Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-09-11
licve we'll informed on these matters, and ii

| entitled, in my humble opinion, to the con-
fidence of the people.
Converting blacks into soldiers for the de-
| Tense Of the national territory is not a new
idea with the Confederate Government. As
early as 1861, when the Union forces under
Mcclellan were scattered along the extensive
line Of the Chickahomny swamps, many of
the most prominent and wealthiest planters,
| frightened by the danger of the fall of Rich
mond, which they then considered as an in
evitable event, proposed to arm and to lead
their slaves, and to bring them to the rescue
of the threatened capital. But public opin-
ion having not yet been prepared by repeat
cd reveIses and losses in men to overcome
one OF its strongest prejudices, nor to con-
| template without shudder of contempt the
possibility Of seeing one day free man fight
side by side with slave, the proposition was
looked upon as dangerous and visionary, and
was so treated by the great majority of the
people. Still it was rumored at the time that
the members Of the Cainct would have will
ingly accepted the proffered aid had it not
been for the sake Of their popularity. jeff.
Davis, who, since the beginning of this war,
had been pressed by European Cabinets to
! adopt some reformatory measure in reference
to Slavery, said on that occasion, that it
would be desirable to see the tide of public
prejudice recede from its course, and black
| regiments formed for the defense of cities and
strongholds. 1t was obvious, then, that the
Cabinet was already contemplating the feas-
Utility 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.
The series of victories won by Gen. Lee
inflated the pride and vanity of the Souther-
| ners to such an extent that, for moment,
they believed themselves to be indebted for
their success to the holiness of the institution
of Slavery as well as to the superior valor of
their men. The victory of Gettysburg and
the conquest of the borders of the Mississippi
by the Union armies caused this stupendous
edifice of pride and error to crumble down,
and demonstrated to them the emptiness and
folly of their inquitous theory. They then
turned their eyes toward their four millions
of blacks, and asked themselves how it was
that the Government had not yet avaled it
self ofthe resources offered by this large re-
cruting field, and why an army of blacks
was not raised forthwith may say. how
ever, 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 slav-
cry all the while. 1t was, understand, 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 re-
ceived equal advantages with those enjoyed
by the whites. ~ - -.a
Before this question was ripe enough to be
brought before the Rebel Government, Beau
regard, supported in this by the opinion of
the Governor of South Carolina, had been
asking for authority to arm few negro regl-
ments for the defense Of Charleston, and
Gov. Shorter of Alabama, pressed by the ne
cessty of providing for the defense of Mobile
had addressed the same request to Richmond
and recommended in a public proclamation,
! the arming of negroes in his own State.
These unexpected demands conceded too
well with the secret sentiments of the Cabinet
not to be used by it as the ground of a new
policy. Thus, while Beauregard's claim
might be considered as justfying the arming
Of negroes under the plea of military necessi
| ty, the proclamation of Gov Shorter Of Ala
bama, and the Endorsement Of the Governor
of South Carolina, more important still, UNI
reservedly placed at the disposal Of the Gov
eminent a force Of several thousand men,
and paved the way for powerful military
organization all over the extent of the Con-
federacy. jeff Davis was too shrewd not
to avail himself of these fortunate circum-
stances.
BY his order, every Governor in the Rebel
States was consulted concerning the proprie-
ty of arming slaves for the war, and was in
vted to Richmond to confer with the Presi-
| nj hat TOT;
it seems, immediately complied with, and af.
ter fifteen days Of close conference between
the Governors of the States and the members
of the Cabinet, it was decided that the saliva
ton of the country required the arming of
the slaves, and that call of 100000 blacks,
one from every eight inhabitants, should
take place forthwith. "-. ..'s
Outside of military and social considera
/ tons, the importance of which cannot be full
ly estimated now, one of the motives which
urged the adoption of this measure is, un
derstand, the effect it is likely to have upon
European Powers While the discussion on
the measure was going on, member of the
Cabinet removed all the objections raised by
stating that the enlistment Of the blacks in
the Confederate ranks, and the gift Of THEN
freedom anda portion ofland as their reward
for their services, would cause the great ma.
jority Of the European people adverse to sla
very to become friends of the South, and
force their Governments to interest themsel
YES in its behalf. It..would at the same time
show that the black. who had been represen
ted as the enemy of his master, was in reali
ty his friend; and the greatest mark of this
friendship was to be found in the confidence
the white man has in the obedience and fidel
ity of the black, who, by this call, was sud
denly elevated to position of trust and con-
fidence unparalleled in the history of the
world. All these considerations could moi
fail, it was said, to engage the attention Of
European public and to place the Southern
Confederacy upon higher political and moral
ground. 1t was these remarks, | am told
which destroyed all opposition, and led to
the unanimous adoption of the measure.
The proceedings have just related have
been kept secret, and will not be divulged
until jeff. Davis's proclamation submitting
the whole matter to the people is issued
WE see our friend REYNOLDS, of the New
Hampton Courier, has received the Unior