June 20, 1863, The New York Herald
The bold and rapid movement of the rebel army of Virginia into the State of Pennsylvania calls for prompt and decisive action on the part of the Governors of the Northern States. This is the time to put all our available forces into the field. The rebels have determined to convert this movement into one of the greatest strokes of the war; but it depends greatly on the Governors of the loyal States whether the attempt shall be frustrated or not. For a long time past we have heard of the great masses of negro soldiers that might be brought into the field. Why not bring them on now? From the city of New York alone it is easy to raise several thousands of able-bodied negroes, who may just as well be killed in the field as not. They should be made to know something about the price at which liberty is bought. While our white soldiers are being sacrificed by the shot and shell of the enemy, what excuse is there to offer for the exclusion of the blacks from the same dangerous though unremunerating service? Why not send the recruiting sergeant up Church street and West Broadway to seize these fellows, and compel them to take a part in the practical application of the emancipation programme? If they have been so long spoiling for a fight, as Greeley says, they now have the chance to show their courage and to assist the cause so thoroughly espoused by their abolition brethren.
The rebels are now threatening the national capital. The march through Pennsylvania promises to be a very destructive one. The duty of the Governors of different States is, then, to call out every available fighting man at a very short notice. We have heard a good deal about the ability and bravery of negro soldiers. We have the opportunity to make them useful and to prove this boast. Let Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania; Governor Seymour, of New York and Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts, immediately call every able-bodied negro into the field. All that is required to resist the tide of invasion is a sufficient force to repel the rebel invaders. There are thousands of negroes lying idle about New York and other Northern cities, who may just as well be taken into the army for fighting purposes. In case they are killed they will die for liberty. But under any circumstances let them come, and come at once. We have no objection to them at present. Let them be drafted from all sides, because they are the first cause of the war, and by a parity of reasoning, they ought to be made to take their part in it.
The government, it is to be hoped, may safely rely on Cheever and Greeley. These agitators will be surely on hand in the hour of need. All their preaching for the last quarter of a century will be of little value if they cannot now perform one practical act. Beecher and Greeley have long since been threatening all kinds of danger to the republic if their programme was not carried out, and now Greeley has the best opportunity in the world to put his 900,000 soldiers in the field.
For our own part we care nothing about slavery or anti-slavery. All that we desire is that forces enough of any color, or no color, should be provided without delay to check the northward arch of the Southern army. Let the Governors of New York and Massachusetts call every available negro and everything else into the field. If these dreamers of Liberty want protection they must fight for it. This is the only way by which Mr. Lincoln and his Cabinet may be saved. We certainly care very little about the present Cabinet; but we would not exactly like to see them arrested and carried off as prisoners to the Libby prison, to the Tobacco Warehouse or to Castle Thunder, in Richmond. To prevent such a catastrophe every reserve must be brought into the field; and we think that in this crisis negro soldiers of all ages should be received, as they are just as good for killing as anybody else.