Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-11-02

Inc conservative insists, in the most positive
TERMS that the resolutions adopted by the Governors
do not contemplate the employment Of slaves as
soldiers 1t says
we repeat the proposition was not favorably
entertained by the meeting. The meeting, as We
understand, was opposed to the proposition but did
not, we presume, feel called upon to express an
opinion on that point as it was new question but
designed simply to express itself in favor of their
being employed by the consent OF owners, cooks,
teamsters &C."
Of course this statement is made by authority Of
Gov. Vance. We reply that the proposition
not only "favorably entertained by the meeting"
but the meeting took ground in favor Of the propo
sition by adopting the following resolutions:
" And whereas, the public enemy having pro-
claimed the freedom of our slaves, are forcing into
their armies the abie-bodied portion thereof the
more effectuay to wage their cruel and bloody war
against US; Therefore be it,
Resotued, That it is the policy and obvious duty
of all slave owners timely to remove their slaves
from the line of the enemy's approach, and espec
tally those able to bear arms and when they shall
fail to do so that it should be made the duty Q. the
proper authorities to enforce the performance of
this duty and to give to such owners all necessary
assistance as far as practicable.
Resolued, That the course of the enemy in appro
priating our slaves who happen to fall into their
hands to purposes of war; seems to Justify change
of policy on our part and whilst owners of slaves
under the circumstances should freely yield them to
their country, We recommend to our authorities,
under proper regulations to appropriate such part
of them to the public service as may be required"
Could language be palmer than that2 First,
ssveowners are admonlshed to remove their slaves,
especially those able to bear arms secondly, the
fact that the enemy has employed slaves as soldiers
is referred to- to justify change of policy on our
part; and thirdly, the circumstances are referred
to IS an nducement to owners to freely yield their
slaves, to.be employed in accordance with the new
policy thus suggested forced upon US by the enc
my. Slaves are already employed on Notifications,
and they have been used in this State as tsamsters.
How could we be expected to change" "poli-
cy" already established, and to which no Southern
er objectss Why refer to the employment of slaves
| as soldiers by the enemy, if the purpose was not
thus to employ them ourselvess
The Conservative says it will continue to hold its
position of opposition to the employment Of negro
soldiers "until convinced that it is in error" The
Conservative is in condition to such language
Independence of opinion is very desirable but the
Conservative, as is we'll KNOWN is the dependent
organ of the Governor. Its publisher is one of his
shade officers, and must obey orders or resign.
Error" with the Conservative would consist in OPP
posing the whims or the opinions of the Governor,
whatever those whims or opinions may be.
But the Confederate Of Monday last takes the
same view that We do, to wit that the resolutions
of the Governors do contemplate the recommend
alton of the employment of slaves armed soldiers
in the SERVICE" And the Confederate goes further,
and makes an argument in favor Of the proposition,
though it says it declines to "assume any position,
until we are more enlightened" The Confederate
says the proposition to arm the negroes was "a
question antedating the war-antieipated by very
many" &c. We never heard Of this before. We
are sure that if Virginia and North Carolina had
foreseen that the negroes would be armed and that
they had before them not only the loss of their
and servile war, they would not have seeded from
the old government