Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-03-01
The Presidents Southern Policy

The development Of the policy Of
the President in regard to negro troops
in the South is attracting much atten-
ton. 1t appears that Gen. Sherman
was recently sent South to fix up things
with the leading traitors, and at Jack
son, Miss, it was arranged that the
colored soldiers should be withdrawn.
The hatred of the Southern communi-
ties for the colored regiments is in
tense. We copy from Mississippi
paper recent editorial showing the
spirit in which the removal Of the col
ored regiments is hailed:
From the jackson (Miss News, Jan. 81. r.,
NEGRO TROOPS DEPARTING.
We congratulate our citizens OH the
departure of the 50th Colored Regi-
ment. This regiment and the Gath
Colored Infantry, stationed at Grenada,
are ordered to vicksburg, for the pur-
pose, we understand, of engaging in
work best suited to the nature of the
animal. 1t is said that these troops
are to be employed on the dilapidated
levees on the Mississippi, and we con-
graduate the country upon this wise
disposition of the black bone and sim
ew of the land. s. ruia 5aH
We of course entertain no unkind
feeling for the unfortunate race Of
Ham, and we will counsel every posi-
BILE alienation of their condition con-
sistent with the prosperity Of the citi-
zens of our country. We have ever
considered the quartering of negro
troops in the South as deeply dyed
insult" to our people, and we are, we
suppose, indebted to the President for
the order removing negro troops from
the South. Our Government is found
ed upon what is called the republican
basis, which cannot be separated from
the representative principle, and when
we see wrong party in power,
which allows no representation to our
people, and which takes the ad-
vantage of temporary lease Of that
power to Cypress brave and gener-
Gus people, we have great cause for
congratulation that we have a Presi-
dent who rises superior to the dark
waves of the party who placed him in
power, and seems determined to pre-
serve the ancient landmarks of the
Government which cost our fathers SO
many years, and so much blood. The
unceasing prayer of every true and
loyal citizen, who desires to perpetu-
ate republican Institutions on this con-
tinent, should be Lord have mercy
upon the souls of those black-hearted
assassins of liberty, but Lord take
them away, as the tree that numbered
the ground"
But for what end the colored soldiers
are withdrawn belongs to another and
fresh chapter of history. Only recent
ly the order stood that they were to be
mustered out. There was no bad faith
in that. 1t was simply dispensing with
them and returning them to civil life.
But this order has been countermanded,
and the same regiments are now con-
at Vicksburg, for the pur-
pose of going to work, to rebuild the
levees along the Mississippi river.
These lcvees were cut to a great ex.I
tent, by rebels for the purpose Of dri-
wing out or drowning the invasive
Yankee mudsills," and now men wear
ing the Federal uniform are made to
reconstruct the same, at cost tothe
general Government of at least four
times the amount for which the work
could be done by private contract. If
the Government has no use for these
men as soldiers, for which purpose they
enlisted, why are they not disbanded
and allowed to make their contracts
for the present year? Release them
as soldiers and let them raise cotton,
and not degrade the loyal defenders
of the Union by compelling them to
repair the damages committed by
traitors in their efforts to overthrow
the Government. The Government is
10th to make internal improvements
for the loyal North ; arc southern
traitors more worthy Of such benefits !?
Are reconstructed rebels who have
tried to ruin the country for over four
years, and have not paid cent of tax
to defray the general expenses OF the
Government, but who were the cause
of enormous taxes to be paid by loyal
parties, better entitled to receive the
benefits of its expenditure. than those
who have for over four years struggled
hard to uphold the supremacy of the
stars and stripes over the whole land
and who were almost crushed under
the heavy burden Of taxation, neces
STATED by the very men who are now
to receive its benefits