Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-11-26
NATIONAL. lNTELIIGENCER
DIFFICULT REASONS FOR AN EASY QUESTION,

press at the South in our military service, taiis
greatly below the predictions and confident expee-
tations of those who particularly favor this class OF
our soldiery. Many reasons have been given for
this backwardness on the part of the negro race
such as their want of confidence In the stability OF
the anti.slavery policy proclaimed by the Presidents
their dsaection towards the pro-slavery officers"
who it is said, in too many cases, still command
our troops; and one sagacious journal in New \ ork
more gifted to discern the hidden of things
Than others among its contemporaries, finds an ex-
PLANTATION of this apparent apathy on the part of
the African in the wonderful moderation and pru-
dence" by which he seeks to put to shame the
calumnious representations of those who feared or
pretended to fear that the arming of the slaves
would be the signal of excuses and barbaritles TO
be committed by brutal and semi-ssvage soldlery.
The Southern slaves, we are told desire to give
proof to all the world that such charges are libel on
their race and in evidence of the patient and gen.
tie spirit by which they animated, in spite OF
the provocation received from their former masters,
they betray no unseemly haste to take up arms,
even against their oppressors, under the impulses
of vengeance.
A few months ago Mr.. Wendell Phillips ex-
pressed the opinion that the negroes of the South
would never believe the President really in ear
nest as regards his emancipation proclamation
until he sent Gen Fremont to take command in
some part Of the South. The orator pledged his
word that the negroes Of the insurgent States would
iock to the banner of that chieftain, in whom, he
said, they had confidence dating from the period
of his candidacy for the Presidency in 1856, when
they made an instruction in Tennessee in the full
hope and assurance that he would come to be their
leader His nam,, it was added, would be worth
dozen proclamations of freedom by the Presi-
dent @."
We observe that the last number of the Boston
Commonwealth, the leading organ of the 4" ultra
abolitionists" in Massachusetts,, propounds still
another theory in explanation of the paucity of
our colored troops, who, it will be remembered,
were pronounced some months ago by the New
York Independent to be the last and best hope of
the Republic in this day of its extremity. The
explanation of the Commonwealth is entirely origi-
nal, as all our readers will admit when we say
that the reason it assigns for the refusal of the
distinguished Secretary of State, Mr.. Seward. Our
sapient contemporary says: "But for him our
mics would be reinforced by thousands of loyal black
soldiers" Wefearou jealous contemporary is lit
tie too swift in this sweeping deduction to which it
has jumped under the mistaken impression that all
the members of the colored race share in It's hostility
to the Secretary of State We hardly think it
for tba
phenomeon in question, and, while Of course it is
proper that no reflection should be cast on loyal
blacks simply because they refuse to enlist in our
armies, we honestly submit that their prudence and
moderation under this head should not be construed
to the reproach of Mr.. Seward, who, we feel as.
sured, would be glad TO have Gen Thomas and
Frederick Douglas succeed in gathering as many
negroes as possible to the standards of the Repub
lie If the slaves do not rally to the defence of
the Government as rapidly as was expected, we are
quite sure it is no fanlt of Mr.. Seward, and we
must regret the utterance of such accusations made
by journals like the Commonwealth, as their dis
semination among the loyal blacks may actually so
sour the minds of this fastdious class of patriots
that they will positively refuse to enlist unless Mr.
Seward is removed from the position of premier
which he now hold, in the present Administration,
and, much as we desire to consult the military in
terests Of the country at this crisis should look
upon his retirement for this any other cause as
apublic misfortune. We hope therefore, the Boston
Commonwealth will not too strenuously press it's
view of this matter aud that it will satisfy itself
with some less esoteric Interpretation Of the pro-
blem which vexes its ingenuity.
As to the charges brought against our Generals
when ii said they still retain in too many cases
prejudice against "colored troops" we know not
what to say, as we had supposed that the army was
pretty well purged Of the "ant-slavery leaven,"
which was once supposed to be the sole and suf
Scent reason why Richmond was not taken" and
the rebellion crushed OUT in double-quick time
We very sorry to learn that it is impossible to
find any General who will give the "loyal blacks"
fair chance to demonstrate their proves to the
full extent of the military virtues with which they
believed to be endowed by their ardent admirers
Of the political press. There, for instance, is Gen
Gilmore, admitted on all hands to be good artil-
lerist, and who has been pounding away at Fort
Sumter most vigorously and efficiently, as all the
country supposed, until few days ago we were in.