Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1865-03-23
AT THE CONFESSIONAL.

- We commend to ouI Copperheud
friends, who have always sneered at
the policy of enlisting eolored SOL
diers, the report prepared by an Ad-
jutant of General Lees. Now that
therebels concede the valor and value
of such troops their allies at the
North will agree that they are most
excellent material ,or an army. Fort
Wagner, Milliken's Bend, Port Hud-
son, and every field upon which black
troops have fought, could not prove
their bravery and discipline; but the
word of Lees Adjutant will doubt
less convince those who have never
had any opinions until they received
them from slave drivers.
The paper of which we speak cites
the conduct of the colored soldiers
In our army. as well as the expert
ence o: every nation by which they
have beeu employed, as proof OF
their peculiar fitness for the service
But the remarkable point of the doc
ument, which contains nothing new
to those who are familiar with the
question, is the admission through
out of the bitter wrong of slavery.
The plan proposes to give imme
diate freedom to those who do best,
not the promise of freedom at the
end of the war to all who fight This
Is offered as the highest conceivable
Indictment TO bravery and fidelity
But how can it be so if the blacks
were made for for slaves, and are
happy and contented in that condi-
ton? What kind of an Indictment
would it be to an OK TO tell him that
if he moved fast he should be thrown
into the river at night? How would
a fish be stimulated by the promise
Of being laid in clover pasture?
Again, the plan argues deliberately
to show that soldier does not think;
that an army is machine; that dis
cipliHe makes q man fight equally
well upon any side But what is the
point of the argument? Slavery be-
ing the divine appointment for all
men of African descent, and being
also the most delightful position for
them, why rely upon discipline to
prevent theiL thinking? The more
they t ink they are fighting to per
petuate their bondage the more hero
ically they will behave, if it be true
that they are born for it.
Since this debate was oDened
among the rebels, every word they
say has convicted them of the con-
sciousness of the foul Injustice of
slavery. 1t disproves every thing
they have asserted about the colored
race; and how tho. oughly contempt
BILE it leaves the Northern toadies Of
the delectable system! What says
Bishop Hopkins to this flying in the
face Of Providence? What says the
Reverend Mr.. Van Dyck to this de
parture from the divine ordination?
What have become of the curse upon
Ham, and the conclusive precedent
of Onesimus2 Whittier has disap-
peared the divine purpose indicated
in heels and shin bones? The whole
ghastly imposture collapses before
the dire necessity of facts. They
are as good men as we are, if they
will only fight for us, cry the pale
rebel chiefs, as they feel the wind
rushing before the coming of Sher
man.
Meanwhile let the gentle Copper
heads ponder one question. Ii the
slave lords confess that their chat
tells are fit to be free, how long will
it be before the good sense Of the
country declares that they are fit to
voteY-Horper's WeeELy.