New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-18
TME EMPLOYMENT OF SLAVES In


When it was first proposed TO use Blacks IN
military operations against the Rebellion, preJu-
dice and ignorance were briskly aroused and
all the facts of history studi0usly ignored. The
laws of war, enacted by the common consent of
mankind, unqucstionably sanctioned the en-
ployment of the enemys slaves. 1t was held
to be Of no account that, from the earliest ages
down to modern times, belligcrent nations have
armed and employed slaves, sometimes their
own, sometimes those of their enemies Slaves
fought at Plataa, at Marathon, at ChRronea,
and by their gallantry purchased their freedom
slaves defended Sparta against Epamlnondas
slaves contendod side by side with proud and
warlike LacedRmonians-the slave lcgions were
conspicuous in the long wars between Sparta
and Athens, and bondmcn composed hecrewsot
the hostile fleets. In the battle of Plat9a,
% 900 slaves were engaged; in tho Pcloponne-
Sein war, IL. 900 Thcssalian slaves were placed
at the disposal Of Athens; 5000 slaves were
emancipated at the siege of Sparta; and large
body Of the same auxiliarles were sent to the
succor of Syracuse. Roman history furnishes a
still greater array of pertinent facts Slaves
assisted in repclling the nyaSiOns OF Hannibal,
and during the civil wars which followed they
were invited TO the standard Of either party
they bore their part in all the revolutions OF the
Republic, and by their valor changed the for
tunes of many hard-fought field. Marus,
Sylla, Pompey, Tibcrius Gracious, all appealed
to and cnfranchized slaves, and in the later days
of the Empire armed slaves were employed
By Octayius, Marcus Aurelus, Ohio, and
Vitelius, and were always emancipated
as the reward OF their valor. Oppressed
slaves rushed to the standard of Alaric and to
thor voluntary aid Cato of Utica did not dis
dnn TO intrust his falling fortunes. So slaves
were employed in the sicgcs and battles OF the
middle ages. In the early history of England,
the riileins-ancestors of many proud modern
flmles--were conscript defenders OF their lords.
We need hardly say that during the war OF our
own Revolution, slaves were enrolled both by
British and American commanders. In the
West Indies, from the war of the Ma
rooms in 1888 down TO the present century,
hundreds Of battles have attestcd the bravery
and military skill of the black race. In the
last war between Great Britain and the United
States, British Admiral enlisted 200 negroes
in the waters Of the Chesapeake, and they rem
dered distinguished service both as combatantS
and pioneers. To-day, more than half the
British Army in the West Indies is composed of
soldiers of pure African bood-at the Cape Of
Good Hope, English regiments are tiye-si1ths
native Hottentots-at the Gold Coast of West
ern Africa the British artillery force is recruited
wholly from negroes. In Brazil, the arlny Is
made I'D almost entirely of negro recruits ana
the police force of Rio Janeiro whiehis military
in ts organization, consists mostly oil coiored
men. In Cuba, the black and mulatto corps con-
stitute permanent division of the Spanisharmy
The strona araumant in favor OF Slavery.
based upon the natural interiorty Of races, Is
continually so defended by an appeal TO ancient
human example; but we insist, that if the dough
face is to use history at all, he ia not to be at lib
crty to select such portions Of il as may suit his
needs, and TO reject all the rest. Nothing !
could be more wretched. or at least more polit- |
cally degraded than the condition of the IIolots |
yet they composed three-quarters Of the vic
torious Spartan army at Plataa. Nor was
there any attempt TO eyade an equitable rccog
milton of these services, for freedom was de-
creed to all these Helots who had fought in
Thrace under Brasidas The slaves who con-
tended at Marathon and ChGronea were eman-
cipated. So the Athenians invested with the
rights Of citizenship those slaves who engaged
in the sea-hght of Arginurw. The Thessaliaus
compelled their slaves to follow the army, and
during the Peloponnesian war q simple citizen
of Thessaly put 1900 of them of the disposal
of Athens The ThesSaans even admitted
them into the cavalry service. The classical
Man Owner of South Carolina is continually
of Athens, but he never tells you
that the AthenianS sent their slaves and free
men side by side 10 the rescue of the fleet
blockaded by the Spartans in the harb0r of
Mtylene, and that the enterprise was crowned
with success. The light troops of Argos
were slaves, and the Durlanians, great
slayeowners, employed their bondmen as sol
diers, as matter of course. Roman history
tells tie same story. When Marius and CHINA
beseiged Rome, the latter appealed directly to
the Roman slaves to shake Of the their masters
yoke, and take refuge in his camp where they
were 10 be declared free. Sylla, when yictori-
Gus gave liberty and Roman citizenship to ten
thousand slayes-men who were ready to fight
and vo,a for him IN all occasiOns Slaves lS-