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864 DOUGLASS' MONTHLY. JUNE, 1863 [[line]] [[three columns]] [[column 1]] or he who welcomes the sufferings and perils of the soldiers; I, who know the rebels but by hearing of them, or he, who knows them by seeing and feeling them; I, who but read of the battles, or he, who has part in them--then, in the name of reason and religion, let it be I and not he. GERRIT SMITH. Peterboro, April 20th, 1863. [[line]] FIFTY FOURTH (COLORED) REGIMENT. [[short line]] A CARD.--The Committee appointed by His Excellency the Governor to assist in the recruiting of this regiment, desire to state to the public that they are greatly in need of funds to facilitate the object of their appointment. Owing to the sparseness of the colored population in Massachusetts, men were sought at distant points, whose transportation and subsistence are defrayed by the Committee. Not unfrequently recruits are rejected by the surgeon, and the expense of their return home is likewise borne by the Committee. Notwithstanding this, the expense attending the organization of this regiment is believe to be much less than that of any other which has left the State. The aid furnished by the State for recruiting is comparatively limited, as it is based on the supposition of the recruits being found mainly within the Commonwelth. Contributions to the fund will be thankfully received by the Treasurer and Secretary, Richard P. Hallowell, Esq., 98 Federal Street, Boston. The following named gentlemen constitute the Committee:--George L. Stearns, John M. Forbes. Wm. I. Bowditch, Amos A. Lawrence, LeBarron Russell, Charles W. Slack, Richard P. Hallowell. Boston, March 30, 1863. [[line]] CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE FIFTY-FOURTH, COLORED REGIMENT. [[short line]] I have received in aid of the 54th regiment the following sums, not previously acknowledged, viz: John S. Emory, $10; John H. robinson, $1; Charles E. Allen, 50 cents; E. W. Kinsley, $5; S. Urbino, $15; Mrs. Urbino, $5; Pond & Duncklee, $30; Rev. C. A. Bartol, $10; U. and J. Ritchie, $50; John H. Cabot, $7; Mary E. Cabot, $3; Mary P. Payson, $1; Thomas Drew, $2; Mrs. Frederick Tudor, $10; Miss P. Adams, $5; Mrs. H. N. Holland, $5; Miss S. P. Beck, $2; Miss M. A. Haliburton, $1; Samuel Johnson, $50; A Friend, $5. Also from Malden Picket Guard, 56 towels, 54 hdkfs.; Mrs. Barstow, 3 pairs of socks; Mary P. Payson, 3 pairs of socks; J. B. Whitmore, 7 barrels of apples; Miss Dana, socks; Rice, Kendall & Co., package of stationary. J. H. STEVENSON, Treasurer For the Committee. 12 Arch St., April 20, 1863. [[line]] MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. [[short line]] SOUTHERN ENGINEERS.--The negro soldiers in the Department of the Gulf having already proved themselves efficient and obedient soldiers, it has been determined to turn their mechanical skill to account. Recent letters from Baton Rouge report that a regiment of negro engineers is now organizing at that point. When filled, this regiment will consist of over twelve hundred able-bodied men, who will be attached to the engineer corps of the Department, and be employed in bridge and road building, under the instruction of competent officers. The blacks are proud of the trust reposed in them, and whenever they are employed in military duty give ample proof of intelligence, industry, and capacity. Their first detail for the difficult and important service of the engineer department of the army is an important experiment, the results of which will be observed with curious interest. The best skilled labor of the Southern plantations was that of negro mechanics, whose [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] aptness and dexterity, even under the oppressive rule of the slavemasters, was such as to secure enormous prices for the 'likely blacksmiths,' 'excellent carpenters,' and good workmen, whose qualifications were once so glowingly set forth in the advertising columns of the Richmond, Charleston, and New Orleans papers. In a state of freedom these men possess inducements which they never had under the rule of slavery, and they will be likely to give a good account of themselves. ANTI-SLAVERY IN NEW ORLEANS.--There is a certain growth of anti-slavery sentiment in this city. Denunciations of 'the institution,' as the cause of all our troubles may be heard in nearly every public assembly, and they invariably find a response in the audiences to which they are addressed. At a public exhibition, a day or so ago, of the Girl's High School, at which the board of directors were present, Mr. Charles Horner, president of the board, made an address of some length, in which slavery was held up as the sole cause of the rebellion. 'It had been tolerated and endured by Washington, Jefferson and Madison, and other great men who helped frame our government, but had never been encouraged or kindly regarded by them. But it had grown proud and insolent, until it finally said: Give me all I demand, or I will destroy the country. It not only demanded especial privileges in the Slave States, but particular protection in the free and distant territories. The aggressive spirit had produced this revolution. The speaker contended the loyal Union men are the revolutionists. We are making this revolution to fee our country from the besetting sin of slavery, and to take our place among the foremost of nations, blessed with wealth, power, education, and really free institutions [[cut off]] And this, [[???]] to a New Orleans audience, was hailed with applause.--Cor. Evening Post. 'HONOR TO WHOM HONOR.'--When the gunboat Washington was disabled by a shot from a rebel battery near Beaufort, S. C, all escaped but Lieut. Belding, of the Rhode Island Artillery, two of his men, and eight or ten of the wounded. Soon afterward the vessel took fire from a rebel shell, and the flames were fast reaching the magazine, when Lieut. B. called to the escaped on shore for a boat to take off the wounded. The danger was imminent, as well from the shot of the enemy as from the explosion threatened, and no one ventured to respond to the cry for help. At length a negro volunteered, and he proceeded alone to the vessel, and succeeded in rescuing all the wounded, who, in a few moments, but for his aid, would have perished. One such act should redeem a whole race from bondage. --Mr. George Livermore has circulated at his own expense about four thousand copies of the elegant edition of his work on the Opinions of the Founders of the Republic on Negroes as Slaves, as Citizens, and as Soldiers. He is now about to publish a cheaper edition for sale. No better work can be conceived to correct the mad prejudices, and cool the hot passions of the hour. He has received numerous letters in recognition of the merits and usefulness of his work and among other interesting tokens, the identical pen with which President Lincoln signed the immortal Proclamation of Freedom to three million of Slaves, which is deposited in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society. --In Pennsylvania, the Senate Committee have reported the following: 'There has not been, nor is there now, any cause to apprehend the influx of any perceptible number of blacks and mulattoes into this State; for observation and the experience of the [[/column 2]] [[column 3]] pas two years, prove that, though thousands of Slaves have been liberated, they prefer remaining near the place of their late servitude to migrating to the colder and more inhospitable climate of the North. Only let them be assured that their liberty will be secured and protected at the South, and no apprehension need exist that they select our State as their future permanent home.' --Gen. Fremont came very near being a victim to the popular enthusiasm he creates, on the afternoon of the great Sumter meeting. When leaving the stand he was instantly surrounded by a large crowd, which has improvised a platform for the purpose of carrying him around the square. With great effort and the assistance of the police he was able to extricate himself from the throng and reach his home, in Fourth avenue. In response to the acclamations of the people he then made a few remarks, when they departed with three times three. --The Leavenworth (Kansas) Conservative is jubilant over the election of Col. Anthony as Mayor of that city. Among the lines, printed in big capitals, and standing over its announcement of the results, are the following: 'The Army of the Lord.' 'Bonfires and Illuminations!' 'John Brown Vindicated!' And this is what passes for a 'Conservative victory in Kansas! Well, the world certainly does move. --A letter lately received at Washington says that within twenty-four hours after General Thomas' great speech at Helena, Arkansas, 1,500 colored men in that vicinity were recruited. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed among the white soldiers at this remarkable demonstration of military spirit by the negroes. --Thomas Sims, the fugitive slave who was returned from Boston to slavery some years ago, arrived back on the 24th instant, having escaped from the rebels at Vicksburg. --J. Mercer Langston, Esq., of Oberlin, has gone West on a recruiting tour for the Massachusetts 54th regiment. THE COPPERHEADS BADLY STIRRED UP BY A WOMAN.--The Copperhead organs are very wroth and hiss dreadfully at Miss Dickinson who assisted so materially in carrying Connecticut for the Union in the late election and who addressed a crowded audience in Cooper Institute on Wednesday evening. The World is terribly excited, which is an indication that the blows of the fair orator pierced the scaly hide of the great Copperhead. It says: Shall we say that some thousand men with beards assembled to hear a person without a beard pour forth a stream of foolish loquacity? But even parrots are not held guiltless when thoy blaspheme. Their necks are wrung in the interest of domestic morality, And when a woman with the same measure of moral responsibility rattles an with such odious and inhuman sentiments, she can expect little less immunity. --General Hunter, a few weeks ago, made a communication to General Beauregard, giving him formal notice that he should retaliate promptly every outrage or wrong done to any of our black South Carolina or Florida troops who might fall into rebel hands; and he added what was perhaps the most effective part of his threat, that in choosing rebel prisoners upon whom to retaliate, he proposed carefully to select those who owned the greatest number of slaves. Thus, for every black soldier Beauregard hangs--according to his threat--General Hunter will hang two slaveholders. There will not be many black soldiers hanged by Beauregard. --Adjutant General Thomas recently reviewed the regiments under Gen. Buford, at Cairo and subsequently made a speech to the soldiers, in which he took occasion to disclose one of his objects in visiting the Southwest. It was the policy of the Government to deprive the rebels [[/column 3]]
