The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-06

the solemn rumblings Of the coming storm
and leave our unprotected homes and iresides
hostages for our good conduct, bonds and
pledges that We will keep the peace, and bow
the knee, and not utter one groan, nor drop
one tear over the invasion of Southern soil
and the desclation Of Sou thern fresides7
The slave Institution q Great Military
Power.
II is the greatest mistake in the world 10
suppose that a slaveholding community il
without military power or resources On the
contrary the whole his tory of mankind shows
that the military power of nations has In
every case been built mp at the beginning, by
the enslavement of conquered peop Piles. Indeed.
all empire and all civilization began with sIa.
very as the inseparable incident Of conquest.
All great nations trace back to small mill
tary beginnings, gradually increasing by sue
cessive conquests and enslavements. First,
tribe wages war against neighboring tribe,
conquers them and reduces them to servitude.
phis gives them strength to make new con-
quests. by supplying them with labor to pro-
Once the means of subsistence while they are
carrying on expeditions abroad. They then
make war with another tribe and acquire
more slaves. which makes them still stronger.
conquests, adding to their canlsal of slave
labor, until they have annexed all the adioin-
ing country; after which they embark in for
eign conquests, leading home powerful kings
chained to their chariot wheels.
The cities of Messina and Sparta were rivals,
and Of the same Doric origin. A struggle for
the mas terry began, which lasted many years ;
when, by strategy, the Spartans at last be-
To 40
such of the inhabitants of Messina as did not
ny to neghboring countries. Thus did
Sparta become one of the most powerful
States Of Greece. Rome commenced as a band
OF robbers: The victims of their first con-
quests were reduced to slavery, except in the
few instances where they We're Incorporated
into the State. They gradually extended their
power over Italy, and finally conquered near
ly the whole known world. During all this
process, the number Of their slaves increased
part pdssu with their power and dominion,
until the number OF slaves in and around
Rome exceeded the freemen in the proper
ton Of twelve or fifteen to one. In spite of
this distinguished example of Rome, mistress
of the world, there are many people ignorant
enough to contend, not only that slavery i'm
poverishes, but that, in a military point Of
view. it enfeebles State.
One of the first acts of Moses, after he had
delivered his countrymen from the Egyptian
yoke, was to wage war against the Edomites,
conquer and reduce them to slavery. JOSE
Plus declares that the Jews were greatly ben
Gifted by the booty and the slaves they ac-
CURED. This was while MOsEs was governed
by Divine council, con temporaneous with the
thunders Of Mount Sinai, and the delivery of
the ten Commandments. This conquest of
slaves was ordered with direct reference to
the occupation and settlement of the promised
land. Having given slaves to the Jews, the
Almighty regulated the institution by an ex-
cellent code Of laws /; and when they entered
Canaan, authorized them to make slaves of
the heather around them.
If we explore the history of English ciyili-
xatiOn, We shall find that slavery, even the
slavery of Englishmen, rested at its foun-
dalton. The sovereigns, after many centuries
of slavery, released their slaves from bondage
for handsome prices paid, as means of rails
ing revenue. A manumission granted by
HESKY VIII. to two persons, ran, somewhat
after the style of our Declaration of lndepen-
dence, as follows
"Hhereas, originally, God created all men free
subjected some under the yoke of servitude, we
think it pious and meritorious with God, to make
iude who are at present under viiienage to
US: wherefore do we now accordingly mann NIT and
a. being born in our manor Of Stoke Ciymmy
Slaude, in our county Of Cornwall, together with
all their issue born or hereafter to be born,
hsnceforth be deemad by US and our heirs free
and OF free condition.
Thus proiane and sacred history alike de-
clare to us that slavery is the foundation of
empire,-that II has been the chief instrument
tality employed by Providence in founding
aud perpetRnting civilization First, the mill |
tary power OF States was established by con- |
quest, which gave booty and the labor of the |
enslaved captives to the conquerors. Then,
this booty being capital. and these enslaved
captives furnishing labor, the civilization of
the conquering States was erected upon this
capital and labor, the two substantial pillars
Of progress and power.
The military strength Of nations, other
things being assumed as equal, is usually es-
timated by the number Of men that can be
spared from the ordinary business of society
for the field. In general, this number is esti-
mated as one in eight Of the whole popula-
ton. Some countries, fayorabiy circum-
staRced, can furnish one in seven; while a
very few, Of rare facilities in this respect can
furnish one In six; which is esteemed the
proportion. But such are the ex.
advantages which our slave in
sutution confers upon the South, that our
best military authorities consider with rea.
son. that we can readily furnish one in five
of the public service, and stiil retain at home ,
enough men advanced In life, or too young for
campaign service, to carry on agriculture and
<eep the slaves employed and in obedience
Every Southern man and woman knows that
lending OF to the wars one man in five of our ,
would not at all endanger the .
safety Of society at home
We might enlarge on the chivalric and mar
lial qualities which the dominant race in
'layeholding communities possess-ther su.
periority over the men In non slavehoidiug
communities In Workmanship, in the use of .
'rms, and In the peculiar qualities and char.
scteristics which 60 to make up the military z
'haracter We might adduce the facts of 6
american history to show that the South q
aeiped the North to fight the Northern hat. !
les Of tho lutiOn, and then fought alone I
md unaided the Southern; that In the last I
war with England this same fact was repeat r
d; and that In the Mexican war the South e
FINISHED large sxoess of the troops that not \
My mustered on the rolls, but fought and Il
Won the battles. But It IL unnecessary at 7
resent TO produce these facts II all mill. {
airy power y proved by history TO have com.
nencsd with conquest and ensla ysment; II
no most warike nations OF ANTIQUITY owsd<
heir proves and power to the slavery M I
mpaoyed At home-it IL certainly unnecessary i
= this late day TO meet the cant Of Exeter y
iail and Of the Tabernacle at Bostoa--dis.
'araglng the military resources of the South 4
Fith statistical refu tation. q,