, 1864-01-27

~ The Charleston Mercury grayely con-
trusts the steady sclEposscsslon and calm
exercise Of wisdom displayed by tn Roman
Senate, after tle battle Of Canine, with the
reck1essness OF alarm and the desperation Of
demagogism shown IN the Congress after the
recent disasters to the rebel cause. Every
one will admit the force Of the comparison.
The First Colored Regiment OF n1l-
no1a.
(chieago Correspondence n. 7. independently
TIE 1st co1ored regiment Of Illinois is now
being recruited under Colonel John a. Bross,
who las hecn commissioned for this purpose
Col. Bross -Was iaTycr OF this city, q
Christian gentleman, who went out as Cap
tain Of the SSH Illinois, ed Board Of Trade,)
and has proved himself, IS at ChIckamanga
and elsewhere, brave commander, and an
officer who takes good care Of his men, and
wEo will insist upon having qualified and
sympathetic subordinate Officers IN the regi-
Hicnt- good deal OF progress has been
madeiu tic matter Of cnlistments. By delay
in tie movement in Illinois, some seFen hun
dred colorcd recruits have already gone of
to other Stntes- Bnt still there a1e enough
lett to hl9 Up this dlst regiment, md more.
j called A1r:cans-Rhile the physical brave
~ OF your ErolLc1s-sin a11ns has become the
admilation Of The nation, now is the time to-
show your moral kciGlus. In this State your
oath has not been allowed in court; your
vote las leen rejected ct the lallot-boE; your
threatened penalty, with the alternative Of
being sold into bondage; you have been
1nsdc Tie subject Of social prescription that
has shut you out Of all Dnt menia1 occupae
t;ons, you knew tiiat these laws and this d.
aholscal prejudice yet rc1nain IN force. And
tEeu, wien the Government has come to
its een6ee, and calls on you for: help,
you ind discrimination made. ut
which your better nature rerolts-no
bounty a0d only AalCpay-while you know
that your mcn arc as good soldiers as white
Irctlon made against Germans, or 1rishmen,
or Yankees, would keep them ont Of the
aimy., And yet there Ia a motive that should
lit sou above all this injustice and hatred.
Ntac Is Tie tisne 10 kltn yonr manhood It has
been the denial OF this BY the dominant race
that has loaded Jon down With wrongs.
Prove now TINT you arc men, that you pos
sees those poblcst clements Of humanity
exalted aspiration md the spirit Of selEsscri-
Ece In the attainment Of liberty aud
the public veal For this your
ant1,slsseEy ,.. friends sq SHAY hare eonten,sa
now struggling mp into its place among the
nations, las thrust you forward to the Ther-
mopylG Of its advancement Many genera
tions of your sires, who have gone down un-
der the burning stigma Of chattels, now can
upon you 10 1tQecn lQt1f meluuIY uUm t4A18
horyla imposition The first great OCCASION |
has cong. It may soon pass. Nothing win 50
soon redeem your position among mankind as
courage iu the orleal of war and in the e1er-
cite or those high moral qualities that shall
enable you to rise above your wrongs aud
make 5on the worlds heroes. st Yorktown,
on Thanksgiving pay, as learn by pnyste
letter, the colored chnplain Of the 4th Viz |
ginis, who began his prayer 20 God, We
thank thee that the sou Of Virginia Is no
longer too sacred for black men TO unite ana
utter their praises to thee for freedom sud VIC
tory on national Thanksgiving day. said IN
h,s sermon, g Some ofyou, heas, orc grqmb-
ling because you arc not paid Us much as
White soldiers. Let the Government nnaer-
etand that VIZ are not mercenaEy. Let Us be
grateful that NE are allowed the great privi-
{ege Of entering into the conflict at any price
that ne are permitted to aght and @ d1e 5 io5
undivided Union.' Meantime. u We are
worthy Of yo1r aid, y ne are Torihy I % o. ~ the
remove The black laws from our statutes and
to eqnnlize the pay and bounty and protse-
ton Of aN soldiers under our flag The is
Rnr IN . |