The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-04-21

with colored people. The newspaper
since then have made frequent mention O
the volunteering Of colored men, and the
public have been made to believe that sew.
eral regiments were being enlisted.
have the testimony of a dozen men. white
and colored, that the entire number die
not exceed fifty! and these were BOYS
who were ready to parade the streets, and
live on Confederate rations, but who had
no idea of fighting. "Dey was mostly
poor Souf Carolina darkies-poor heath.
en- fellers, who didn't know no better y
said one negro, in response to my inquiries.
''Would you have fought against the
Yankees ?" | asked of colored man
dressed i'll butternut colored clothes, who
stood near by.
"No, sir. Dey might have shot me
through de body wild ninety thousand balls,
before would have fired GUN at my
friends"
"Then you look upon us as your
friends p
eyes, sir, I've prayed for you to come
to get here for a long while, and do YOU
think l would have prayed one way and
fit de other!''
He said it with spirit, as if a little hurt
that should question his sincerity.
''fll tell you, MasSa, what / would
have done" said another, taking off his
hat and bowling 81 would have taken de
gun and when | cotched a chance. Id a
shooted it at de rebs and den run for de
Yankees"
This brought general explosion from
the crowd. and arrested the attention of
some white men passing
l look back with pleasure to the scene.
1t was in the street directly west of the
Capitol-this dilapidated building with
decaying walls and broken windows.
had but to raise my ewes to see the Stars
and STRIPES waving in the evening breeze
A few PAGES distant were the ruins of the
rebel war department, from whence were
issued the orders to starve our prisoners at
Belle Isle, Salisbury and Andersonville
Near by were the walls of DIR. Reeds
church. where specious gospel had been
preached. \ stones throw in the other
direction was Dr. IIave> church. where
jeff. Davis heart quailed on Sunday last
The street was full of people. | was Il
stranger to them all, but | ventured to
make this inquiry:
'Did you ever see an aboIitionist p
''No. mas>a. | reckon Incver did" was
the reply
"What kind of people do You think
they are
'Well, massa, l specs dey is a good
kind of people"
''Why do you think so"
case when hear bad white folks
swearing and cu>sing about 'em, rcckun
dar must be something good about EN-"
''Well. my friends, am an abolition
ist; believe that one man is just rs good
as another if he behaves Is well. and tha.
| have no more right TO make Il slave of
you than you have of me-
Every hat came off in an instant. and
a dozen hands were reached out toward
me, and heard from dozen tongues Il
hearty ''God bless you, SIR"
There is freedom of speech in Rich
mond now. White men heard me and
Scowled. Last Sunday. had | uttered
those words, l should have dangled upon
the nearest lamp post in five minutes: but
to-day, those men who stretched out their
hands to me would have given the last
| drop of their blood, before they would
have seen a hair of my head injured. after
that declaration.
BELLIGERENT RIGHTS.
The l'hlladel phia Press has cOrreSpon-
dent in the field who writes excellent let
ters-Mr. j. Morris Chester lie is tall.
stout, muscular, Yet unasSuming man.
lie is Il black man. Entering the hall OF
Congress he sat down i'll the speakers chair
and commenced writing on the speaker,
desk. a rebel officer who had been pa
rolled entered the room.
'Comc out of there, you black cuss,'
shouted the officer, his teeth set and his
fist clenched.
Mr.. Chester raised his eyes, calmly sur,
veyed the officer, and went on with his
writing.
Sect out of there Or I'll knock your
brains OUT the officer beloved. pouring
out a torrent of oaths
! Mr.. Chester did not move. The officer
rushed up the steps to seize him by the
collar, but found himself tumbling heels
over head over chairs and benches, knock
ed down by enc well planted blow between
his eyes, which MIR. Chester had given.
MIR. Chester said not word, but sat
down and went to writing as if nothing
had happened. The officer sprang to hi:
feet and called upon Capt. Hutchins OF
Gen. Devcn's staff for a sword.
'I'll cut the fellows heart out" said he.
go, no, | guess not | won't let you
have my sword for any such purpose. II
you want to fight Mr.. Chester, l will
clear space here and see that you have
fair play, but let me tell you that you will
get tremendous thrashing,' said Capt.
Hutchins.
The officer left the hall in disgust,
while Mr.. Chester continued his writing
Il thought 1 would exercise my rights a.
belligerent," was his remark as he told
me the story, which is fully confirmed by
Captain Hutchins.
This happened in Richmond, in the hal