The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-07-05

Escaping from the dreary planta-
tionS of the South, where, for years,
they had longed TO see banner of
freedom, and hear the tramp of arm
cd hosts. they at once seized the mus
ket and marched out to fight; and
how bravely they fought let Miilken's
Bend, Port Hudson, Pittsburgh Lam
ding and Charleston answer. They
bad been through all the war, our
only loyal allies they were guides
TO our armies, and friends to our
soldiers. No wretched prisoner, es-
Gaping from the slow torture ofAn-
Jacksonville or Belle Isle, but knew.
as soon as he saw black face, that
he haG met a friend-a friend that
fed, concealed and guided him back
TO life and home.
/ remember conversing with sol
dier from one Of our regiments, on
this subject, and he told me that he
had been taken prisoner, and after
suffering the tortures of damned, at
Andersonyille, he succeeded in max
ing his escape. He was wretchedly
weak and liz, covered with sores and
clothed in rags. He hid in woods
and swamps by day, and but for the
assistance he received from negroes
he would have perished. He never
hesitated to approach q slave, tell
his story and solicit help. He was
never betrayed, and always assisted.
On one occasion while being guided
by friendly black, they were pur-
sued by rebels assisted by blood
hounds. The soldier, Campbell, was
too weak and i'll to fly with much
hope of success; and the slave said
to him 'cross de run massa, and hide,
de dogs II follow me--deys taught
to hunt de niggers-' My friend
obeyed and escaped. Long alter,
accompanying our victorious army in
its march to the sea, passing through
the same country, he went in search
of the humble friend, who had saved
his life, and found after diligent in
quiry. that the dogs followed and
overlook the poor negro, and he was
shot and torn to piece.
My friends, YOU who had to re-
main at home through the war, while
your loved one marched and fought;
you who sat lonely and desolate by
the fire at night, and thought sor-
rowfully of the one nearest and best
who watched by that other fire in
the distant camp; you who turned
snd turned in bed and prayed in ag-
ony to God to spare that loved one /;
you who seized the morning journal
with trembling, eager hands, and read
through tears. the list of the killed
and wounded, fearing that the name
so dear might he among the list,
remember now the only friend he
had was the humble negro, who
warned him of danger, fed him when
hungry, was his nurse while sick,
and his guide from death when an
escaped prisoner, and do not desert
him now that he appeals to yon Tor
help. If we do We are unworthy our
success, and will so down to the Ia
test generation by-word, OF scorn,
Il disgrace 10 humanity.
He only asks the ballot at your
hands. Give him that, and he is well
armed for self-protection. 1t is said
that the master at the South will
control that vote. / care not. He
can have that control only through
kindness, and that is all that con-
tend for. .......
This is the process through which
we propose to elevate the race. Give
the poorest wretch that walks share
in the control of our government,
and you infuse a manhood into his
form and self-respect into his soul.
Take the poorest, meanest foreigner
who comes to our shores, and con-
trast this man with himself five years
after. Itwas an Irishman who, look
ing at a machine breaking stone, ex-
claimed Z" Be the powers, ye may
break stone like the devil: We may
take me bread out of me mouth: but,
be jabbers, We can't vote" There
was consolation in that.
We cannot violate the plainest
principles underlying the govern
ment, that upon which our fathers
fought out their hard fights, that
claims representation for taxation,
and expect to retain our government
as it was given to US, and as we hope
to hand it down ID our children.
We can not oppress the negro with
out trampling on our own rights, and
to be safe ourselves we are forced to
be just to him.