"As a class, they are peaceable, orderly, and respectable people, and many of them own large amounts of property among us. Their interests, their homes, and their affections, are here, and such strong ties are not easily broken by the force of theoretical philanthropy, or imaginative sentimentality. They have been true hitherto, and we will not do them the injustice to doubt a continuance of their fidelity. While they may be certain that insubordination will be promptly punished, deserving actions will always meet with their due reward in the esteem and gratitude of the community."
Heroism Rewarded.—A correspondent of the New York Observer, writing from the West, says:—
"Before leaving our boat, we must not omit to notice one of the waiters in the cabin. He is a man of history. That tall, straight, active, copper-colored man, with a sparkling eye and intelligent countenance, was Col. Clay's servant at Buena Vista. Fearless of danger, and faithful to his master, he attended the Colonel in the midst of the fatal charge, saw him fall from his horse, and, surrounded by the murderous Mexicans, at last carried the mangled dead body from the field. The Hon. Henry, in gratitude for such fidelity to his gallant son, has allowed this man to hire himself out for five years, and to retain half the proceeds, and at the end of that time gives him half his freedom."
That is, a human being perils his life to save the life or bear off the body of another human being, and for this act, he is to receive one half of his own earnings, for five years, and at the end of that time, to be made a present of to himself!—Boston Christian Register.
OHIO.
The colored citizens of Ohio held a Mass Convention at Cleveland, Sept. 8th, 1852. From their proceedings I cull the following incidents and tributes as peculiarly appropriate to a military history of colored Americans.
Rev. Dr. J. W. C. Pennington delivered a speech, of which Mr. Howland, a colored phonographic reporter, furnishes this sketch:—
"The Doctor took the stand and delighted the convention with a short, brilliant and instructive address on the history of the past, and the part which the colored people have taken in the struggles of this nation for independence and its various wars since its achievement.
"Mr. P. is a graduate of America's "Peculiar Institution." His graduation fees were paid only very recently by the beneficence of sundry English ladies and gentlemen; and his Doctorate of Divinity was conferred on him by one of the German Universities. Dr. Pennington claimed for his race the honor of being the first Americans whose bosoms were fired by the spirit of American Independence. And that claim, we think, he amply justified by documentary evidence.
"He read sundry antique papers, collected by him with great pains from the archives of the State of New York, showing, that some thousands of Colored people in that State, thirty years before the Declaration of Independence was promulgated, were charged by the King of Great Britain with conspiring against his authority, attempting to throw off their obedience to him, and seeking to possess themselves of the Government of the Colony of New York. Some of them were banished, and others hanged. Those Colored fathers of his, said the Rev. Doctor, attributed their Slavery to King George, and maintained their rights to freedom to be inviolable.
"Subsequently, when the white fathers of our Revolution, walking in the footsteps of their illustrious predecessors, declared against Britain's King, they said to his Colored fathers: That King did make you Slaves. Now come you and help us break his rule in this country, and that done, we'll all be free together.
"Dr. P. exhibited to the audience an autograph petition of the Colored people of Connecticut to the Government of Connecticut, presented immediately after the Revolutionary war, and praying that Government to comply with the promise which had been made them of freedom, and under which they had helped fight the battles of that war.
"He read, also, an autograph paper of George Washington, dismissing from the service of that war, with high recommendation of their courage and efficiency, several Colored men; and also certificates of a like character from numbers of officers, both naval and military, in both wars with England. We wish we could give Dr. P.'s whole speech, and especially in his own well-chosen words."