Banks on African soldiers.
A contemporary says:
‘
"
Banks publishes an order, dated the 1st, at
Opelousas, in which he announces his purpose to organize a "corps d'armee of colored troops," to consist of eighteen regiments of all arms — infantry, cavalry, and artillery — limited to five hundred men each.
He quotes
Thiers and Chambray as authority that the 'valor of the soldier is rather acquired than natural.' Much depends upon the influence of the officers, and he proposes to detach for permanent or temporary duty in the organization of this corps.
Banks argues the question of negro soldiers from a law point of view for an Abolitionist.
He says: ‘'The Government makes use of mules, horses, uneducated and educated white men, in the defence of its institutions.
Why should not the negro contribute whatever is in his power for the cause in which he is as deeply interested as other men?
We may properly demand from him whatever service he can render.'’"
’
True enough. "Whatever service he can render." Coffee has always been made to render to the
Yankee Doodles.
They "demanded from him" that he should leave his native wilds in
Africa; subjected him to all the horrors of the middle passage; brought him to
America; sold the half-baked savage to the
Southern planter; "demanded" and received the highest cash price for the article; and from his first introduction into
America down to the very day of the dissolution of the
Union, were the only
Americans engaged in the slave trade.
They have built up their factories and commerce by his labor, and in the meantime, the chattel having become civilized
Christian, and industrious, they naturally desire to steal him back, so that they can sell him again to
Cuba at the increased valuation which he has derived from his Southern residence.
Having taken all the trouble to bring him from
Africa, and had him properly educated in a school of civilization, who can deny that they may properly "demand from him whatever services he can render?"
Nor does another proposition of the philanthropic
Banks admit of question. "The Government makes use of mules, horses, uneducated and educated white men in the defence of its institutions.
Why should not the negro contribute whatever is in his power for the cause in which he is as deeply interested as other men?" The British Government in the war of the Revolution made use of animals and educated and uneducated white men.--Why did
Banks's ancestors complain that they also made use of
Indians, a superior race to the black man?
And, besides, if the United States Government can make use of
Butler and
Banks, why not of negroes?
The negro is a superior being to the
Yankees and
Butlers.
He is naturally more of a gentleman, and by education and association more refined and humans than either of those white savages.
Banks may spare his apologies.
After employing such instruments as the present and late
Military Governors of New Orleans, the adoption of negroes is a step upwards in the
Yankee mode of conducting war.
Nor was it necessary that
Banks should quote
Thiers and Chambray as authority that the "valor of the soldier is rather acquired than natural." We doubt the truth of the maxim in its application to Southern soldiers, but the history of this war demonstrates its applicability to
Banks and his brother myrmidons.
The manner in which the
Yankees made tracks from
Manassas, and the fleetness of foot displayed by
Banks when
Jackson thundered after him in the
Valley, is evidence enough that the valor of those men was not "natural." But that it might be "acquired" under certain circumstances is illustrated by the ferocious order with which the same men make war upon women and children.
Let no man, however worthlessly destitute of name, ever despair of becoming a hero after the cowardice with which
Banks fled from
Jackson, and the superhuman valor with which he now chases refugees from New Orleans.
