Kosciusko, the gallant Pole, was young when the news reached his ear
that America was endeavoring to release her neck from Britain's yoke.
He promptly devoted himself to the service, and displayed a heroism
which won universal respect. Washington loved and honored him, and
the soldiers idolized his bravery; but his manly heart was saddened
to learn that the Colored man was not to be a recipient of those
rights--rights, too, which many a sable soldier had fought to obtain,
and Kosciusko naturally presumed that when the victory was achieved,
all, irrespective of Color or accidental difference, would be freely
invited to the banquet.
But this unsophisticated Polish General was doomed to disappointment.
Kosciusko, with the feeling that all Americans should have been proud
to exhibit--but, sad to tell, few did so--endeavored to render some
signal compensation to those with whose wrongs his own had taught
him to sympathize; and, as a grateful tribute to the neglected and
forgotten Colored man, he appropriated $20,000 of his hard earnings to
purchase and educate Colored children. But, by the laws of Virginia
where the bequest was to be carried into effect, this generous object
was defeated.
On the last visit to the United States of this illustrious donor, the
will was put into the hands of Thomas Jefferson, who was appointed
Executor, to purchase slaves and educate them, so as, in his own words,
"to make them better sons and better daughters." Jefferson transferred
the same to Benjamin L. Lear. In 1830, the bequest then amounting
to $25,000 was claimed by the legal heirs of the donor. Interested
parties subsequently recommended that the fund, if recovered, should be
employed by the trustees in buying and educating Slave children, with
the view of sending them to Liberia; an object far enough at variance
from the donor's intention.
This matter has been in litigation a long time, and I have been unable
to learn the conclusion. The chain of circumstances reminds me of the
following question, once put to a Florida planter of twenty-five years
standing:--
"Has any property left by will to any Colored person ever been
honestly and fairly administered by any white person?" Mark his
answer: "Such instances might possibly have happened, but never to my
knowledge."
Within a recent period, several companies of Colored men in New York
City have enrolled themselves "a la militaire." The New York "Tribune"
of August, 1852, awards them the following commendation:
"Colored Soldiers.--Among the many parades within a few days we
noticed yesterday a soldierly looking company of Colored men, on their
way homeward from a target or parade drill. They looked like men,
handled their arms like men, and should occasion demand, we presume
they would fight like men.
"At the New Bedford celebration August 1, 1851, of British West India
Emancipation, the procession was escorted by a Colored Company of
Cadets from New York. Among the civilities extended in honor of the
day was an invitation to the military and strangers to visit the
splendid residence and ornamental grounds of James Arnold, Esq.,
who, with his family, tendered the utmost kindness and courtesy in
exhibiting the beauties of nature and art that so lavishly adorn this
New Bedford palace. Rodney French, Esq., also with characteristic
courtesy threw open the doors of his hospitable mansion to the
military visitors, and a few invited guests. These voluntary
manifestations of good will, at once honorable to the donors and
grateful to the recipients should be accepted as a harbinger for a
better day coming.
"A number of the chivalric portion of Colored Bostonians have also
been taking initiatory steps for a military company, and accordingly
petitioned the Legislature for a charter, the claims of which were
presented by Charles Lenox Remond and Robert Morris, Esq., but like
the prayers of the Attucks petitioners, they, too, had leave to
withdraw."
"I can wait," were the memorable words of John Quincy Adams when his
free speech was stopped on the floor of Congress.
The world will bear witness that we have waited; and oh, how patiently!
We have learned how sublime a thing it is to suffer and be strong; but
though familiar with we shall never grow reconciled to the discipline.
"Our hearts, though often times made to bleed, will gush afresh at
every wound."
The treatment meted out to us in this country, is but an illustration
of hating those whom we have injured, and calls to mind that scene
from Waverly, where Fergus Mac Iver replies to his friend on being
led to execution. "You see the compliment they pay to our highland
strength and courage; here we have lain until our limbs are cramped
into palsy and now they send a file of soldiers with loaded muskets
to prevent our taking the castle by storm." The analogy is found in
the omnipresent and omnipotent influence of American Pro-Slavery in
crushing every noble aspiration of the unoffending Colored men.
But despite the reign of terror inflicted upon us by the combined
influences of the Fugitive Slave Law, and the American Colonization
Society, we shall manfully contend for our rights, and as hopefully
bide our time, trusting that an enlightened public sentiment will soon
yield us the Justice so long withheld; so far as in Nature the smiles
of summer are made sweeter by the frowns of winter, the calm of ocean
is made more placid by the tempest that has preceded it, so in this
moral battle these incidental skirmishes will contribute to render the
hour of triumph soon a blissful realization. So sure as night precedes
day, winter wakes spring, and war ends with peace, just as sure will
the persevering efforts of Freedom's army be crowned with Victory's
perennial laurels.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the seven years conflict and
also the war of 1812, were both dotted by the devotion and bravery of
Colored Americans, despite the persecutions heaped Olympus high upon
them by their fellow countrymen. They have ever proved loyal and ready
to worship or die, if need be, at Freedom's shrine. The "amor patriae"
has always burned vividly on the altar of their hearts. They love their
native land, "its hills and valleys green." The white man's banquet has
been held and loud paeans to liberty have reached the sky above, while
the Colored American's share has been to stand outside and wait for the
crumbs that fall from Freedom's festive board.
A tribute, by an emancipator, being an extract from the will of A. P.
Upshur, a member of President Tyler's Cabinet:
"I make this as my last will and testament:
"1 * * * *--
"2 * * * *--
"3. I emancipate and set free, my servant, David Rich, and direct
my executors to give him one hundred dollars. I recommend him, in
the strongest manner, to the respect, esteem and confidence of any
community in which he may happen to live. He has been my Slave for
twenty-four years, during which time he has been trusted to every
extent, and in every respect. My confidence in him has been unbounded;
his relation to myself and family has always been such as to afford
him daily opportunities to deceive and injure us; and yet he has never
been detected in a serious fault, nor ever an intentional breach of
the decorums of his station. His intelligence is of a high order, his
integrity above all suspicion, and his sense of right and propriety
always correct and even delicate and refined. I feel that he is justly
entitled to carry this certificate from me, into the new relations
which he now must form. It is due to his long and most faithful
services and to the sincere and steady friendship which I bear him. In
the uninterrupted and confidential intercourse of twenty-five years, I
have never given, nor had occasion to give him, an unpleasant word. I
know no man who has fewer faults, or more excellencies, than he.