Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-08-28

William II. De Camp, of the Michigan Engin-
GERS and Mechanics Regiment, now with Gen.
Rosecrans at Elk River Bridge, Tenn, writes on
the 9Th inst, to the Grand Rapids Eagle as fol-
lows Of the beauties of Slavery:
alt has been decided TO have a regiment of
negro troops attached to this regiment for doing
the more common kinds of railroad and other
work.
"The negro enlistment has been commenced
and day before yesterday 500 were regularly
mustered into he United States service and
have examined and passed nearly 100 more that
are physically capacitated to become soldiers,
and get on our blue coats in place of their mis-
cradle, filthy rags
"These men you might think were genuine
blacks, but could not see it when had them
naked. When one sees standing before him a
man of mature years, who possesses not the
slightest trace of negro blood in a single feature
or complexion, and hair straighter than you can
generally find in The pure Anglo-Saxon race, and
he tells YOU that his father is Col. Higgins, now
of the rebel army; that he sold him to Mr.. Ma
son, near Decatur, Alabama, when fourteen years
old think it enough to demonstrate what was
the ruling passion in the South that made them
desire to be let depart from us in peace Such
men think are those desirous of being the ma
kers of their own fortunes, and then can be
mean enough to make a war to maintain the pos
session of the same.
"This is not an isolated case. Two others,
this same day, presented themselves for exam
inatiou, and the most critical examination, by all
present could not detect the slightest trace Of
negro blood; and yet one had been slave 36
years and the other ~ years, and that, too, in
the land of American freedom (down in South
ern chivalry).
"Up in that land of Morganites, as well as in
Alabama, have / seen, not men, but women,
whom no one would ever suspect Of having
vestige of African blood in their veins, that were
the slaves of these same people, who are fore
most to defend their rights as well as property,
after they have made it.
sWe have all heard enough about the nigger,
but of over 600 specimens of them thai l have
examined in a perfect state of nudity, cannot
help but make some comment on what have
seen.
II found the backs of about one in five showed
the marks of him that ruleth and in one case
he had left over 1000 rlRe marks, Of from six to
eight inches in length, while scores showed nu-
merops gashes, that you could not cover the
scars of with one, and often two fingers. don :
see how any person can be expected to keep
still and say he believes in letting every people,
Of every State, have their own way of Govern
ing their own domestic affairs when be has just
ceased looking at these marked effects of it.
think some Of our domestic affairs as home
would not shew clear a record as theirs do, if
we were to undertake to do as we choose in
governing our domestic affairs even though we
did make our own domesties. ] should expect
to hear of more than few family (quarrels) do
mestications. 1t is said to be no hard task to
do thing when you get used to it; but, If you
will allow me to express my private opinion, l
would prefer beginning where they left off.
"These are no imaginary pictures of what We
find down here in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ala
bama aud Mississippi, and, doubt not, in every
other State having the same laws. Inever was
an abolitionist, but am not in favor of white
slaves in a white country and that where we
call our nation white one"