Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-03-08
From the Augusta Constitationali.t
The Negro as q Soldier.

There is ne one fact as intimately connec
tel with the origin and progress OF the pres
ent state of war between the Northern aud
Southern States, as that of slavery. Nor is
there any which will exercise larger inhu-
ence in determining its duration, and in Civ.
ing distinctive feature TO the future civil
za;ion those among whom the lot Of the
negro has been cast, than the condition 10
which he shall he assigned By the eveatuali
ties of this war. And yet, such is the fatuity
ofthe Southern mind upon this subject, that
his very existence sce,ns hardly to have been
recognized, except as mere animal. His
intelligence, his will, his moral, influence has
been as completely ignored as if he Were o
horse, or an OK, or an ass.
Why is this? In all the length and breadth
of our bSoad domain is there mo one mind
capable Of cotnprehcndipg, what it will seem
a matter Of wonder to the future historian,
Gil did not recognize by very intuition alone,
that three millions of human beings il pop
ulstien of eight, however humble, however
low IN the scale of humanity, slaves though
be, yet with unclaimed limbs, Could net be so
fettered by mere legal enactneDts. 50 mes
merised by the mere will Of masters, that
they would not make themselves fclt5fs a po-
tentia inatrnment in shaping the features,
progress and conclusion OF war against
twenty odi millions and upon whose bapners
w.re blazoned the magic word Freedom"
Does the spectre of abolition so haunt our
imaginations, so obstrnct our vision, as to
conceal from our view the fate which impends
over US? Arewe given over to that blind
ness Of passion which the gcds inhict upon
whom. thI.Iwou'i destroy? Qnem deus cuA
1,s,,dsre prias dementot. Or is it, thatseeing
t5s tG.rfnl portelt, We are Incapable OF COLL
pretending lis significance. alld stand wonder
stricken, paralysed with doub. and fear, ss i
overstad9wed by tho panoplY of national
death? Is there no broad, comprehensive
philosophical craftsmanship to bring order
out Of chaos, tolift US above he pretty strifes,
themean ambition, the contemplate prejudiccs
the sordid pussions, which So engrcss our
whole being, that we heednot the fact, that that
wh'ch might constitute the righ. arm of our
defence, is turned against US? Is there none
to pluck safety from the nettle danger2 Let
US tr7 and solve this problem that wh-n the
future historian shall come to write our cpl
taph. at least it shall Lot be .5clo de Sc.
Firs. of all then, let us begin BY recogniz-
ing the stubborn fact that Aie negro is a poacer
In tbs uur. Iu numbers about as three to
our ligc, and should not err, if il the terri
tory that remains 10 Us, unoccuped by the
enemy, I should make the disproportion even
less. lie has oil the essential native qual,-
ties, necessary to make an efficient soldier;
lie may not have the courage Of the white
man, but his HABITS of obedience, and The per-
feet discipline to which, under intelligent
white officers nc might be subjected, weuid
go f.. towards cqualizing them in,his res
.,,cc,. He has not the high incentive, the
exalted aspirations Of the white man, ard in
this. not even theefcr OF E ecdom would place
them upon levek
But who, whatever may have been his
former estimate Of the negro. will say, II
vew Of al! the past, that he can no: shake
of the toroor Of the Save? The Oh aud the
yoaag. men, women and children, have dc
esrsej their native land and the comfortable
nrarters around which all their warm nitec
,ions cln.! tered; and fed to the enemy, not to
fad "psra4ise ofsnn shine and rest hui
cid and hunger, tnil and danger, disease and
death. 1t is 40 answer to all this 10 say, that
they i:aye made an unfortunate choice, that
they have been deludcd by promises, battered
by hopes that viii never lie realized. The
stubborn fac: conircnts us, in spite oi all ns-
seyera, i,.r;, ,rat the nc gro constitutes a the
present moment, no contemplate pait. OF the
Federal army.
Second, it may then, think, be set dowr
as no longer asmooted point thet the Negro
IS not only a power in this war, but that ir
mite ofhis humber in>tincts, in spite OF hi:
j: I. rinr irteiiigeuce:-in spte OF slavery, II
spite Of the masters swii', he carries III hi'
muscular arm. the balance. Of po~sr oes%coi
the c6nteading armies, and that Uttered no
TIE language Of an eSer-sxeited in'aslna;'o'
int .,yi.i.; of so:,crles. and truth. wien ds
c,as.,.i, that victory will ultimately CROW:
tn. arms OF that side whose banner. is borh'
,rhird Lat The enemy have been NOR,