Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1870-06-30

joicng. Many n Union soldier,
lost in the confusion Of battle, or
escaped from his captors, or pris-
on, owes his safety and his life to
the fidelity and devotion Of this
people, And / have yet to find a
single instance in which the Union
soldier put his trust in the negro
and was ever betrayed, or asked
him for relief and was turned emp
ty away. So far from il that early
in the war, and all through it, the
soldiers learned that a black skin
always covered a loyal heart, And
the history Of the war, when fully
and truly written, will be full of
heroic deeds of Christian charity
and self denial of the black slaves
of the South, beside which the
boasted conduct Of some enlight-
ened Christians might pale and be
put to shame.
The negro was a problem Of
much difficulty all through the war !;
and we approached 10 solution un-
til on the lst day Of January, 1863,
President Lincoln struck the right
chord, and issued his historic proc
Ilamation ofemancipation,p proclaim
ing to the slave his freedom, and
at the same time opening up the
way Of service to the country. And
scarcely had that proclamation he.
come dry and the telegraph flashed
/ the news all over the land, until the
negro, with musket and knapsacIl,
was stepping joyfully into the
rank, and marching to the music
of the Union.
need not recount, for history
/ has already made record Of their
valiant deeds at Port Hudson, Hell
ena, Millillan's Bend, Petersburgh,
Fort Wagner, Fort Pillow, Fort
Fisher, and Richmond.
/ The whole history of the war,
from the Potomac to the Chata-
houchie, and from the Chatahouchie
to the San Jacinto, effulgent as it
is with the heroic deeds of our
arms, bears emblazoned on its every
page the record of the valor and
heroism of the blacb man. A
Birth within the dominion, and
Ilcgiance of the Government, con
stitutes citizenship; and natural
allegiance is due from all men so
born, which cannot be forfeited,
cancelled, or altered by any change
I.of time, place, or circumstances.
AstaIt is "a morim that man can
not abjure his native country, nor
the allegiance which he owes there
to; and the reason is that the very
existence and welfare of a State
would he endangered ii its natural
born subjects could withdraw, or
transfer, with impunity, that natur-
al allegiance which the law of ev-
cry nation has rendered perpetual
and unnlieaable.
And for this allegiance, the Gov
ernment owes, in return to the cit
izen, full protection in his per
son, property, privileges, rights
and immunities.
And because the Government eX
acts this perpetual and unalienab'e
allegiance from all citizens ocjth
out distinction Qfrace or color, II
poa1d be failing to .talfl its duty
and its purpose fH did not protect,
IN all citizens, faH and e1aal rights,
Ipr{Uaeges and immuatties, soithOat
ann distinction Of race or color.
Upon the cololed citizen born
within the jurisdiction Of the Uni
ted States, this allegiance devolves.
There are no degrees Of allegiance,
Each citizen, of whatever race or
lanlar, owas all chat he is and has,
| (if need be) to his country; and
OUGHT to be entitled, in return, to
the full protection of, and guaranty
by the Government, of all the rights
of every other citizen.
The colorcd citizen has been
faithful to his obligations, and rem
dcred, without stint, this allegiance,
but hitherto has never received the
consideration,
Many, very many white citizens who
had been the favored ofthe land; fed
upon the public bounty, and edu-
Gated at the public expense-men
who had grown opulent from pub
lie patronage, and great from pub
lie favors and emoluments men
upon whom the Government had |
lavished with prodigal hand her
honors, dignities, and opportuni-
ties, while hundreds and thousands |
of better, ADLER, and more deserv-
ing men had passed unhonored and
unnoticed without complaint
basely forsook the country in the
time of her distress. Aye, more,
plotted and conspired for her over
throw, organized rebellion against
her, took up arms TO destroy her,
and smcte her nigh unto death with |
the same-hand that had received |
her bounties and benelactions while
the colored population of this coun-
try, almost without exception, who,
in the past, had received nothing
but stripes and derision, and who
had little to hope for in the future,
stood steadfastIy and faithfully by
the Government.
Since the war closed. no question
awakened more solcitude, or at
tracted more general consideration
than the question so lately dispos
ad Of what shall he the future STA