The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1864-12-22
Southern Unaninlisy.

United States. Ii Is on TINS ground they
claim the sympathies of Europe. 1t is or
this ground they claim it to be cruel in us
to attempt to coercc them. Such nna-
nimity the world never saw-they tell us.
But they must at least admit tina: to this
there are and all the time have been some
serious exceptions The negroes, for in
stance, are not always counted by them IN
this estimate. 1t has been said by some
that they are as ready to fight against the
North as the whites. But il so, it can
only be on the hypothesis that both are
?ery unwilling to fight. True neither
openly compain, or the whites occasion
nlly, but the negroes not at all But
whenever our prisoners escape from South
ern confinement, they never seem to be
betrayed by negroes, but are sheltered,
fed, ferried, piioted, and furnished with
much valuable information by them
They abscond by thousands. They do not
labor, and it is admitted that they cannot
BE made to do their accustomed work,
except under white compulsion, even with
one white man to each plantation, and
famine is The result.
But it is said, of course the negroes
are not to be included in this unanimity.
Europe will count them in the discussion,
and we have right to count them. They
have been counted in the three fifth al
lowance granted them in the Constitution.
On that very ground, Congress is bound
to protect their welfare. True, while the
South remained loyal, the protection Of
the slave was entrusted to the master, Just
as is the protection of the children to the
father; but i the master prove traitor,
we have right and duty to see that the
dictates of humanity are preserved to the
negro as truly as when father proves
unworthy the trust, we take from him the
guardianship of his own children. Society,
in both cases, has latent and superior
guardianship and duty, Of the responsible
ity of which it cannot divest itself. The
slaves, we know, are all unanimous for
United States rule, aud that takes four
miiiio1s out of twelve, from this boasted
unanimity.
But again, some most important sections
of the South are not unanimous. Rich
mond, the capital, is not. When Union
prisoners escape, they are not without
friends, go where they will. The meas
u-es used to preserve this bcasted ananim-
ity are almost incredible, to say nothing
Of The persons imprisoned or swept into
the ranks cf the conscription. L North
Carolina unanimous? or Georgia, with her
Governor almost in rebellion against Da-
vis? Is Alabama unanimous, with Mr..
Cobb denounced as a traitor? Or even
South Carolina, with Mr.. Royce publicly
reproved by the leaders in that State for
his Uaion sentiments? Was Atlanta
unanimous when half the inhabitants
preferred to GO North, when they had the
option to go either North or South Wes-
tern Virginia, is she unanimous Aud
what means Mr. Foote's resolution offered
in the present Congress, offering complete
amnesty to ali such of the citizens aad
residents Of the Confederate States as
heretofore, under delusion or otherwise
have been hostile to the rebel cause, and
who are now willing to come forward and
take upon themselves the obligation to
support the rebel Government as true and
loyal citizens? In fact, this sort of una
nimity is one created by the pistol and
dirk at the throat, in the hands OF few
Southern fanatics. 1t has sprung up in
night under pressure such as that, and it
perishes in night. Vice President
Stephens is ''unanimous" on this principle
If We look at the Army of the South,
the immense number of deserters and the
story they all tell, does that look like
unanini;y? Two-thirds OF Hoods army,
Davis said, had deserted after the capture
of Atlanta. 1t is true he said they were
oil coming back to re-enIist for the war,
bu. then comes the conscription law, and
shows that not one of these could help
himself, only the clergy and members of
Congress and editors, and those who