The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-11-23
Aiming the Slaves.

stats 10 a COuSiQerdDie eAleul- AAc ANCoO-7 "A
have now taken up the theme aud are deoa- a
ting II in every portion Of southern society II
with an intensity and earnestness far greater D.
than has been manifested among Us II is
discussed bv JEFF. Davis. the rebel Congress.
State Legislatures, all the newspapers, and
By the negroes themselves. The rebels
have need to discuss il very thoroughly;
for the general arming OF the able-oodled
negroes would at once revolutioniZe south
ern society. whether the rebellion succeeded
or not.
Nor does there seem 10 be any approach
towards general unanimity OF opinion
The risks and evils to the white people
seem TO be about equally balanced whether
the negroes be armed or not.
The Richmond Sentinel takes the afirma-
tive ground with much earnestness- II
says:
Every man should weigh well this
question and discOnnect il altogether nom
! the subject OF slavery, emancipation ana
other matters. The negroes have theH
places in this fight. and whether their place
be found in our ranks or Hose oil the enc
decide. They G aheady in the fight, ann
AGAINST us-Our own resources OF Lien are
lbeing turned against u. Shall we sit IDLY
nv chattering about slavery and emancipa-
ton while minnie balls and muskels IN ne-
gro hands whistle around Us! hGd ace
COMMENCED thus tray ruth our Stdres as
,reV "a nth their masters, Lincoln could
40, ,,o,r boast OF his ''ttcO huHdre MOu- .
saad colorel'frOODs asThe past cannot be
: remedied. but the future may be provided
- for. ReOrganize the army, consolidate the
, regiments, organize the negroes, anu peace
, will soon follow Leare AFFAIRS as mey
are anil there arW soon Dc neither army,
2 nor heroes, NOR CONFEDERATE STATES.
= The Seafiene', in meeting objections
: further says
% 1T IS objected n, some that TO give
4 freedom to the negro soldier is 10 acknOWl-
l. edge that freedom il a boon, and hence
that slavery is wrOng-that the strong ar
gument which this war Is teaching the
U world that Sldrery IS The GOd-dppo"sed
e itstltutiOa for the negro cell 0e ,oedkef'eH
r ,,,,l ref,,fed if freedom is given as the re-
= ward and price Of military serylce-that IL
negroes are required for the army they
should be drafted as slaves, treated as
5 nropertv. when lost in service paid Tor, ana
after the war returned as slaves 10 their
a masters But il should be remembered
= that whether freedom by the negro be real
- lv a blessing or Il curse, that many negroes
e desire If. and are willing TO take 1t even
!, from the Yankees Freedom Is given TO
10 the negro soldier, not because we believe
~ that slavery is wrong, but because we must
offer To the negro Inducements 10 ndehty
T. which he regards as equal If not greater
as than those offered by the enemy. Tile
To a
70 We offer him freedom at home. Our cor
> re=nondent A B. believes the negro
would desert from Us 10 the Yankees, and
~ calls attention to the fact that the negro
re does not desert from the Yankees TO as
~ The reasons given for this by our corresPon.
dent are correct and proper. The Yankee
e negro at present fears Us more than he
e. does the dangers Of the Yankee service
ic but when once he sees negroes IN our army
.er and understands that freedom and nome
ho in the COntederacy are the reward OF ser
vices in our army, that here the Hetd o
lis IcBOr IS ODell 10 him, lchtle e tS closed q
ss he Tinted States. are 1eliere that the tid
no Of o7eserf,0a ,rould set strongly an OH
As tJarOr'
e On the other hand, il is objected by tn
me planters that slavery is the very thing tn
IA rebels are fighting TO preserve; and If tina
or IS to be given up, there is no use continuin:
m the contest \ Virginia planter. writin!
~ to the Enquirer argues that the proposes
"a measure will work out a complete chang
in the whole structure OF southern society
We make an extract:
"C0n it be possible that a Southern ma
tnizing the right OF property in slaves
es. admitting their inferiOrlty III the scale {
hejno and also their social inferOrity
ia would recommend the passage OF la'
ore which at one blow lerels all distinction
W. derives the master Of right to his prof.
ertv. and eiecdtcS the negro TO an eQuds't
me nth the lrhte man for disguise II as 20
I'M NAV. those who fight together IN con
mo mon sense. and by success win the sam
,oI- freedom, enjoy equal rights and equal pt
SjffOD. and in this case are distinguish
les only hy color Are We prepared for this
ist. Ia II for this we are cOntending! 10 II Il
suit This we would seek the aid OF our slaves
H. To win their freedom with our indepeI
dence. to establish in our midst half or
quarter of a million OF black freemen 4
miliar with the arts and discipline OF wa
and with large military experience?
,.What has embittered the feelings OF Il
two sections of the old Cnlonr What hi
gradually driven TO the final separation
,u,b What is il that has made two nationality
Of them. if il IS not slavery II was slav
~ that caused them TO denounce US as
teriors: il was slavery that made the diffe
ence IN our pursuits, in our interests.
our feelings. i'm our social and political lif
il is slavery which now makes US two pc
ME as widely antagOnistic and diverse
any two DeOple can he, and il only needs
difference of language TO make the Mort
erner and SOutherner as opposite a. I
Frenchman and Englishman. You 5
1.-the liberty OF ourselves and children, |
nationality Of our country SC, are
vOlved in this struggle" Yes, and OF u
nationality yOu would deprive u.s. Tor
stead OF being as we now are, nation
freemen holding slaves as our properly,
Wonld make us a nation OF white men Vi
free NEGROES for orr equals Messrs. E
tors. ifyOu had sought ~ the political 30
Of the Confederacy t0r some spot at Sch
10 aim and strike one tl0r trhich should
once deprtre ii Of ltfe, you could not "a
fO,fad one more rttQl or haze struck &C
more deadly certainty than yOu haze dC
lBy the advocacy Of sltch a ScheDlei and,
there is any member Of Congress so lost
; his sense OF the dnty which he owes to
country and the constitution which he
sworn 10 defend: if there Is one who Is
tired of the seer Is OF blood, and rum, a
devastation which nave stained anu nc
lated many portions OF our beloved la
but vet desires 10 see more and yet tn
sand fold more OF the strife and woe 6
misery begotten by civil revolution, let
persuade Congress to pass law and
sman tempt To carry ont such system. and
things which have been will be nothing
the things which shall be-the reroiut
and 1rdT. horn and nu-tatred and rag
IN our midst. shall BE- iChen compared
that struggle in ,ckich ire are nor enga9
as the trild and desOlatiHg tornado, c.
pared TO the mild summer actHd-as
angry fury Of the ocean waves, when las
by fierce blasts, to the smooth surface
the mountain lake.