Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-09-03
WAsHINaToN, Aug. 80, 1868,
orrespondence Of the New YORK Tribune.

WASHINGTON, aug So 1868.
Although your paper has recently aIIud-
ed to the armiug of the slaves in the South,
I do not remember to have seen anywhere
an account of the manner in which this
question happened to be introduced into
| the politics of the South, nor any mention
of the Importance it cannot fail to assume
in the eyes of European cabinets. j will
therefore add to the information yon have
already given to the public, by communi-
eating to you the contents OF. a letter writ
ten in Richmond week ago on that sub
iect. aThis letter came from source
which, have the best reason to believe
wsH informed on these matters, and Is
entitled, in my humble opinion, to the con-
| fideneO of the people.
Converting blacks into soldiers for the
defence of the national territory is not
new idea with the Confederate Govern
ment. AS early as 1861. when the Union
| forces under Mcclellan were scattered
along the extensive line of the Chica-
hominy swamps, many of the most promi-
nent and wealthiest planters were
frightened by the danger of, the fall
of Richmond, which they then con-
sidered as an inevitable event, proposed to
larm and to lead their slaves, and to bring
them to the rescue of the threatened caPi-
tai. But public opinion having not yet
been prepared by. repeated reverses aud
losses in men to overcome one OF its
strongest prejudices, nor to contemplate
without shudder of contempt the possi-
bility of seeing one day free man fight
side by side with slave, the proposition
was looked upon as dangerous and vision
, ary, and was so treated by great maj ori-
ty of the people. Still it was rumored at the
time that the members of the Cabinet
would have willingly accepted the profer-
7 ed aid had it not been for the sake of their
popularity. JEFF. Davis, whU, since the
: beginning of the war, had been pressed by
European Cabinets to adopt some refor-
matory measure in reference to slavery,
said; on that occasion, that it would be
desirable to see the tide of public prejudice
receGe from its course, aud black regi-
ments formed for the defence of cities-and
strongholds. 1t was obvious, then, that
the Cabinet was already contemplating the
feasibility of arming the slaves, and that
they were deferred from doing so only by
the fear of hurting too violently existing
prejudices, and thus weakening their own
power.
4 The series of victories won by Gen. Lee
inflated the pride aud vanity of the South
erners TO such an extent that, for q moment
they believed themselves 10 be indebted for
their success to the holiness of the institu-
ton of Slavery as we'll as to the superior
valor of their men. The victory of Gettys-
burg and the conquest Of the borders of the
Mississippi blythe Union armies, caused this
stupendous ediice of pride and error to
crumble down, and demonstrated to them
the emptiness and folly of their ubiquitous
theory. They then turned their eyes to.
ward their four millions of blacks, and
asked themselves how it was that the Gov
eminent had not yet availed itself of the
resources offered by this large recruiting
field, and why an army of blacks was not
raised forthwith. may say, however,
that those who wished at FIRST to use the
blacks as soldiers did not think that their
services in that capacity were entitled to a
reward they would have held them in
slavesry all the while. Il was, UNDER
/ stand, the sentiment of the army which
modified the views of the planters in that
respect. The army refused to fight unless
the slaves be made free before entering the
ranks, and receive equal advantages with
those enjoyed by the whites.
Before this question was ripe enough to
be brought before the rebel Government,
! Beauregard, supported 10 this by the opiu.
ion of the Governor of South Carolina, had
been asking for authority to arm few ne.
gro regiments for the defense of Charles
ton, and Gov. Shorter of Alabama, pressed
by the necessity of providing for the de-
tense of Mobile, had addressed the same
request to Richmond, and Recommended
in q public proclamation, the arming Of
negroes in his own State.
These unexpected demands eoineided too
well with the secret sentiments OF the
Cabinet not to beused by it IS the ground
of new policy. Thus, while Beaurseatd,s
claim might be considered as justifying the
arming OF negroes under the plea Of mill
tary necessity, the proclamation Of Gov,
Shorter of Alabama, and the Endorsement
of the Governor Of South CarolinR, more
important still, unreservedly placed al the
disposal of the Government force Of