave behind another portion
TO cultivate our fields, and supply the wants
OF an immonso army. The Administration
has determined to take from tho rebels this
source of supply--to take their negroes, and
compel them to send back portion of their
whites to cultivate their deserted planta-
tions, and very poor persons they would be
to fill the place of the dark-hued ,aborer.-
They must do this or their armies will, in
! decd, starvo. You know perfectly we'll the
rebels had an opportunity offered TO them
under tho Proclamation Of the President,
in September, to lay down their arms, and
come back In tho Union. Tbay failed to do
it. Not but shat the hearts of many men
in the South were with us, and against the
rebellion. The leaders of the rebellion,
jeff. Davis and his satellites, would not
permit it, therefore they are still in arms
against us.
On the first day of January last, the Pros
idont issued his Proclamation, declaring
that from that day forward all tho slaves in
tho States then in rebellion should be free
You know that vast numbers of those slaves
arc within your borders, within the lines of
this army. They come into your camps, and
you cannot but receive them. The author
tiles in Washington are very much panied
to hear, and fear with truth in very many
cases, that somo of th ESQ poor unfortunates
have, on different occasions, been turned
away from US, and their applications for ad-
mission into our lines bave been refused By
our officers and soldiers. This is not the
way to use freedmen. Tho question came
up in Washington; "What is best to DO done
with this unfortunate race" They arc
coming upon us in such numbers that some
provision must be made for them. You can
not send them North. You all must know
the prcjudices of tho people of the North
against receiving large numbers of the COL
orod race. Some States have passed laws
forbidding thom to come within their bor-
ders. At this day in some States, persons
who have bro't thom have been arraigned
before the Courts To answer for The viola
tion of State enactments.
Look along the river, and sec the multi.
tudo of deserted plantations upon its banks.
These are tho places for those freedmen, in
which they can be self-sustaining and self
supporting. All of you will some day be on
picket duty, and charge you all if any of
this unfortunate race come into your lines,
you do not turn them away, but receive
them kindly and cordially. They are to be
encouraged to come to us. They are to be
received with open arms they are to bo
fed and clothed they are TO be armed,
This is the policy that has been fully de-
termined upon, am here to say that am
authorized to raise as many regiments of
blacks as can. l am authorized to give
commissions, from tho highest to the lowest,
and desire those persons who are earnest
in this work to take hold of it. desire on
Iy those whose hearts are in it, and to them
alone will give commissions. don't care
who thoy are, or what their present rank
may be. do not hesitate to say, that all
proper persons will receive commissions.
While I am authorized thus in tho name
OF the Secretary of War, have the fullest
authority to dismiss from the army any man,