The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-09-10
An Army of Slaves.

Jefferson Davis, if the ruInor be true
that he has resolved to arm the slaves
against the Government, has again con-
fessed the weakness of the South. at is
not probable, as the North tremblingiy
fears,' says the Inde-r of August 18th, the
London organ of the rebellion, s'that the
South is even thinking of resorting to the
extreme measure OF armiDg its slaves.
This is significant incredulity, and express
es the repugnance of the friends Of slavery
! to such a method of defence. The war
was begun by the South in the interest of
slavery, and no war measure could be SO
unwelcome to the stakeholder as that
which liberates his slaves. The Enamel
patton proclamation of the President was,
therefore, denounced by them as barbarous
and cowardly, and to this day excites the
bitter hatred of the disloyal journals of the
North, and the enemies of the country In
Europe. The negroes were, therefore,
declared unfit to fight; they would prove
towards IN the presence Of the enemy, it
was urged, and murderers of women and
children where no fear restrained them
1t would be disgrace for white men TO
fight for flag which negroes aided TO
u6ItHu- 4 nus tHC t1putii, dUti tue
of the South, revealed their hatred Of an
experiment of which the results were
evidently dangerous to slavery. Nor do
they hate il less now; nor could such a
measure originate with the people of the
South. On the contrary, if the slaves are
really to be armed it will oe SO because Of
stern necessities OF the leaders Of the re-
bellion. They will impose it upon their
people, because defeat will be their person
al and irretrievabie rnin, and to prevent
that they will force any sacrifice on their
followers; because Jefferson Davis under
stands that soldiers are 10 him more impor- |
tant than slaves. BY abandoning the first
prin ciple of the rebellion-the protection
OF slayery-he proclaims to the world She |
weakness of the South; he confesses that
the white population is exhausted that he |
is at las; forced to trust the Confei eieracy |
to the maenanimity of its victims.
Another reason why such measure |
might be adopted by the rebel government |
is, that the war has proved that the fate |
of slavery on this continent is extinc- !
tNn. "At any rate" it NAV argue, ''the !
war will liberate our slaves; this is clearly |
the opportunity to liberate them to our |
own advantage" This argument may |
suggest itself to the Intelligent classes OF |
rebels. and reconcile them 70 the measure.
But their feelings in regard TO he eman- |
cpation of their slaves will De similar to |
those of Isaac of York, in Ivanhoe, who, |
to save his money bags, submitted to have !
his teeth extracted.
But it is not by asking slaves TO fight |
against free Government that slavehold- |
ers are to make their rebellion triumphant. |
The United States is first In its appeal to |
this race, so long trodden under foot, and I
every coloTed man in the South looks to |
our Government as his friend. The bribe |
Of freedom after the war, aud fifty acres of |
land, speaks to his sclfinterest, but not to
his enthusiasm. Soldiers it may bring, |
but not friends. The promise of land is |
amusing on the part of a band of conspir
ators who cannot keep the territory they
have claimed Nor Will the rebel leaders
ever be able to trust the negroes they may
arm, nor can these repose confidence in
the professions of their masters.
Whatever Mr.. Davis may ostensibly
propose, actually he dare not create an
army of slaves. If he does, farewell at
once to slavery. Regiments he may raise |
and use, but he will not depend upon them
tor victory. Let him beware OF them at
that moment when the issue of the battle |
depends upon their advance. The South |
has already employed negro troons in this |
war; for the sake Of the Republic We hope |
she will increase their number.
Destruction Of EEr. Stevens, Exsr-