Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-11-22
.FRoM THE SOUTH.

The3 Q1SitIont OF: ArIaing Negr6ss-
Significant Speech by Mr..
OF MiSsIsslppI. -. -,-.-..,.
The Richmond Wig publishes in full q
speech delivered in the rebel House of
Representatives, on November 10, by Hon.
H. G. Chambers, Of Mississippi. The fol-.
lowing was the resolution to which Mr..
Chambers spoke: .....- .f-.-at,.4
ResoEUe6, That the valor, constsncy, and
endurance of our citizen soldiers, assisted
by the steady 0n.operstion Of all classes of
population not in the field, will continue
sufficient guaranty of the rights of the
States, and the Independence of the Con-
federate States. ~ III r.-... .lse.-
Mr. Chambers said:
Mr.. sPEAEER This .tesolutIop which
had the honor to offer the FIRST day Of the
session, a ittlo in ADVANCE of the reception
OF the Presidents message, expresses an
abiding faith in the continued ability of
the citizen soldiers of the country TO de-
fend the rights Of the States and the indie.
pendence of the Confederate States, without
further assistance or guarantee that may
be derived from the steady CO. operation
| of all classes Of our population not liable
to military duty without the aid of negro
troops; without the aid of convention to
which We have been conditionslly invited
by political party In the URited States,
on their own terms-that is to say, on q
basis which excludes the idea of the per-
manent existence of this Government; and
without the alternative of accepting such
| guarantees as that party, if it accedes to
power, may offer to secure our return to
the old Union-guarantees which, If faith
fully adhered to by that party during. their
four or. eight, years. possession Of pbwer,
would certsinly be repudiated by the party
next succeeding succeeding, as in all
probability they would, on the special
ground of their hostility to the bargain
\ made with us. True, after short inter-
val of reposs our country would agsin
have to choose between war and submis-
sion, and choosing war, enter upon new
less hopeful than the contest in which we
are.now engaged.
Mr.. Chambers condemned the reserve
with which. the subject he proposed had
been treated, and proceeded: -..
No man of observation can be, unaware
of the present anxious apd unsettled con.
dition Of thepGblfc sentiment. The pop-
ular mind is cropping in alabyrinth of per-
Iplexity, seeking solutions for great ques-
l'tions, TO some Of which ,AllQsion has been
made. How to increase our armies, how
to bring about peace and independence,
and in some quSrters, let it be confessed,
whether it might not be prudent to enter
tain even the project of reconstruction
these, Sir, are ,some of the inquiries that
are arrestinR the attention of the country.
It cannot be denied that at least one prop
ositiou of a startling character is forced
upon our consideration. l allude to the
employment Of negro troops. Undoubted-
ly, as 1 think, if this question was not
raised with evil design, it pVst have orig
mated with tinid or despafring patriots,
| who, ignorant of the relative numbers OF
the contending armies and the statistics of
| their loss and incfease, imagine the worst,
| But however or by lwhomsoeYer brought
forward, il presents itself now with imPo'.
sing sponsors, and must be met. The
| President, in his late message, suggests 1t;
the honorable member from Fennessee
IMr. .Eoote) ayows himself in the atftma.
i've: and the distinguished gentlemen from
south Caroliaa and Kentucky &r. Miles
and Mr. Mkr6hSitJ declare that il. is a prop.
osition to be calmly considered. shall
barely aliude TO distinguished and intiu-
endal personsges. fSatfeutly reported as
Iadyocates of the measure, fearful, it were
TO name them, of doing injustice to their
yieIws. or of smothering myself at once
nn6er the weight of their authority, il
The proposition to employ negro troops
SnFSoceeds upon the asipmp ption that our ar
lmies. and the usual source from which
they have been recruited, are approxima-
ting exhaustion. 1t is remarkable, how
ever, that this question comes upon as
knear the close of the most successful CAM
paign Ybnchsafed to Confederate arms
since the first year of the war-a cam
baipu in which the efforts of the enemy
EhaTe been ,upprecedently, great, and his
Gossts compared 70 ourst nnprscedent!y
large; in which, If his reinf6rcements have
bgen greater thsu ourst his original ranks
have steadily diminished in O correspond :
ing ratio; and the belligerents now ind
themselves approaching the fourth winter
of hostilities, with armies of nearly the
sara6. nun eFiSAl relation as existed be-
tween them At the beginning. II may be
| safely asserted that, embracing the traas' 6alh
| Mississippi Department in the account the
contending forces are as nearly equal now
as they were y year ago.
l. ,,SfrcI Chambers. then quoted Mr. DAVIS
message. to demonstrate that the. Confed'
crates had substantially held their ground
during the last campaign, Sc far as terri
I1oryWas concerned and added:
Al the same time, 1t must be admitted
that our armies are not as large IS theI
lshonld be-not nearly so large as 5dne!
ttnfght be,-With gteatsr ethetency. IN q "