Besides, I am not clear that a discrimination will not render slavery more irksome to those who remain in it.  Most of the good and evil things in this life are judged of by comparison; and I fear a comparison in this case will be productive of much discontent in those, who are held in servitude.  But, as this is a subject that has never employed much of my thoughts, these are no more than the first crude ideas that have struck me upon the occasion."[562]

The gifted and accomplished Alexander Hamilton, a member of Washington’s military family, was deeply interested in the plan suggested by the Hon. Henry Laurens, whose son was on Washington’s staff.  Col.  John Laurens was the bearer of the following remarkable letter from Hamilton to John Jay, President of Congress.

     “HEADQUARTERS, March 14, 1779.

     “To JOHN JAY.

“DEAR SIR,—­Col.  Laurens who will have the honor of delivering you this letter, is on his way to South Carolina, on a project which I think, in the present situation of affairs there, is a very good one, and deserves every kind of support and encouragement.  This is, to raise two, three, or four battalions of negroes, with the assistance of the government of the State, by contributions from the owners in proportion to the number they possess.  If you should think proper to enter upon the subject with him, he will give you a detail of his plan.  He wishes to have it recommended by Congress to the State:  and, as an inducement, that they should engage to take those battalions into Continental pay.

“It appears to me, that an expedient of this kind, in the present state of Southern affairs, is the most rational that can be adopted, and promises very important advantages.  Indeed, I hardly see how a sufficient force can be collected in that quarter without it; and the enemy’s operations there are growing infinitely more serious and formidable.  I have not the least doubt that the negroes will make very excellent soldiers with proper management; and I will venture to pronounce, that they cannot be put into better hands than those of Mr. Laurens.  He has all the zeal, intelligence, enterprise, and every other qualification, necessary to succeed in such an undertaking.  It is a maxim with some great military judges, that, with sensible officers, soldiers can hardly be too stupid; and, on this principle, it is thought that the Russians would make the best troops in the world, it they were under other officers than their own.  The King of Prussia is among the number who maintain this doctrine; and has a very emphatic saying on the occasion, which I do not exactly recollect.  I mention this because I hear it frequently 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 probably as good as ours), joined to that habit