Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-09
A EEeetinE of Rebel soldiers and the
OnenftOm Of a rInIng the slaves.

4 waefiug of Rebel Soldiers and the
Question Of Arning the slaves.
A public meeting was held in the intant-
~ camps near Baldwin, East Florida, on
the 18th of October, 1864.
On motion Of Colonel Mccormick, Col
lionel P Turney was called to the Chair,
and on motion of Sergeant Rouse, Colo
mel Mccormick was appointed Secretary !;
when, on motion of Sergeant Rouse, q
committee Of five-consisting of Captain
s. F. Rowe, Of the I'd Florida Cavalry !:
| Captain j. B. Spencer, Captain j. II. Bry-
an, scd Sergeant Rouse, OF the infantry,
and Lieutenant Allen, OF AbePs light ar
| tillery-was appointed to draft resolutions
| for the consideration Of the meeting and,
on motion of the Secretary, the Chairman
was added to the committee.
The committee, after having retired for
a short time, returned, and, through their
| chairman, submitted the following presm
bic and resolution, which were unanimous
| ly adopted:
Whereas, the policy and propriety of en-
| listing negroes as soldiers in the Confeder-
ate armies is now being discussed and ad-
vocated-by some Of the newspapers in the
land, We as soldiers, feel impressed to an
expression of opinion upon the subject ;
and, therefore,
| l. ResoLUed, That in our opinion such a
plan is impOlitic, unnecessary, and ruinous
10 our cause; that while we are willing to
see negroes employed as teamsters, cooks,
| labUrers in the QasFtermasters and Com
nlissary Departments, aud other menial
| positions, we are now and always opposed
to having arms placed in their hands.
! 2. Aiming of negroes would only add to
| the number to be fed and clothed by the
| Government, without giving any addition
n strength to the effectiveness of their
armies.
3. The position of the Confederate sold.
ier is honorable, responsible and dignifed
and should not be degraded by placing the
negro by his side.
4 We believe the policy proposed, il
carried out, vii! result in causing an hun
dred-fold more desertions than has evel
been in our armies.
8. We have no confidence whatever IN
the pride or courage of the negro, keeping
him in the discharge of his duties as .
soldier We are of the opinion that &
large majority of them would desert, and
we ask the advocates of the measure if they
are willing to intrust them with the out
post duty, now requiring large proper
tion our army on every line.
6. The measure is the initiation of abol-
itionism-is the beginning of the over
throw of every principle upon
which we ara defending ourselves
against the usurpation of the United
States Government. If once introduced,
it will result in the obliteration of every
difference in principle between the con
tending Governments, and reduce the wal
TO the single issue Of men without respect
10 measures.
] Z. The prospects of the Confederate
cause are frightening, and we have ful
confidence in the steady arm and bravt
spirit of the Confederate soldiery; it car
and will whip the fight, if allowed to con
tinue on principle.
8. That our armies are greatly depleted
but this can be vastly remedied by purg
ing the Commissary and Qusrtermasters
Departments of the able-bOdied men, re
turning detailed men to their commands
and reyOking thousands of unnecessary
exemptions. There are entirely too many
sble-bodied white men in soft places 70
the argument Of exhaustion of men t
hold good.
g. That copies of these resolutions b.
furnished the FIoridiGn and JoUraGl
Quincy Dispatch, West Florida Nes0s
Family Friend, Lake City Columbian
Cotton States, S1dnnGh Republican, SaDan
nah NslOS, Piehnond Enquirer, Eranai
ner, and Sentinel, and Charlotte Caroini
Times, with request to publish.