Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-03-24
The Presidents Speech.

Ano 1Eo0Au0AV0 0p00SAA.
The President addressed the assembly
substantially as follows:
FELLOW CITIZENS 1T will be but a
very few words that shall undertake to
say. l was born in Kentucky, raised in
Indiana, and lived in Illinois. Laughter)
And now l am here, where it is my bust
ness to care equally for the good people of
all the States. am glad to see an Indi-
ana regiment on this day able to present
the captured flag to the Governor Of lmdi-
ana. (Applause.) lam not disposed in
saying this to make distinction between
the States, for all have done equally we'll.
(ApPlause.)
There arc but few views or aspects of
this great war upon which have not said
or written something whereby my own
opinion might be known. But there is
one-the recent attempt Of our ierring
brethren, Us they are sometimes called
(laughter), to employ the negro to fight
for them. 1havc neither written nor made
speech on that subject, because that was
their business not mine, and if had a
wish upon the subject had not the power
to introduce it or make it effective.
The great question with them was
whether the negro being put into the army
will fight for them. do not know, and
therefore cannot decide. Uaughter).-
They ought to know better than we.
have in my life time heard many arguments
why the negroes ought to be slavesl; but
if they fight for those who would keep
them in slavery it will be better argu-
ment than any have yet heard. laugh
ter and applause.) He who will fight for
that ought to be q slave. (Applause.)
They have concluded at last to take one
out Of four Of the slaves, and put them in
the army; and that one out Of the four
who will fight to keep the others in slavery
ought to be slave himself, unless he is
killed in fight. (Applause.) While l
have often said that all men ought to be
free. yet would allow those colored per-
sons to be slaves who want to be; and
next to them those white persons who ar
que in favor Of making other people slaves.
(Applause.)
1 am in favor Of giving an opportunity
to such white men to try it for themselves.
! will say one thing in regard to the negro
being employed to fight for them. l do
know he cannot fight and stay at home
and make bread too. daughter and APP
plause.) And as one is about as import
ant as the other of them, I do not care
which they do. (Renewcd applausc.)
am rather in favor of allowing them
to try them as soldiers. (Applausc. J.
They lack one vote of doing that, and
wish could send my vote over the river
so that might cast it in favor of allowing
the negro to fight. But they cannot fight
and work both. We must now see the
bottom Of the encmy's resources. They
will stand out as long as they can; and il
the negro will fight for them they must al
low him to fight.
They have drawn upon their last branch
of resources (applause) and we can now
see the bottom. (Applausc.) am gla,
to see the end so near at hand. Gap
plause have said now more than
intended, and will therefore bid you good
bye.
The occasion Of this speech by the
President was the presentation of a flag
captured at Anderson by the l4Oth Indi
ana volunteers to Governor Morton. 1t
took place at Washington on Thursday Of
last week.
President Lincoln's views OIL the arm
ing Of the blacks in the so -called confed.
eracy are Of some moment at this time,
for this is the question of questions for the
rebels and us. If the black race alone,,s the
only source left untouched, or the only one
from which partial supply can be OBJ
tanned for depleted armies in rebellion, and
this at last is to be drawn upon, then the
important question comes up for thought
and discussion, what will the effect be; OF
rather which side will these sable SONS q
the confederacy array themselves! Upon
this question there are various opinions
Mr.. Lincoln has never before indicated hi.
views upon this point, while others, O,
both sides Of the "red line" of the division
Of the contending armies. have offered
theirs freely. The common sense view is,
that these black men. who are not all
black understand the cause of this war
remote and immediate, about az we'll al
white men. To suppose otherwise is tc
take as true what the enemies Of the black
race assume as correct. viz: "that they
are only 6t for slaves, and that they Meth.
er know nor care who whips" The cur.
rent history of the war proves this assump.
ton untrue. as it has also abundantly
proven that the slaves Of the Southern
States arc keen observers, intelligent
"chattels," and the unfaltcring friends Of
the Union soldiers. In no case has it beer
alleged that the blacks have not assisted
the Union cause, by assisting the Union
soldier. when fleeing from rebel prisons t.
his Northern home. The united testimony
Of all escaped Union men is, that the blacl
men were their fast friends. Now wha
effect will it have on these men to arm
and put white officers over them who shal
order them to shoot their best friends p
General Lee. 90 the papers say, is urgin,
ON the putting these men into the rebe
ranks. and is anIiously awaiting the re
suit. He evidently is not well assured
how the matter will end; and it is witt
fear and hesitation that the trial is bcins
made. Mr.. Lincoln says that the slav,
that fights to keep his brethren in slavery
ought to be sla%e.
That this 10 the dernicr resort of III.
ebel authorities, military and otherwise
no one can doubt. 1t is practically askin.