Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-06-11
rRIvoLOUs REASONS.

lH(1AN1A llt<o wv COAtAC0 0ce~~S-%N-
differed and commanded by colored
majors.
1t is admitted that these organizes
tions have attained q high degree OF
efficiency under their colored com
manders. who have labored night and
day without financial compensation to
attain this result.
A war is now in progress and the call
for white volunteers has not been re-
sponded to in some states with that
alacrity which was to have been ex-
speeted.
A second call has been made and the
Chief Executive of this state has ten
dered these two colored battalions to
the national government.
The national government has ex-
pressed willingness to receive them
The positions which from q financial
standpoint Of view have been worth
less now become lucrative.
Immediately there is q demand from
the negotiating element that the
colored officers be made to step aside
and white men who do not know the
companies. or had any part in their in
struction shall be appointed majors,
captains, lieutenants, etc.
This is done too in the face of the
fact that the second, third and fourth
regiments of Virginia Volunteers have
white officers. There is not colored
officer in any oftheso white companies.
Now it is proposed 20 draw the color
line, violate the Fourteenth Amend.
ment to the Constitution of the United
States by removing the officers, be-
cause they are colored. and appoint
others in their stead because they ar'
white.
No wonder that the Chief Executive
Of the state who, but few days ago
swore to recognize the civil and politi
cal equality of all men before the Law
stands sghast at such q proposition
and refuses to violate the guarantee
OF. the Constitution of the Unite'
States and the Bill of Rights of Viz
ginia.
The Richmond, Va, DISPATCH in it
issue of Sunday. June 9Th, 1898 says:
"All the fighting that has been don
in this country by cclored soldiers ha
been done under white officers. Tha
such soldiers proved serviceable to tn
Federal Government during the 1881
'65 period, and have done well in som
> OF our recent Indian wars, we al
ready to concede, from the informs
! ton in our possession. But they al
yet TO be tried as fi2hters under off
: GERS of their own color"
. Is it any more now to try them 1
Q fighters under their own officers ths
! it was to try them as fighters undo
9 white officers in 1861-'65 2
: 1t was a successful experiment. D'
: fore why should it not be q successi
experiment now?
= MARTIN r. DELANEY, q colored SC
q der was raised to the rank of msj
= on account of his bravery on the fiel
and at no time were the army otticis
is led to believe that they had made
{, mistake.
II Sergeant CARNEY of the 54th Mass
e, chusetts volunteers lives to-day to t.
Is the story that "the old flag new
- touched the ground"
The DISPATCH says:
. 'sThe United States Governmel
- with four Negro regiments in its 81
OS vice, has never yet thought proper
K officer them otherwise than WI
whites"
10, Even if this were true, it is only
n much to the discredit of the Unit
States Government.
as Democratic Virginia has been mt
IN liberal to its colored citizen soldier
10 The reason however is found IN
hit fact that regulars" in the Uni
e. States Army are commanded only
lis West Point graduates, and few colo
men have been able to run the gauni
sn, of prejudice and reach the goal.
up The companies have all been effci
and the removal of captain co
yar alone make room for the lone Al
by American representative Of that in
Oh tuition now in active service.
So We refer to Lieutenant CHAR
led YOUNG, who has been detailed ss n
raj tary instructor at Wilberforce, o.
wv University. He is now Major OF
o5 Ohio Regiment of Volunteers.
the 1t says:
les "The Chicago Tribune answers
60 question quite cRndidly when at 8
up the whites have not much lconflde
the IN the natural ability of blacks to G
SER mand troops in war"
, "a Well, so much the worse for the
D in cago TRIBUNE, and all Of the peopl
nay Illinois, who are 50 unfortunate
~ think the same way
Democratic VirRinains, ex-slave o
oft ers, ex-Confederates Ito the mi
;oaI born" who know the Negro, bel
the him capable of commanding any
,.rd of colored men from a compan
! 20 cooks or walters as chief cook or b
60 waiter to . battalion or regiment
oolored soldiers IS major or col
hed commanding.
IoV-l The following istOo puerile and