Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-01-18
The Columbia S GfeenyiIleRai!r

:. We understand there was great damagc dono to
this road by The freshet d lpst week, nnd that it
will be at least OK weeks before the road is in
rdnuing order again.
2-----% -
- Negro S5Idiers.
. WHY'S the subject of putting our slaves into
the fight discussed with such evident hesitation.
and timiltJ? Wo have given the subject much,
thought, ard we are clear for putting them ip.
Mr. L1SeoLS claims to have 100000 Of our own
slavss in his ranks srtayed against US. If We
hadendoptoa the policy Of putting them into our
ranks two years ago, hcssould not have had Q :
fourth THAT number NOW Net satisfied with his
100000, he is daily cnlistins negroes upon South
ern soil, and will continue to augment his black
forces as he advances, and as Southern slaves
sschpe into his lines. SO fur as it concerns able
bodied slaves upon our exposed fronts, the put
ting Them into our. ranks with lnnskets in their
hands,is simplS 3 aquestion Of whether they fight
for the Yankees for Us. That is plain enough.
And, in.our humble opinion, the situation now
demands that, in reference TO this subject, we
regard tho remotest interior as an endangered
front, and at once proceed oeyery possible availa
ble means to the end ofiindcpendence, as though
ne despairod Of achieving it without putting
forth our whole strength. This i, our view of
The situation. we believe much moro in force to
achieve our dsliveranca, than nethat "sublimc
faith in its ultimate achievement which many
poop}e talk sv much about
To theobjection that negroes will not make
not make MS good soldiers as Caucasions, yetthoy
can be made to answcra good purpose in war,
else the Yankees would not be so industriously
recruiting them after having fully tested their
qualities. ham epinian. Of our own that
tho negro would make d better soldier under he
leadership Of Southern officers than under Ian-
KEGS. Whom the negro first comes into contact
with the Yankee, he is demoralized by having
false n n,tons Of equality instilied into his mind,
and he enlitts With the notion that ho is US good
,as any body. The Yankee officer having lowered
himself beneath his own dignity ~ to treat him
with consideration above his merits, loses tho
talisman Of obedience and sciplinc-rcspect
FOR him MS superior being, q higher ordOr of tio
race bOrn-to rule. 0f.coursc Southern officers
would not commit tuch blundcrs. Besides, they
bet:cr understand tho character of the negro, and
how to manage him. In truth, he would go from
the plantation to the camp already disciplined,
and lacking only somo drilling to make soldier
It may be snid that tho negroes everywhere
now clearly ulderstand that it enters into tho
war policy Of Mr. Lincsln 10 emancipate them,
and that therefore they will not fight for those
There is much force in this objection but, not
withstandipg, We believe the negroes would or
could bo made to, fight manfully in our cause.
Because the negro will awoys follow the lead of
the Intelligence which points the way. Consider
the horrible picture the future presents should we,
in rcslceting to use all themeans at our command,
fail to achieve our independence The negro will
have beer cmancipatcd in spite of US, and will
be hostile race let loose in our 4Aidst. He will
have To .uira:n with US, for colonization OF so
vast ru:nbcr OF huln9n beings will be impracti-
cable. Could Southerncrs brook this and net
tsfc vongeancc: Vengeance would bcget ven-
gsanco,s until the land would flow with wLito
blood and black blood al mixed.
We haTo arrived at crieis when it seems to
US. the present and future interests of both races
i. GU re that measures should bc taken TO bring
tac!a together shoulder to shoulder, in this war,
i; near as it's practicable to bring two racca SO
Different. 4
The Columbia and Augusta Rnilroad.
We have been much on the Ridge Of late, and