upernumerary
officers to command the said negroes as shall choose to go
into that service.

"Resolved, That Congress will make provision for paying the
proprietors of such negroes as shall be enlisted for the
service of the United States during the war a full
compensation for the property, at a rate not exceeding one
thousand dollars for each active, able bodied negro man of
standard size, not exceeding thirty-five years of age, who
shall be so enlisted and pass muster.

"That no pay or bounty be allowed to the said negroes, but
that they be clothed and subsisted at the expense of the
United States.

"That every negro who shall well and faithfully serve as a
soldier to the end of the present war, and shall then return
his arms, be emancipated, and receive the sum of fifty
dollars."[565]

Congress supplemented the foregoing measure by commissioning young
Col. Laurens to carry forward the important work suggested. The
gallant young officer was indeed worthy of the following
resolutions:--

"Whereas John Laurens, Esq., who has heretofore acted as
aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-chief, is desirous of
repairing to South Carolina, with a design to assist in
defence of the Southern States;--

"_Resolved_, That a commission of lieutenant-colonel be
granted to the said John Laurens, Esq."[566]

He repaired to South Carolina, and threw all his energies into his
noble mission. That the people did not co-operate with him, is
evidenced in the following extract from a letter he subsequently wrote
to Col. Hamilton:--

"Ternant will relate to you how many violent struggles I
have had between duty and inclination,--how much my heart
was with you, while I appeared to be most actively employed
here. But it appears to me, that I should be inexcusable in
the light of a citizen, if I did not continue my utmost
efforts for carrying the plan of the black levies into
execution, while there remain the smallest hopes of
success."[567]

The enemy was not slow in discovering the division of sentiment among
the colonists as to the policy of employing Negroes as soldiers. And
the suspicions of Gen. Washington, indicated to Henry Laurens, in a
letter already quoted, were not groundless. On the 30th of June, 1779,
Sir Henry Clinton issued a proclamation to the Negroes. It first
appeared i