New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-13
"ExTRA Bis.AK'so PLAN.


Gov. Smith of Virgnia--bc,tcr known rs
Extra Bily"--in default Of being able 10
take a cheerful view OF the war. Us s0cn from
the South side, is constrained TO take. in one
respect, q sensible view. and thh Is tho more
remarkable rs coming from "Eyira Billy" In
asmuch ~ good sense hrs not hitherto been
considered his strong point. IL Is IN a
single conclusion. however, rather than
in bis method Of reaching il, that this new
trait OF character ia best displayed. According
TO tho Governor. il was the North and not tbs
South which believed, when tho war began, tbs-
il was to be Of short duration. aud thai che
former. "rolying upon its great superiority III
numbers and material" expected 70 over
run tho latter - not only sith ia
ciity," but with "oase-" But thf
North. notwithstanding Its great superiority.
SOON exhausted it, floating population" and
hos since reinforced its armies bfrecruitlng in
Europe aud on tho Southern plantations!
With an antagonist Of suoh resources
the Governor admits tho South contends
at q disadvantage. and he docs not
hesitate 10 confess that in a war OF such mag
nitude sho cannot rely upon the "naturai ac-
erection" for sufficient supply d men. by
oil this His Excolleney means that they never
looked FOR short war; and wcro quito prepared
for and capable of carrying on a long one had 1t
been fought or anything like fair forms; but the
mean Yankees, "in violation of sll civilized
war" having exhausted all their own resources,
sent abroad for few hundred thousand men, and
stole few hundred thousand "niggNs' To sup
ply their armies! In such contest, oil course,
the natural sccretion" gives out, and Eve lind
ourselves" says the sagacioE Governor, look
ing around for material TO enlarge our armies.
! Whence ia il to comet" Unless they ARE en-
lsrgod, and that speedily. lie acknowledges
that the question is between liberty
and independence on the one hand. or
our (their) subjuga.ion ard utter RUN
on tho other" II Is certainly O most sensi-
bio conclusion. whsteve. VIC may think OF
the reasoning by which he arrives ct it, or the
rpmedy with which he proposes TO meet It,
Wherever our armies have come from. they have
certainly brought the Rebellion TO its last legs,
AZ Gov Smith honestly testifies.
| But what il his remedy' OF course he has
one lIe throws aside all "mswkish sensibili-
ty," proposes TO appropriate tbs rlaves," and
urges the Legislature to give the subject it,
early consideration. He proposes TO "appro-
prate tho slaves" for the purpose Of achieving
the freedom Of Southern white men. il the re-
suit of such stop should be that these fighting
bondmcn should be rewarded with their own.
lie has clearly another lesson yet TO learn in
common sense. Rebellion on the eve Of fall
ure for want Of men, he hopes to save by put
ting arms into the hands Of all the able-bodied
slaves. To thom he holds out the possibility OF
gaining their personal ffeedon-not freedom
for their wives and children, not for parents and
sisters, but for themselves alone. On the con-
trary he says: "Slayory viii undoubtedly
DO at an end if we aro subjugated.
and making it aid In our dctonse will
improve the chance Of preserving 1t Is the
dave quito fool, or Is MIR. Smith He aud his
fellow Rebels can only be saved by getting the
slave 10 fight for them. Ii he fights for them,
perhaps they Will give hun freedom for eaving
them and Slavery. II he does not fight for
them. he and his will b. free forever. and
Slavery be forever abolished. The slave. proba-
bis. can seq this il Mr. Saith cannot. And If
Tie slave wants any aid to comprehension
Of the subject. Mr. Smith is kind enough to tell
him where 70 look for it, or. ~ least Ia tell Us
whers ne will be sure to fiDd it. "Our free
negroes" says tho wise Governor, "arc very
d,Ordo'ly. many of them doubtless disloyal."
They are found cooperating with the enemy,
ard occasionally INDUCING in the utterance Of
treasohable sentiments, and threats against our
fellow citizens" We certainly hepe the Virginia
Legislature will adopt the advice go character
istn of Extra Billy" and arm the slaves forth
with. lie will be more firmly persuaded than
no Il now THAI II was the want Of national
acereton" that played the mischief with the Re-
belliOn