Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-12-15
time, too, when che is struggling in death
orannle with her GIGANTIC foe

100 Wu6u Bu0 ~ III . u0tAtA
grapple with her gigantic foe.
Those who have accustomed themselves
to imagine that all the rebels of available
age were in the rebel army, and that tho
chivalry of the South were 80 disdainful OF
life, in fact SO much more inclined to die
than to live, that they had to be held back
constantly from reckless sacrifice of them
selyes-wilI be somewhat undeceived by
the above extract from Extra Billy Smiths
message. There is still large number who
are willing to stay out of the army and
who intend to remain out if "playing fine"
will keep them out. They are not all
hungering and thirsting for the "last
ditch" by any means.
Extra Billy, farther on in his message,
urges strongly upon the attention of the
legislature the propriety and the necessity
in his opinion, of arming the negroes. On
this point his convictions are clear. he
has no hesitation that the crisis is now
upon the Confederacy in which everything
is soon to be lost or won by the guage of
battle. More men are needed. The YAM
KEGS are inexhaustible because of their own
more rapid increase-because of the immi-
grafton from Europe, apd because of their
arming of the negroes. This last thing the
South can also do, and must do. She has
plenty of negroes and they must be made
available. extra Billy" says:
know it is the ope1lion of some of the
highest military authorities that the time has
come when We should call our slaves to our
assistance, and hold it to be clearly the
duty of svery citizen however much he may
doubt the wisdom and necessity of the
policy, to cooperate in strengthening by
every means our armies. Irepeat, know
this policy is looked to with anxiety by
some of the ablest military men OF the age,
who believe that it is of the last impor-
lance that it should be adopted without
delay. l therefore recommend to the leg
islature that they should give this subject
early consideration and enact such meas
ures as their wisdom may approve.
We are glad to see this recommended ton
in Extra Billy's message. We had begun
to fear that the rebels had public opinion
strong enough among them on this tender
and vital question, to squelCh further dis
cussion in print and in their Congress aud
various Legislatures. But it seems they
have not the power to keep it hushed, the
resolutions of the South Oarolinians to
the contrary Notwithstanding. The more
and more we see from them on this sub
ject, the more and more are we convinced
that this is the rock upon which their unity
is to split, and upon which, internally, the
Confederacy is to go to pieces. Reduced
to the alternative of subjugation or arm
ing their slaves, the result cannot long be
doubtful. And their humiliation and
overthrow will be all the more complete
from the fact that they themselves chose
the immediate instrumentaIity. and died, as
it were, not only by their own hand, but by
virtue of that very institution upon which
they confessedly founded their whole re-
bellion, and but for which they never
would have rebelled. The very fact that
they are reduced SO low as to be com.
PEELED to discuss the project of arming
their slaves, is symptom that the cold
sweat of death is on their whole tottering,
unrecoguized and uuwelcomed existence.
The idea of armiug slaves to preserve
their own slavery-to prevent the posi-
bility of their freedom being achieved by
the enemies OF their masters-to build up
slave empire which shall overspread the
continent with slavery is this not pro-
ject worthy of those who have gone to war
against their government because, for
sooth, it was supposed to look too favor
ably and too partially upon the idea that
men were born to be free rather than
| slaves. No wonder the rebels recoil, eveu
in their sore desperation, from the idea.
The thought of their independence being
won by slaves must be Calling to them
sure enough. But they need have no fears,
or hopes either, of it's being so won for
them. Ouffee will. see to that part of the
programme.
OIIIn PIeasants County.