The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-10-25
couscRIPTING NEGROES.
From the Richmond Enquirer.

The proposition to extend the Conscript Law to
the slaves of the States was first formally advanced
by the sEnquirer' in the issue of the 9th inst.
Since that time, we have received many assurances
of its popular favor, and none whatever of oppos-
ton to it. We learn that the planters in the ex-
IRENE Southern States favor the proposition, aud
some have signifed their readiness to free five, ten
or fifteen of their slaves, if they will enter the
army. The near approach of the time when the
Congress meets again. requires that expression be
given to the sentiments of the country upon this
important measure. We therefore earnestly invite
its discussion, and open our columns to opponents
as we'll as friends of the proposition.
The result of the late elections is still in doubt,
and whether Lincoln Mcclellan will be elected,
it is yet impossible to determine, but there is no
uncertainty as to the question of carrying on the
war. Whether Lincoln or Mcclellan be the next
President the voice, and the almost unanimous
voice. OF that people is for vigorous prosecution
Of the war. The duty of preparing to meet that
issue will be before the approaching session OF the
Confederate Congress; that body will have before
it, for consideration, the ways aud means, we'll
of men of money, for carrying on the war, on
| our part.
The war cry of the enemy, sno parley with Re-
bcllion in the field-no compromise with Slavery
in the REIMBURSEMENT fully informs our people shat,
in plain vernacular, the whites of these States are
to be subjugated to slavery, and their slaves re-
dnced to the miserable condition of Yankee free
negroes. This is the view of the people, among
our enemies, and this will be the result of tie war,
whether ended by Lincoln or Mcclellan, if the
people Of these States permit themselves to be con-
quered.
The CONSUMPTION of negroes should be accom-
panied with freedom and the privilege of remain
ing in the States; this is part of abolitonism it
is the exercise by the master of the unqucstionable
right of manumisson; it is remunerating those who
defend our cause with the privilege of freedom
Nor should this important subject be prejudced
with questions about putting the negro on an equal
ty With our friends, brothers and fathers. Many
Of the soldiers ia their childhood foudled and
nursed by faithful negro nurses, and yet no ques-
ton of equality was ever raised-Many man has
manumitted slaves without ever being subjected to
the suspicion of being an abolitionist.
The issues involved in this war are too exalted
in their importance and character for us to permit
them to be compromised by being degraded to
question of property The liberty and freedom Of
ourselves and of our children, the nationality of
our country, the right of enjoying any kind of pro-
perty, the houses our heads, and the very
graves of our children and friends, are involved in
this struggle.-Failure makes slaves of all, white
and black; robs all Of property, real aud PERSONAL
divides our lands among our eonquerors, 1ho will
plough up the very graves of ouI dead fertilzed
ground for making money. We have in our midst
a half million of fighting material which is proper
ty-sbal we use that property for the common
couse? Justice and sound policy demands that we
make freemen.of those who fight for freedom. We
conscript the master and we impress his horses,
cattle, wheat and every other property, except
slaves. This very exception is an imputation that
this war is for slavery and not for freedom. By
conscripting the negroes we show to the world the
earnestness that is in people; we prove to
enemies that at the moment of our supposed ex
hauston. In the fifth year of the war, we shall
meet them with larger armies than We have before
raised; and we explode the false sensation that We
fighting for slavery, or slave holders Confed
eracy.
There are those who doubt whether sound policy
would trust negroes with arms? We are not OF
those who entertain any fears upon that subject
Drill and discipline makes valuable soldiers of Rus
sian scrfs, aud negroes in these States are SO y
norant and brutal those serfs Between service
with the Confederacy and with the Yankees, be-
tween living among us with all their strong local
attachments, and going among strangers, who are
now openly buying and selling them to recruiting
officers slaves will find no difficulty in choos-
ing. And, when once it is understood that free
dom and home in the South arc the privileges of:
fered by the Confederate authorities, while the
envy extend the beggarly inequalities of Yankee
philanthropy, not only will desertion from ourranks
be untrequent, but the drafted negroes of the Yam
kee armies will exchange services
This subject addresses itself to the consideration
Of people, at this particular time, with great
force. The prospect of four more years of
before our people; the enemy will not even spar
ley" with without unconditional surrender, the
fruits of which would be the conf*cation of all pro-
perty, the deportation of whole communities; the
degradation of the people, aud the domination and
tyranny of Yankee masters. There can be
construction which does not embrace a surrender
first, which will not permit confscatioa afterwards,
which does not insure enslaving the white, with
out freeing the blacks. IF there any weak
kneed people who imagine they can save their pro-
perty by reconstruction, let them study the Shibo-
leth of all parties 10 the United States-"no par
ley with rebellion in the field; no compromise with
slavery in the adjustment" Unconditional sur
render is first demanded before even parley We
are to lay down arms and submit to the kid
ness of the Buffers. Grants, Shermans and Sheri-
dams; to the fate of New Orleans the condition of
the Valley, the misery of Atlanta, aud, after all
that degradation, to give up all slaves in the
adjustment.-lt there are any reasons against ex-
tending the CONSUMPTION to slaves. We should like
to have them stated, but we are decidedly Of opin-
ion that the whole country will agree to the propo
si'ion, and that at early day the next Congress
will be called upon to provide for it by law.
GENERAL LEE AT HIS nEADoUARrERs-A
correspondent, describing recent visit he made to
the army around Petersburg, writes the Mobile
Register: