Civil War Black Soldiers / 1863 Negro Soldiers Speech by Missouri Politician

  
1863 "Negro Soldiers Speech" by Missouri Politician James S. Rollins, during the Civil War.

Author: Black Soldiers, Civil War Title: 1863 "Negro Soldiers Speech" by Missouri Politician James S. Negro Soldiers Speech of Hon.

Rollins of Missouri Delivered in the House of Representatives, Feb. 5.5" x 8.5". Rollins was a nineteenth-century Missouri politician and lawyer notable for his role in establishing the University of Missouri. In this speech, Rollins, while a committed Unionist, comes out against black soldiers entering into combat roles in the Union Army.

He addresses Speaker of the House Schuyler Colfax and is concerned that African Americans desire for vengeance against their Southern oppressors would bring the country to ruin. Rollins' support for the war extended only as far as the maintenance of the Union, stating that whenever it becomes a war of subjugation and of conquest, or dwindles into a miserable abolition war, to free the slaves of the South... Then the sooner it is abandoned the better for the entire country.

Despite the dissent of Rollins and the sizable element who shared his views, Lincoln, other leading Republicans like Speaker Colfax, and military brass saw the value in forming African American regiments. In fact, not long after, the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment becomes were the first black unit to see combat in the Civil War as well as being the first black regiment organized in a northern state. The regiment served primarily in Missouri, engaging the Confederates several times, including at the Battle of Honey Springs. This speech is a interesting demonstration of the range of opinion within the Civil War era Republican Party and Unionist side more broadly. This speech has been separated from a larger volume; its binding is intact.

Foxing along margins, some mild toning. Subject: African American, Americana, Civil War, Military. Rambod Inc offers thousands of historical documents, letters, manuscripts, printed ephemera, and first editions in all variety fields. Since 1991, we have served an international clientele of collectors, private. And public libraries in acquisition and collection development.

We are members of ILAB, ABAA, and PADA, and have furnished collections around the world with rare and unique material for over 30 years; from the personal letters of Nobel-Prize winning scientists to first editions promoting abolition or women suffrage. We also offer Important First Editions of Literatre, Americana, Science, Military, African American and Woman History.

We offer an unconditional guarantee for each item's authenticity and completeness. This listing was created by Bibliopolis.