Smyrna times., 1862-07-17
The White Serfs of the South.

No one who scans attentvely the thrilling
narratives OF the recent bloody conflicts 1ear
Richmond, can fail TO see that whatever oe the
other dement's OF the rebels, eOwardlce is not of
the Rumber. No fanatic horde Of Turcoinans
under the banner OF Mahomet; no sIOIid pha.
lsnK oil serfs disciplined 10 arms by some ambi.
tous despQt, ever fought more steTniy than did
those blind Instruments Of the Southern slave
olIgsTchs.
Both eonsending armies fought buvely in
that extraordinary succession Of battles, bot
certainly 10 the Mortimer must be accorded the
palm OF superiority, since their Toes outnUmber.
ed them two 10 one, and made their assault
Whilsi our army was executing critical flank
movement. But chief smOOg other points of
difference is thls--Ont troops fought for the
best cause which can engage the energies Of
40 enlightened sold erly, the cause Ofireedom
and national Integrlty-Ihe enemy tor slavery
10 its grossest torn, and for dIsOrganizing
princips OF seeessin, which, il temporarily sue
cessiul, would be sure to bring in iIs train an
srcby or despotism. The great mass Of the
SuUIhern armies 10 evidently composed Of rude
and ignorant men, taken from that class of poor
whites who are not themselves owners OF sla YES.
but rather The serfs Of the slave prSprielors,
kept designedly in ign0Esnce and poverty, lest
their influence might leopard the dominance of
| the slave aTlsteetscy.
|. These are the blind instruments used by the
head traitors in this great eonspiTscy-to be
cast aside as useless or dangerous in case the
cOnfedeTscy succeeds, and TO be altogether
| ignored and disfrsnchIsed. No one can doubt
this who has observed the disclosures of Sou h.
ern planters TO Russell OF the London Times
| the significant debates in the recent Virgins
| Convention, eT the numerous hints which
have been dropped 10 the columns Of Influential
journals.
IfAny hing could possibly add to the turpitude
OF a rebellion 80 foul in all its sspecIs it ls per
hsps this manifest design Of its leaders to sac
rlfce the masses whom they have csjOled Of
coerced into their service. Who can CINE
theineonceivable amount Of falsehood and de.
4 ception which induced their first lsvies 10 eDteI
the field or the atrociOus cTuelties which st.
| tended the subsequent conscriptIOn law! We
hear that thousands Of these unhs ppy victim,
are wandering among sWamps along the Mis-
sissippi river TO escape the dreaded necessity
and doubtless thousands ofIhose who have beer
drsgged into the ranks would most wilItngl,
avoid the combat it that were possible. They
cannot The traitor ehieitains have so az
ranged the regiments that all must fight; enc
80 In very desperation they must advance q
the cannon's mouth and be swept sway by IN,
unerring fire Of the Federal guns.
One cannot but feel an emotion Of pity 70
snch of these combaIants as are torcrd thu
Reluctantly into the field. and OF suII create
adherence for the guilty traitors who haV,
brought on the great calamity. They slTesd!
had a vrlual Oligarchy which allowed 10 sh'
poor white man. only the shadow Of liberty, ant
they now lead him through fields OF csrnug'
where success would only leave him bond
mas. only one degree above his fellow av
the black.man.-Nort American. ..Hs