Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-08-01
NTr. Stephcns, Mission.

MIR. stephens Mission.
We copy from the New York Tribune a let
ter that will be read with interest, purportng
to have been written at Richmond, and en-
bodying the views of the rebel government in
regard to the employment of negroes for mill
tary service. The Tribune says the letter
was received through Baltimore secession
channel, and is satisfied that it is genuine.
1t is not difficult to believe the main statement
of the letter, since the evidence of the use
fulness of black soldiers as Il branch Of our
military service has become complete. The
new policy is an artillery park commanding
the enemy's magazine; and Mr.. Stephens at
least has the wisdom to see in what imminent
peril it places the whole rebel confederacy.
If the rebellion continues a year longer,
and the experiment OF converting slaves in its
forced service into free men serving the
Union by their own choice has a fair trial, it
cannot fail to vitality change the character Of
the war, and effect radical reformation in all
the conditions of southern society Planting
these batteries of rihed cannon against every
embrasure and portal of the slaveholding bas-
tile is an incident of warfare the far reaching
effects of which its champions cannot avoid.
The object was we'll worthy of a mission from
the magnates of secession, and they may
thank the unmitigated barbarism of their
cause that it met with no better result.
1t is threatened that three quarters of a mil
lion of able-bodied fellows Slaves glowing
and trusting their masters" and ready to fol-
low them to the mouths of our cannon, can be
enrolled, armed and drilled in three months.
If Mr. Stephens had come to Washington to
tell us that, he would have brought his threats
and Boosting to the worst possible market
His diplomacy would fly before recorded facts
faster than John Morgan's gang fled before
the aroused freemen of OHIO. The law of
slavery which recognizes every slave as the
natural enemy of his master; the testimony
of southern statesmen during the first half
century of constitutional government, THAT
the commerce between master and slaves is
perpetual exercise OF the most unremitting
despotisms on the one part, and degrading
submissions on the other;" the testimony of
innumerable unbiased witnesses to the truth
of the Able Raynal that slavery divides the
human race into two societies of legal assas-
sins, the oppressors and the oppressed"
would rise up and tell him he was liar and
imposer, as well as a traitor
You may call spirits from the vastly deep,
Mr.. Stephens, but will they come? You may
call slaves to the defence and championship
of their ensiavers-if you have descended to
that unspeakable baseness-but will they
fight? Undoubtedly The ghosts of Den.
mark Vesey and Nat Turner could have told
you that any dark night for the last thirty
years. The heroes OF Port Hudson and the
martyrs whose courageous blood ran in rivers
over the parapets of fort Wagner gave evil
dence of some fighting qualities. But wheth-
er they will fight for those who have crushed
them for many generations, who have
scourged them through lives of infinite sor-
row, every life of them darker than the val
ley of the shadow of death, ay-there's the
rub! Beware, Mr.. Stephens, how you place
arms in their hands. You secured safety in
peace by their suhiugaton. But they are not
yet so bereft of human nature as not to use
their power in the cause their own rights
rather than of yours against them.