The negro and the Yankee Hangs the negro — and his opinion of him.
In our paper of Wednesday appeared a series of letters from correspondents of New York and
Philadelphia journals attached to the
Federal army in the
Peninsula.
They were dated in
New Kent county. One of them, dated at New Kent C. H, May 13th has the following paragraph, which we think worthy of special attention.
The reader should not overlook the closing sentence of the extract, wherein is displayed the predominating passion of the
Yankee for plunder.
The writer could not omit to state that the
Federal troops found a saw-mill conveniently located in New Kent, ‘"with plenty of lumber sawed."’ There is nothing so grateful to those cute and acquisitive people as to find a great deal of work done to their hand by other people, for which
they have nothing to pay. Therefore, it was almost impossible for him to omit the expression of his satisfaction as it was for him to omit to steal the property so opportunely ‘"found"’ where it was not lost, and where the true owner had built it and conducted his labor.
So the
Yankee finds the negro detestable because he murders in ‘"cold blood"’ and steals — vocations he thinks highly moral and justifiable while he pursues them himself; but he is determined if he can to monopolize them, and to allow no one else to interfere with his pursuits.
The poor negro, for whom he had affected so much commiseration, is not to share in an employment so lucrative.
With him, as he is one of God's chosen people, it is proper that the goods and the flocks and herds of the people should be taken for his support and comfort.
It is but serving the
Lord thus to promote the well being of his children.
But no one else must be allowed to enjoy the Divine permission to plunder and murder.
Not even the negro, whom he regards as better than any white people they who live in that paradise on earth,
New England.
So he must be hung; and he was hung for it. The following is the extract:
‘
"A negro, a very desperate character, was hung at
West Point, on the river, last Friday, for the cold blooded murder of two
Massachusetts soldiers.
He had caught them asleep alone, and murdered them for their money.--He was caught the next day, and was made to jump off the limb of a tree with a rope around his neck.
This murder, and other laitances of atrocity, cruelty, deceit, and ingratitude, on the part of negroes in camp, have completely cured the
Massachusetts soldiers of that negro worshipping mania of which they have hitherto been possessed.
They have repeatedly declared in my hearing, that they wished that the war could be conducted in such a manner as would leave the status of slavery just as it was before the war; for the slaves have proved themselves
utterly unworthy of freedom, and utterly unfit to be free.
And such, as, has been my experience in regard to them.
I committed to state above that our advanced troops up the Pemunbey found a saw mill at a convenient point up that stream, with plenty of number showed, and a large quantity of saw-logs all ready for the saw."
’
