Arming the Blacks: 1862

Source: Pacific Commercial Advertiser: September 18, 1862, 4th page.

The policy of declaring general emancipation of the slaves of rebels and of employing them in the Union armies to aid in crushing the rebellion, is fast gaining friends in Congress and the country. Its adoption has long been looked upon as only a question of time, should the war last; and it would perhaps have been decided upon before this except for the radical fanatics who ceaselessly vituperate everybody who did not believe the time had come when it was wise or necessary to employ that element of power. There are a few thoughtful men who have ever taken ground against employing the negroes except upon argument of temporary expediency. When the time for using the blacks shall have forced itself upon the country, few loyal men will be found to oppose it; and that time seems to be rapidly approaching if the rebellion shall long continue to maintain its formidable proportions. An interesting debate on this subject occurred in the Senate on Wednesday last. Senators Grimes of Iowa, Sherman of Ohio, Fessenden of Maine, Rice of Minn., and Wilson of Mass., spoke strongly in favor of arming the slaves; Senators Saulsbury of Delaware and Carlisle of Va., opposed it; Senator Collamer argued that the laws confined the militia to white men; Senator Davis of Ky., opposed employing negroes as soldiers, but would use them as laborers; and Senator King of New York proposed to receive into the service persons of African descent, "for the purpose of constructing intrenchments or other camp service or labor for which they are fitted." The question was treated entirely in its practical bearings, and with a view to legislation for filling up the new requisition of troops called for by the President. The speakers were very serious, and their views were evidently greatly affected by the recent rebel doings on the Peninsula. There was strong opposition to what was called the "white-kid-gloved," "rosewater" mode of conducting the war; and Mr. Sherman argued that we "could not fight against savages unless we become part savage ourselves," and that "rather than that the Union should be destroyed, he would organize a great army of black men and desolate every Southern State." Other speakers were not behind this in strength of expression or in determination to adopt any and every means to put down the rebellion.