The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-11-28

Brevet Brigadier General Jonathan
Tarbell, Colonel of volunteers from
New York during the war, is now settled
at Forest, Scott county, Mississippi. He
has written letter, under date of Octo.
Der 10, 1866, giving his views Of the
character and capacity of the blacks OF
the South, and the proposition to give
them the suffrage, from which We take
the following extracts:
Negro suffrage is q measure Of the
most stupendOus wildness and humbug
of this or any other age. Mormanism il
fifty compared to the depravity of the
blacks, but to these vices, add universal
thieving and lying, ignorance, incapac'
| ity and total want of moral or bind.
ing obligation. All the talk of politi.
clans about the loyal blacks, and the
brdre colOred soldier, is an insult to truth
The blacks were loyal to the South,
and it is not true that the colored troops
fought bravely ereryrhere, or on any oo-
casion. There was no rising on the part
of the South, though in whole counties
and districts for hundreds ofmiles, there
were no males at home; in fact they
by the women! They nowhere in the
South voluntarily enlisted, but were
seized and enrolled, with or without
consent. They showed signs of well
come to our troops-but they were no
less demonstrative to the rebel arm 50.
served by the side Of the cole
troops before Port Hudson, and know
their conduct was O poor burlesque on
soldering, as was General Banks COM
plimentary order on their bravery and
good conduct. All the speeches in Con-
gress advocating equality" between
white and black soldiers, were keenly
resented by every officer and soldier of
the army; but none dared speak out.
No matter what interested officers, par.
tisans, politicians and demagogues may
say, the black soldiers did not earn their
rations. The Union owes them nothing
to its support as. soldiers. They owe a
debt of gratitude to the government for
maintaining them from idleness and
starvation.
They have not the integrity, capacity
or education for voters, and will not
have for generations. As allies of the
Radicals, they would prove worse than
useless, for they do not possess the facul-
ty OF instinct of combination, and they
would disclose all party secrets to their
secession owners.
Were Henry Ward Beecher to come
down here and own a plantation in per-
son, we can imagine what, from his well
known piety and goodness, he would do
for the blacks, both spiritually and pc
cuniarily; yet after all he would do,
they would study in religious meeting,
of which they are excessively fond, and
in which they are inordinately enthusi-
astic, how to steal his last crumb and
his last dime. Give the blacks the best
State in the Union, with teams, seed,
grain, farming tools, years supply of
all things, and five hundred dollars in
money each, with o government of their
own, and they would starve to death
the second year, and relapse into bar
barism in half q century.
This is no e1aggeration. Ispeak but
the simple truth, as any impartial man
may see it for himself. l am a true
friend to the negroes and to progress.
They need most education, both secular
and religious, for years and generations
honest and fair dealing and justice
from the whites, but not the ballot,
which would prove curse.
]. TARBELL-