Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-11-09
Fer the Standard.

Mr. EDIToR:-I have not heard of one man IN
North Carolina SO demented as to endorse the
silly and cowardly project of arming our slaves, and
putting them in the military service. DO not pro-
pose to discuss the expediency of the measure
The Richmond Sentinel supposed to be the organ
of President Davis favors it, and hence it is feared
that it will come before the next Congress- backed
with the favor Of the administration; but IN this
State, even the Editors of the Fayetteville Observer
the most. subservient administration press in the
South treat itas not only inexpedient but absurd.
propose to submit some observations on the
resolution of the Southern Governors which seems
to endorse this project The resolution is in these
words
"Resozced That the course of the enemy IN ap-
propriating the slaves who happen to fall into their
hands to the purposes Of war, seems to justify
change Of policy on our part; and while owners of
slaves under tie circumstances, should freely yield
them to their country, we recommend to our au-
thorities under proper regulations, to appropriate
such part of them to the public service as may be
required"
Due respect for the distinguished gentlemen who
promul gated their recommendations, under such
imposing circumstances, forces US to assume, that
their conclusions were the result of deliberate con-
sideraton-and that st language had been used to
make their views clearly ineligible. 1t would be
indecent to assume that they did not understand
the "policy" as TO which they recommend
"changs" That policy has been to employ our
slaves in working Notifications, and every other
suitable operation not requiring the use of arms
The 1st section of the act of the 18th February,
1864 entitled San act to increase the efficiency OF the
army by the employment Of free negroes and slaves
in certain capacities makes all male free negroes,
executing those found under treaties with France
and Spain, between the ages of IS and 30 years,
" liable to perform such duties with the army, in
connection with the military defences of the coun-
try, in the way Of work upon fortifcatons or in
gov ernment works for the production preparation
of material of war, or in military hospitals as the
Secretary of War, or the Commanding General of
the Trans Mississippi department may from to time
prescribe"
The ID section of the act authorizes tie Secretary
of War to employ for duties similar to those in
dictated" IN the LIST section, twenty thousand male
slaves at wages to be agreed upon with the owner
The Sd section authorizes the Secretary of War,
when he shall be unable to procure, under the pre-
cedng sections the labor required, to impress rot
exceeding twenty thousand such slaves, to dis
charge the duties indicated in the LIST section This
contains regulations for feeding and clothing the
negroes so employed, for the payment Of wages,
the indemnity of the owners of slaves, who may
escape die of diseases contracted in the SERVICE
or be killed by enemy, &c.
The '.policy" of using the labor of all the able
bodied male free negroes and of 10000 slaves, by
impressment had already been adopted, and our
Governors recommend "chdnge" of our policy,
and rest the justification of the proposed change
upon the "the course of the enemy appropriating
the slaves, who happen to fall into their hands to
e.e purposes of war;" What purposes of war;
We all know they arm them and put them in the
forefront of battle. They make soldiers of them,
this change to consist, if it be not to make soldiers
of them also?
The Raleigh Conservative of the 26th inst, CON-
menting on the resolutions of the Governors, says:
The 9th resolution has been interpreted by some to
favor the recently preached idea of arming slaves
to fight our battles Such an idea, tee are assured
was not entertained by the meeting. 1t simply fa-
vors the idea Of employing the slaves by the con-
sent of their owners, Notifications, or as cooks,
tea,nsters, ambulance drivers, &c"
From the relations understood to exist between
the Conservative and Gov Vance, and the language
1--WE are assured" the public understand that Gov.
Vance gave the assurance. If So it is to he hoped,
that he will authorize fuller explanation Under
existing policy and law, slaves could not only be
employed for the purposes indicated in the Conser
ratioss explanation wh the consent of their owners
but without their consent.
By the resolutions of the Governors, they re-
commend, not an amendment of the act Of Congress
charging the powers conferred by which all the
abe.boded free negroes and 90 600 male slaves may
be forced into the service to labor on Notifications
&C., but "change" Of policy.
When so distinguished body voluntarily tender
their advice to Congress and the country they owe
it to themselves andto the public that their advice
should he couched in Ineligible terms They
ought not to stand before the country in the riii-
culous light of advising Congress TO do what was
already DONE 1t is hoped that the Conservative
will try again.
The writer is rejoced to believe from the Censor
paticss explanation, that the Governors did not en-.
terrain the idea of making soldiers Of our slsv
Such course would disgust every veteran in the
field, and would be degrading to Southern man.
hood but if this is not the purpose Of the resolu
ton, can make of it nothing but uunseaning Ger.
biage CIVlS.
Randolph Oct. %, 1864.
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