Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-11-24
The Rebellion lettering,


Southern States were as manifest in their
newspapers, and even in their official docu-
ments, as now. e 81
The ''irrepressible conflict" has broken out,
in connection with the proposition to arm the
negroes, in form that threatens to prove as
troublesome to the rebellion as it has ever
been under the administration of the legiti-
mate Government. The Richmond papers
depTecate agitation some of them declare it
IS topic that ought not to have been
broached all of them insist that the inter-
ests of the iebellion demand that it shall not
be discussed, yet each accompanies the re-
7 mark by an expression, more or less definite,
of its own views, and thus provokes reply and
renews agitation.
JEFF DAVIS, in his recent message, at
tempted to dodge the question while recon-
mending measure that unquestionably looks
to the arming of the negroes. While de-
claring that there is no immediate necessity
for such a step, he recommends a large in
crease in the number of negro teamsters and
laborers, and that they be drilled so as to be
prepared to act as soldiers in the event their
services should become Indispensable. This
is justly regarded as only an indirect method
OF organizing negro army.
The Richmond Dispatch pronounces the
CONSUMPTION of slaves for soldiers totally
unconstitutional" II says the South parted
from the old Government to avoid an inter-
ference with the domestic affairs of the States,
and that even under the Constitution Of the
United States slaves cannot be emancipated
in order to make soldiers of them, while the
Confederate Government certainly has no
greater power conferred on it over the con-
troll of State institutions. 1t continues -
We give up the anhole contest whe,a ne adopt tbs
measure Whatever we may be fighting for,
the Yankees are fighting for the niger; that
is, to abolitionize the South. We are not
disposed to crafty them if we can avoid it."
The Mobile Tribune is willing to arm the
slaves as a last resort" but not sooner The
Richmond Examiner declares that JEFF.
DAVIS assumption of the power to impress
slaves and emancipate them, by which he
might exterminate slavery, is step further
even than LINCOLN has gone. On the other
hand the editor of the Southern Confederate
Georgia. writes from Richmond that there is
a powerful pressure upon the authorities in
favor Of the measure, and adds that it is with
gratitude that he is able to state officially
that arrangements are now being made to
arm, for the spring campaign three hundred
thousand slaves" Such slaves are to be freed
and have fifty acres of land each. The
measure is now under discussion in the rebel
Congress.
There is another topic hardly less exciting,
and lraught with even more danger to the
rebellion. It is the question of State Sow
ereignty. The Richmond Government is IN
willing to endorse the principle on which the
Southern States based their claim to the right
of secession from the Union. On the other
hand, it is claimed in some quarters, with a
vehemence that gives rise to the suspicion
that there is desire to again act upon it
Gov. Brown, Of Georgia, makes it especially
prominent in his late message, and asserts
the right of each State to make terms of
peace for itself The Milledgeville (Ga) Re
corder gives some significant testimony on the
same point. 1t says: e
owe perceive with much regret that fen
papers IN Georgia ad0ocate the So0ereignty of the
States to such degree as to authorize each for IT.
self to make Tie best bargain 1t can nth Mr. Lin
coin for the cessation Of hoStjtities We regard
= T.
gives an Interpretation to the Southern com
pact which that instrument does not Justify,
but it Is an indirect confession Of soeak3eess
IN the Contederacy, most Mbrtt1I to tie cause
We do not impeach the fidelity of those who
maintain this doctrine of State rights but we
feel persuaded that the error, honest as it
may be, is calculated TO eTeJt an Wnltappy in13al-
e,lce on oar struggle for national 6,depende1,ce-
The propositions at this gloomy .jot,actatYe of re-
VerSeS IN Georgia, implies on abandonment of all
hope Of aAtsnaate success, and in this respect it
is very Objectionable, even if nothing more
serious could be alleged against it. Such
pretenson is wholly inconsistent with the
power to conduct our foreign relations, which
has been delegated to the Confederate gov
eminent"
Altogether, the signs Of the times are most
propitious, and when the news reaches the
South of the decisive election of ABRAHAM
LINCOLN, we anticipa even more significant
indications of a disposition to give over the
hopeless struggle with the superior proves
and the stern and mistaken resolution of the
loyal States.
The REBEL AND CoPPERHEAD CONSPIRACY
The testimony before the military commission
now in session at Indianapolis, continues to
develop startling facts in regard to the re-
cent oath-bound organization by which the
North was to be precipitated into revolution
and the success of the rebellion assured
The testimony of DR.. JAS. B. WILSON con-
firms the previous. reports of conspiracy be-
tween Northern Democratic leaders and
agents of JEFF. DAVIS at Niagara Falls; as
well as the plot for assuring a cooperative
movement, simultaneously with the invasion
of the North by rebel army, by an uprising
of armed bands of the Sons of Liberty and
the release and arming of rebel prisoners. i
DR.. COOPER also gave an account of a Sc
cret meeting held in the fifth story of the
Richmond House, Chicago, on Sunday night
previous to the Democratic National Conven-
ton. YALLANDIGHAM presided, and assured
the meeting that he was satisfied he should
be able to secure the adoption Of platform
favorable to their views, and by which their
organization would merge its action with that
of the Democratic Darty If he GOT the Mat