Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-11-18
jeff. Davis Speech.


is significant document, in a riumber OF
particulars. 1t takes ground against arm
ing the slaves, and it talks pathetically
about peace. and almost bcggingly implores
Mr.. Lincoln to make terms of peace with
him. In the portion printed below treat
ing Of this most important and deeply in
teresting subject of peace, not a word is
directly said about dying in the last ditch
TO achieve their independence. The phrase
"of peaceful solution of the issues" and
"to substitute reason for force" &c, are
fine words. and rather mild toned in com
rar>on with the decided expressions of
former documents of this character.
In regard to the point of arming the
slaves. strong ground is taken against it.
The rebel President secs. at once, as does
every body else that it is practically aban-
doning the system of chattcl slavery. 1t
ia giving up that which these men made
war upon the government, that they might
the better make secure and permanent
That slavery was the cause of the war no
one doabts at this day. 1t was to give it
better national security. that these men de-
sired an independent government Now il
they arm these black persons, they know
or JEFF Davis does, that all such will never
20 back. peaccably into slavery. 1t is in
efiec; liberating them. Therefore to put
them into the ranks, clothe them in the
national uniform, and put into their hands
the rifle, it makes them frccmcn, beyond Il
peradyenture. These blacks will feel, and
talk, and eventually act like freemcn.-
There is no escape from this. and no men
know better that such a result will follow
such action. than the very men who fun
nlSh the brains to run the Southern Con-
fcdcracy.
DAVIS OPPOSED TO ARMISG TIE SLAVES.
The subject is to he viewed by Us, there
fore. solely in the light of policy and our
social economy. When SO regarded |
must dissent from those who advise
general levy and arming of the slaves for
the duty OF soldiers. Until cur white
population shall prove insufficient for the
armies we require and can afford to keep
in the field, to employ as a soldier the
negro who has merely been trained to la
bor, and as a Iaborer the white man accus-
toned from his Youth to the use of fire
arms, would scarcely be deemed wise or
advantageous by any and this is the
question now before us. But should the
alternative ever be presented of subiuga-
ton or of the employment of the slave as
n soldier. there seems no reason to doubt
what should then be our decision. Wheth-
er our view embraces what would in SO
extreme a case, be the sum of misery en-
tailed by the dominion OF the enemy. or
be restricted solely to the effect upon the
welfare and happiness of the negro pop
ulation themselves, the result would be
the same. The appalling decentralization,
suffering. disease and death which have
been caused by partially substituting the
invaders system of policy for the kind re-
laiion previously subsi<;ing between the
master and the slave, haze been a suiiiceu,
demonstration that external interference
with our Institution 81 domestic slavery is
productive of evil only. If the subject in
VOWED no Cther consideration than the
mere risAt Of property, the sacrifice here
tolore u.adc by eur people have been such
as 70 pprFHi: 70 Doubt ri their readiness 70
surrender every possession III order to 5, =
cure tArir independence. But the social
ana political question which is exclusively
under de control ef The several States,
has a tar N9!er aHd more enduring Ill
porNnee than that Of pcemiary interest.
In is MANIFOLD phfs;s i; embraces the
stability of Eehab.ican institutions,
resting on the actual policy equality oil
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