The Daily Manchester American

Of Negroes in the Ranks. What a cry by the Traitor Party in the North, because the Government proposes to employ negroes to aid in putting down the rebellion! It is according to their declaration the deepest of crimes. Why the Executive proposes to save the country from destruction; to keep the invaders from Northern soil, and our homes from desolation, by receiving negroes into the army, and all at once the northern rebels are horror-stricken at the thought, and cry out against it. They disregard the precedents of Washington and of Jackson. They have no words of reproof for the old war heroes who not only made use of negro soldiers, but complimented them for their bravery in battle. They forget that the rebels at this very time are forcing the negro into the ranks of their army. Ah! this is the secret of their opposition. They are willing the enemy should use them, the more the better, until they compel the whole slave population capable of bearing arms to go into the Southern army. Then our army will be out-numbered, and the rebel chances for success be increased. This is the secret of their anxiety. The employment of negroes by the President improves our prospects for success. Hence the Democratic tears.

Here is a letter, affording evidence that the rebels are doing the same thing which our home traitors condemn in the Federal government. Of course they approve the action of their Southern friends:

Washington, D. C. Feb. 2, 1863.

Dear Sir; While at Yorktown, soon after its evacuation by the rebels I was informed that during the siege, the guns in those fortifications were manned and served by negroes, who were recognized as soldiers in the rebel army.

A few days subsequently, at West Point, the day after the fight at that place, I was informed by some of our officers and men engaged in that fight, that during the engagement our forces encountered a full company of negroes, armed and equipped, serving in the rebel army; that said negro soldiers drove a portion of our forces into a swamp and deliberately cut the throats of our officers and men, and that our troops caught one of these negroes with a commission in his pocket for a lieutenancy in the rebel army, signed by Jeff. Davis.

At Mechanicsville a full regiment of blacks was seen under drill, in full view of our lines, for several days.

The above facts were well known and often spoken of. All this, if true, shows conclusively that there does not seem to be any nice question with Davis as to the equality of blacks, such at least as is now raised in Congress by his friends on the same question.

Yours truly,
THOS. W. BEARDSLEE.