Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-09-26
MOreester @aiIp Spp,
The Rebel Organ on sIave-ArmIng.

The Index, the rebel organ in England, dis
cusses the subject of slave armng at the
south, but doubts the report that jeff. Davis
has made such proposition. 1t says:
'Without placing absolute credence in the
startling intelligence brought by the Hlhern-
ian, 1t issafe to speculate upon 1t, II not as an
actual fact at least as an event which mas re-
Gently entered into the range OF immediate
probabilities We have, in the various ru-
mors that preceded this last direct announce
ment so many indications that the question
of arming the slave population, has been I'M
der consideration in the confederate counsels.
1t is also certain that the same subject has
been frequently discussed by the contederates
and their friends in Europe within the last
few months. The southern mind, therefore
on both sides of the ocean, has been ripening
for this step, and if not already taken, is pre-
pared TO take it. Intelligent observers of the
struggle have long been aware that as a last
resort the south possessed an element Of la
tent strength which, whenever called forth,
would at once SHIFT the numerical superiority
to the side which has heretofore been the
weaker, and thus end the conflict. Those who
knew the temper of the southern people knew
that If the alternative were fairly presented
between independence and the maintenance
of negro slavery, it would not hesitate an in
slant to sacrifice the latter to the former.
1.-The choice made, 1t is not in the southern
character to resort to halfway measures. If
the measure became expedient it would be
carried out thoroughly and without delay. If
negroes were to be armed, the armng would
be en- maSSe. The chief obstacle lay not in
the fear of the use the negroes might make of
their arms; on that subject, except in the few
localities where the negro has been corrupted
by long contact with the Yankees, no south
ern man ever entertained doubt. The diff
Guilty was in the repugnance which a proud
nation, regarding the bearing of arms as a
privilege and an honor, must necessarily feel
in extending that privilege and that honor to
a servile race. But at the call of patriotism
the southerners would sacrifice this repug-
nance, as they have sacrificed property and
life, without hesitation and without vain re-
grets Our only reason for doubt, then, is
that we do not believe the stress of military
necessity so great as to warrant The use of
this last, though infallible reserve. AT the
same time it must be remembered that the
south is led by men who will not wait until
driven by necessity to resort to a measure
which they foresee that the public safety may
require.
Gwen the scarcity of arms is no
insuperable obstacle. There are, probably,
enough Of firearms for a select corps of ne
groes, already familiar with their use; and as
for the others, it may be doubted whether
they would not be more effective in the field
with the more primitive weapons which the
blacksmth's shop on every plantation could
readily forge out of the implements of hus.
bandry. A hundred thousand negro pikemen
or scythemen would probably be a more for
midable body for immediate service than the
same number of raw recruits entrusted with
unwonted weapons. There is no doubt, also,
that the greater portion of the negroe levies
would be quickly thrown across the northern
boundary, where, at worst, they would have
to meet foes no better armed or drilled than
themselves. As tor the negroes courage,
when supported and led by his master, not
against him, we have never entertained
doubt. The confederate negro troops will be
as much superior in steadinesS and effective.
ness to the black levies of the north, as the
Senoys under European officers were to the
mutinous hordes OF Mana Sahib. Besides
what the negro lacks i'll InaU lutriIis~"vU
which characterizes the white American vol
unteer, he more than supplies by implicit OBJ
edience and insenslbllity to danger, and he
thus possesses the very qualities which pro-
fessiOnal officers are prone to consider the
highest of a soldier. If the military impur-
lance of such an inormous accession to the
numerical SlIeHSll VI lue cOlleueTdCy is al
most beyond adequate comprehension, the po
litcal and social aspects of the measure as
sumo even more gigantic proportions. 1t is
the most complete scheme of emancipation
that visionary ever dreamed Of, and, though
qce cannot disguise the terrible danger of thus
suJcertiag at one blow the achole social fabric
of great country, it is undeniabe that the
experiment, if it has to be tried, is tried in this
form with immensely superior practical pros
poets, and under fewer disadvantages"
La France and La Presse both have edto-
rails approving the, rebel policy of calling out
the negroes as soldiers.