Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-20
RIGHTS.
RICHMOND WHIG.
..-1.,- ,,oDUINc TAN. 40. 1894.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JAN. 30, II
Negroes for the Army.

As scmce o. supply in aidiGg to the effective force
of our armies the use of ntgOes has been repeatedly
suggested, they taking the places Of the abe-boded
wagoners, nurses cooks and many ether like employ
ees for which they may be competent who could thus
be pacsdin the ranks The slaVeO"ners Of the South
have responded as promptly and uniformly as Any other
class of our people in every call for men for the held
in their Own pr.ons or those Of their sons ard rea-
tves Ye an universal aversion has been shown to fur
nhing the labor of their negroes. In every case where
such labor has baeu obtained it has only been effected
bv the rigid enforcement of law. This conduct of the
,llnters may be vai5usy accounted fOr chiefly that
their calculations for making and gathering crops are
materially affected tha. bad moral effect is produced
upon negroes disturbed in their accustomed manage
msnt and guardianship that serious rjury TO their
health and loss of life frequently occurs from the gross
negligence of these appointed TO srperinend them; and
the great Apprehension Of their escaping hom such
treatment 10 the enemy and their exposure to capture by
them.
There are two classes of negroes, however to whom
these objections do no! to the extent apply. They
a.e the slaves in the border counties exposed TO easy
escape or to seizure by the enemy and tie extensive
class Of idle vagrant free negroes. As many iEduce
ments are offered by the enemy TO attract slaves to
them and al able-oodied males so seducod well as
those seized. at pu; in service sgainst us is
would be but wise preeauiOn on tie part of our gov
ernment 4. least to require the removal OF all greatly
exposed to falling into their hands: To uniformly i'm
press all such as are com eent for various employ
connected with the armies, working on railroads, and
other public works. wOul be to the great mutual ben f.
Of the individual owner aud to the country.
ID 49, rtnfI
A.e at present upwards of one huadei thousand free
negroes within that portion of the Confsd-
eraey entirely under Gu; control OF these there are
about twenty Eve thousand able-bOdied males between
the ages OF twenty and city, nearly all OF whom in
the State Of Virginia and the Caroinas. At present
they the only privileged eIempis Of the country
Our p;ople and cur slaves cOnscrip;ed aud i'm
pressed These undistuFbed by the viciskitudSs and
trials of the war; greater in number than the foreigners
among u.s. contribute nothing to our efforts, and, from
their peculiar social relations Indifferent as to our
success They are even charged in some instances with
having acted as guides spies and bearers of important
90 nut icalions to the enemy. Why should not they,
EhO are consume among US, be also msdo to render
public service
There can b. no question to the prOpriety the
advantages of conscrlptiHg this Casa Many of them,
engaged house servants BARRIERS and about restsu
r-ns would make excellent cooks and nurses; Os;lers
aud draymen would suit for WagOners; carpenters,
oacksmiths and mechanics generally will fad abundant
demand for their skill in the public service. We are
informed from high that in OF ourarmies
It this lime ten thousand of this class would add their
number Of soldiers to the ranks from those now
gagged in duties for which they are competent. We
commend this subject the early action of Congress.