on this because I have frequently heard it objected to the scheme
of embodying negroes, that they are too stupid to make soldiers. This
is so far from appearing to me a valid objection, that I think their
want of cultivation (for their natural faculties are as good as ours),
joined to that habit of subordination which they acquire from a life
of servitude will enable them sooner to become soldiers than our white
inhabitants. Let officers be men of sense and sentiment, and the
nearer the soldiers approach to machines, perhaps the better.

"I foresee that this project will have to combat much opposition from
prejudice and self-interest. The contempt we have been taught to
entertain for the blacks, makes us fancy many things that are founded
neither in reason nor experience; and an unwillingness to part with
property of so valuable a kind, will furnish a thousand arguments to
show the impracticability, or pernicious tendency, of a scheme which
requires such sacrifices. But it should be considered, that if we do
not make use of them in this way, the enemy probably will; and that
the best way to counteract the temptations they will hold out, will be
to offer them ourselves. An essential part of the plan is, to give
them their freedom with their swords. This will secure their fidelity,
animate their courage, and, I believe, will have a good influence upon
those who remain, by opening a door to their emancipation.

"This circumstance, I confess, has no small weight in inducing me to
wish the success of the project; for the dictates of humanity and true
policy equally interest me in favor of this unfortunate class of men.

"While I am on the subject of Southern affairs, you will excuse the
liberty I take in saying, that I do not think measures sufficiently
vigorous are pursuing for our defence in that quarter. Except the few
regular troops of South Carolina, we seem to be relying wholly on the
militia of that and two neighboring States. These will soon grow
impatient of service and leave our affairs in a miserable situation.
No considerable force can be uniformly kept up by militia, to say
nothing of the many obvious and well-known inconveniences that attend
this kind of troops. I would beg leave to suggest, sir, that no time
ought to be lost in making a draught of m