, 1863-09-07


" We have, and tney have been treated like
S1utes. When they have come and offered
their services to the Government they have
been driven away. Now am going to make
them useful, for ! hare confidence IN them"
Tint officer vas General Ben. Prentiss, of
Illinois.
But let nc tell you what brought abouttnls
with our troops to Columbus I saw 1t enyir~
roIed with heavy works. Three thousand
negroes -.d done 1t. At Corinth | found
works constructed for mile5-the work Of
four thousand slaves who had been there for
weeks and months erecting them-nnd yet
9sy to rs must @ not ss the
wa1tale prohibits 1t. Every thing appertain-
i1g to manhood will discountenance It. You
must not make soldiers Of the negroes. A
sweet song 1t was to the rebels. # there is q
worthless Copperhead here to-day who has
not the courage to fight for bis country, will
fight anybody. They will surround a poor
soldier who speaks promptly and boldly
what he feels-they will surround him and
beat him half to death-or steal In at the
midnight hour and destroy all his property.
Ny God, what liberty is thisf What class of
men are these who beset this country?
In six weeks from the time,that had COM
nenced tke organization Of these colored reg
1ments hnd three thousand six hundred me-
groes armed and equipped and ready for bat
t1e+ Now will tell you what I would Ike
to zee. would like TO see our Government
60 TO work and arm ali Of these negroes;
years. men will come home. There are 300,-
COO Of them. Let SOC, Geo negroes take their
Place, and let them fight our battles until the
end Of the War; and let me tell Ar. Copper
Of MY oHn conviction, that that negro shall
fight lin If 1t Is necessary. [Cheers.] I hare
get bnt one side in this mat1er-poor living,
moving man, what I'm I worth, Us compared
to the E1ories Of this Unlons What mny not
/ and you suffer: Let the country take our
eminent ha1e. .itEbaut never, no. never viii
those men who a!e seeking to plant dtscord
a1d dlssension In our community get the
rule and power away from us to the dcstruc-
1ion Of this country. I FAY 1t, and mean 1t,
and let every man utter II until it shall reyer-
diers Of he aee1ees1aad be makes nal ls brave ave
soldier gallant foe. I would q thousand
btfore him. They win fight It
we win instruct them and let
tlem-Nhat nation We should be If we we're
to use ere,y 1neans God has given Us for our
prosperity, g1eat living, moving element in
this ration, re have q right to bring forward
this element to Eave the nation, ard ] know
that England and France would laugh at us
to-day, because We hare been foolish enough
thus long to decay using this great vital moV-
ing element in our midst Let every man who
is seeking for the beet interests and safety OF
his Government divest himself of whatever
cid Erejudices he may lare had, and say In
his hcart-1 am for making soldier Of the
ncgro. Theu we shall cave the lives Of many
negroes, too, and that is not all VIC will do.
There Is no use In lodging this question.
have told every negro that has taken up arms,
and told him to tell every one he saw, and to
tell JeG Davis negro soldiers that we will
give every one of them their full, free, .uncon-
[Cheers.] That is how feel and that is how
/ speak. Dare you. my fellow citizens, free
mtn, good true and matestic men in the sight
OF God, dare you be so mem as to give man
q musIet to light for your liberty and then
tel that man he shall 80 back and be slave
Why are We distressing oureelyes about
the couEtryt We hare no occasion except
for the loss Of our Andred-and that Is bad
eLough, t.uly, and causes deep mourning
and SORROW In the land-and 7 am sure no
soldier mourus more than do over the loss
Of q comrade. can feel for him-God knows
i'll love him and I will honor him to the
last day Of my life, [Cheers.l What is the
reception that our soldiers returning home
wil meet with . mnn separated from his
NGlnE AnG IaulJys elcR aEd WOln OuI3 HOfh-
ing Mt twelve dollars month, to come home
to be abused by these mcan, contemplate
Villains? They do not belong to the rebels
they have not mnnliness enough for this
bnt they sneak and skulk around, With long,
yellow lair-1i6ing IN old horse
With his tail full Of burs. [Langhter.]
Whelerer you see theEe mem {ou will be safs
In doirg what do-writtng them down as
trsitors to their country. I do it because I
belieTe It to be my duty to mark these men:
They may Kill ne II they choose, but will
tell them that they are traitors: I will not
suffer them to be about me without telling
them that they aro traitors. This is the way
to end this war, and avoid further civil dis.
cord.
have detained you long enough, and there
are others here who wish to hear. I thank
these gentlemen for coming from their States
to meet with us today, and speak to US.
Proud Indiana, Illinois, Iowa. Wisconsin,
Ohio, Eti1l true to the Union. I love them,
and honor them. Let us all teel good to-
gether. tor the day Of peace is near at hand.
When the banner Of freedom shall float all
over our fair land-When the very stars ehlll
twinkle with glory over US. free and happy
and prosperous nation. Enthusiastic cheer
inF1