Hammond gazette. [volume] (Point Lookout, Md.) 1862-1864, 1864-02-10
Negro Recruiting Camp.


they reached here on Saturday evening last, and
nave, we learn, obtained three recruits since
their arrival. The slaves in this vicinity are
quite free in their intercourse with Them but
disposition to enlist does not seem to prevail. 1t
nav he proper to add, however, that Govern
nent oficials-or persons claiming to be such
have already enlisted. or seduced away, very
large proportion of the young negro men of this
county. We mention this fact, that public
opinion at the North may not do our " colored
friends an injustice They are unquestonably
imbued with an average degree of patriotism,
IND If cnlistmcEts are not more rapid among
those that remain, it must not be attributed to
want Of reverence for the, flag. y Unaccus-
toned, heretofore, to the performance of military
duty, aud possibly not fully appreciating tl.oeX
lgencies OF the Government their tardiness MAY
be more properly attributed TO a want of knowl-
edge OF their duty than an indisposition on
their part to fserYe their country Let there
be- therefore, no unjust discrimination against
the negro recruits obtained in this county. Let
them stand iitir and square with their White
brethren from Massachusetts, and Ect no man
dare question lheir claims to equality In con-
clusion, we move the arrest and Punishment of
The editor of the New York Times, for insinua-
ting, in late issue Of his paper that " there
might be some persons at the North, that did not
think niger rs good as = white man.
Three weeks ago we had occasion to
publish an article from the ST. Mary's Gaz-
cite, on Negro soldiers, and comment there
on, and We had hoped that tic disloyal
editor of that sheet would give us no more
occasion to refer to them, BY carrying out
the southern doctrine Of "let them alone.
But this Mr. Downs seems determined not
to do, but to SANDER and yillify them, and
all who have anything to do with them, by
VULGAR slurs and sncers. The above article
is from the last Issue Of the Gazette. We
do not wish TO quarrel with its editor, but
it is no more than just that the people
should know how to credit his statements.
We do not advocate negro equality neither
in social Dor political affairs, yet we do shy,
and challenge a reasonable contradiction,
that some negroes are more than equals Vi
some white men, except in color only. And
as regards that, at present, inestimable
quality patriotism" they are, in this
county, by far the superiors Of the whites.
They are imbued with vastly more than an
average degree d patriotism, taking that
Of the whites Of this county as the standard.
But this is not to be wondered at, for there
has oeen but one paper published in the
county and that has been continually blatting
treasonablc sentiments in the ears Of the
people, and Icing brought up to worship
the golden calf OF slavery. they are very
naturally 10th to turn from their idol. But
ali that is necessary is for the people to
comprehend the true nature of the present
struggle, and We think they will not be
long in arraying themselves upon the side
Of right and freedom, against slavery and
oppression. The colored portion have al
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