Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-11-22
WHOLE NO. 3OS.
Rebel Militia and NEGRO Militia.


fering, for some months past. from an acute
attack Of negrophobis. Ills last severe
spasm was occasioned by report that
some negroes 10 Washington had been
amusing themselves by playing soldier. af-
ter the most approved militia style; go
ing through the motions Of militia
muster-haIf o! them using hoe handles
aud cornstalks for muskcts, aud the other
half sporting old flint lock and other dis
carded guns. There Is said TO be no law
OF the District Of Columbia authorizing
a "nigger' 10 carry hoe handle, unles
IL has veritable hoe nj the end a IT,.
and besides, suspicious had been whisper.
ed IN the ear of our plucky President
that the martial eolored citizens designed
their force of three or four hundred men,
with two hundred condemned musk cts
and their arsenal of hoe handles and
corn stalks, as part Of the grand Rad
ical army that is TO protect Congress from
being captured by Governor Swanl's
rebel, Maryland militia
This terrible conspiracy was moro than
tho "humble individual could endure.
There was no sound sleep for the august
occupant of tho White House, so long
rs these volunteer companies Of negroes
should exist ia his neichborhood; 90
Andrew, the man who has inveighed 40
much against violation OF the Constitu-
ti0n. aud uttered 80 many invectiyes
against the exercise Of arbitrary power,
sent General Omm an order 10 disband
the negro companies, who in due form
frar IA = mil fad A IN
bis subordinate. The latter made inquiry
into the alleged anti-Johnsonian con- pira-
cy, and reported that he found similar
organizations among the white cilizens
Of the District, aud that while ha had
notified the colored wing of the corn.smlk
miIitia not TO parade Ia public, he did
not see why they should be ordered 10
disband while all other classes Of citizens
are tolerated ia organizing similar com-
panies.
This report was forwarded by General
Grant TO the President, with an indorse
mont that as marital ia,c ao longer crisied
there, he was not able 10 find by what
authority he could order the disbsnd-
ment Of tho oolored companies.
NJ Here is problem for Binckley, Jerry
fBlack, and the apostles Of the Peace
Democracy" Of 1864 20 solve. They in
sisted that even in time OF war, the Con.
lstitution guaranteed 20 Knights of the
Golden Circle, Sons OF Liberty. aud all
other rebel organizations in the loyal
States, the right TO organize companies
and to bear arms for their own defense
against draft laws, and against military
arrests for conspiracy aud treason. They
then took the ground that neither the or
ganzation or srming were unlawful. aud
lihat the Government had no right 20 inter
l sfere until after they actually levied war
against it. as they claimed this immuni
~ for traitors while the country was at war
with rebels, they will be embarrassed TO
give plausible excuse for interfering by
military power with the corpsialk exercises
of the Washington companies Of colored
citizens
But f real Joe Bunsby opinion is
wanted by the excited occupant of the
Presidential mansion-one that can clearly
discriminate between the c0nstiluti nal
right of traitors to organize military com
panies 10 assist armed rebels. aud the un
constitutionality of volunteer negro com
panies in time of peace Buckley and
Jerry Black are the boys who can give il.
Ii all other remedial measures fail, we
suggest that the President issue his proc
lamation with at least eight whereases,
commanding the negro companies afore
said to disperse, burn their hoe handles
aud feed their martial corpstalks TO the
hungry cows Of the vicinage Then will
sleep return to the government palace aud
the country be saved from the peril with
which it is threatened by this formidable
black battalion Journal