The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-11-15

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is so marked characteristic of the negro, and
forms so powerful an incentive to his action ghe
policy of engaging to hberate tie negro on his
discharge, after service faithfully rendered, seems
to me preferable to that of granting immediate
manu- mission, that Of retaining him in servitude
If this policy should recommend itself to the judg
ment Of Congress- it is suggested that, 10 addition
to the duties heretofore performed by the slave he
might be advantageousiy employed as pioneer and
engineer labCrer; and in that event, that the num-
Der should be augmented to forty thousand.
Beyond this limit and these employments it does
not seem to me desirable, under existing eirenm-
! stances to 90. A broad moral distinction exists
between the use of slaves soldiers Ia the defence
of their homes, aud the Indictment Of the same
persons to insurrccioD against their masters. The
one Is ust6able if necessary the other is iniquit
Gus and unworthy of civilized people; and such is
the judgment of all writer's public law, as we'll
| as that expressed aud insisted on by our enemies
in all wars prior to that now waged against US.
BY none have the practices, of which they are now
guilty, been denounced with greater severity than
by themselves in the two wars with Great Britain
in the last and in the present century; and in the
Declaration of Independence of l776, when emu
meration was made of the wrongs which justified
the revolt from Great Britain the climax of atroci-
ty deemed to be reached only when the Eng
sh monarch denounced as having excited
domestic instruction amongst U.S."
The subject is to be viewed by US, therefore,
solely 10 the light of policy aud social economy
When so regarded, must dissent from those who
advise general levy and arming of the slaves for
the duty of soldiers. uutl our 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
labor and laborer, the white man, accustomed
from his youth to the of firearms, would
scarcely be deemed wise or advantageous by any;
and this is the question now before US. But should
the alternative be presented Of bjuSation
of the employment of the slave as soldier, there
seems reason to doubt what should then be our
decision. Whether our view embraces what would,
in extreme case, be the sum of misery entalcd
! by the dominion of the enemy, or be restricted
solely to the effect upon the welfare and happiness
Of the negro population themselves, the result
would be the same. The appalling Generalization:
suffering, disease and death which have been caused
by partially substituting the invaders system of
police, for the kind relation previously subssting
between the master and slave, have been q sufi-
cent demonstration that external interference with
our institution of domestic slavery is productive Of
evil only. If the subject involved no other con-
sideration than the mere right of property, the
sacrifices heretofore made by people have been
such as to permit no doubt of their readiness to
surrender every possession in order to their
independence. But the social and political ques-
ton which is exclusively under the control of the
several States, has far wider and more enduring
mperance than that of pecuniary interest. In its
manifold phases it embraces the stability of our
republican institutions, resting the actual pOlit-
ical equality of all its citizens, and includes the
fulf,neut of the task which has been So happily
begun-that of Outstanding and improving the
condition of the Africans who have, hy the will of
Providence, been placed in our charge.
Comparing the results of our own experience
with those of the experiments of Others who have
borne similar relation to the African race the peo-
pie Of the several States Of the Con!edcracy have
abundant reason to be satisfied with the past, and
to use the greatest circumspection in determining
their course These considerations, however, are
rather applicable to the improbable contingency of
need Of resortRs to this element Of resistance
than to our present condition. If the rccommen-
daton above made, FOR the training Of forty thou
sand negroes for the service indicated, shall meet
your approval it is certain that even this limited
number, by their preparatory training in interme-
datc duties, would form more valuable reserve
force, in case of urgency, than three fold their
number suddenly called from field labor while
fresh levy could to a certain extent, supply their
places in the special service for which they arc
now employed.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS
The regular annual reports of the Attorney
General, the Secretary of the Navy and the Post
master General are appended, and give ample in
formation relative to the condition Of the respec-
tive departments. They contain suggestions for
legislative provisions required to remedy such de-
ects in the existing laws have been disclosed by
experience, but none of general or important a
character as to require that should do more than
recommend them to your favorable consideration.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE.
The disposition Of this Government for a peace
full solution Of the issues which the enemy has re-
ferred to the arbitrament Of arms, has been too
often manifested and is too we'll known to need
new assurances. But, while it is true that indi-
viduals and parties in the United States have indi-
Gated desire to substitute reason for force, and
by negotiation to stop the further sacrifice Of human
life and to arrest the calamites which affi:ct
both countries, the authorities who control the
Government of our enemies have too often and too
clearly expressed their resolution to make peace,
except terms Of our unconditional submission !
aud degradation, to leave us any hope of the ces-
sation of hostties until the deluSion Of their
ability to conquer us is dspelled. Among those
who are already disposed for peace, many are |
actuated by principle and by disapproval and alb
horrence OF the Ubiquitous warfare that their Gov
eminent is wagng, while others moved by
the conviction that it is longer to the interest
of the United States to continue struggle in which
success is unattainable. Whenever this fast grow
Jog conviction shall have taken firm root in the
minds of a majority Of the Northern people, there
will be produced that willingness to negotiate for
III 20 toa side is !