Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1864-12-01
THE IRREPREsSIBLE NEGRO.

We are sorry to say that the "nigger
question" is not yet settled. We had sup
posed it was pretty well got rid Of For
some years it has been agitating the coun-
/ try. 1t has been settled and settled again
| but all TO no purpose. Like the ghost of
/ the murdered Banquo, it would pop up at
unseemIy times and in improper places, a
dread specter, frightening the timd from
( their propriety, and sometimes even awing
the brave But here in the North the dire
spirit had been exercised, and finally laid
The last phase was the question of arming
the blacks, and "will the nigger fight" The
I latter having been decided affirmatively,
and the former policy settled, there was no
/ Democrat too proud to hire nigger substi-
I tutc to represent him i'll the Union armies
Then it having been agreed upon that the
advance of our victorious armies wiped
out Slavery, and that the institution was
doomed, there seemed to be fair prospect
Of final settlement of the "nigger ques-
ton"
Southern brethren, the discussion of the
niggcr question was forbidden. 1t was,
and is to this day, one Of the chief causes
of complaint against the North that they
permitted it, Now, alas we observe that
it is distracting and dividing the Southern
Confcdcracy In the desperation Of their
failing cause, some hertcrodoX, abolition,
mhelievcr, has dared to propose the plaC-
inc of arms in the hands of the Slaves. 1t
has become a great and serious question.
JEFF. DAVIS, in his message touches lightly
the measure, ut he approaches as nearly
to it. as his extreme Southern views will
permit him. He unqucstionably sees the
necessity for the help of the slaves, but
don't like to trust them He proposes how
ever, the employment Of an increased num-
Der in various departments of the army
And to ensure their fidelity, what do you
suppose the great arch conspirator-the
President of a Confederacy founded upon
Slavcl as its corner stone--offcrs as re-
ward for their laithfullness? Why, moth
ing more nor less, than Freedom. These
Slaves, if true to the confederacy, are to be
promised their freedom, after a certain
length of service. \ poor reward, if slave
holding logic and theory be correct They
are to be deprived of the kindest, most
amablc and considerate of masters, and
thrown upon the cold charities of the con-
federate world They are to be removed
from all the blessings which cluster so
thickly around the institution of Slavery,
and doomed to the miseries of dependent
freedom.
The Richmond papers bitterly assail this
position of Davis message. 1t gives the
lie at once to all the allegation of the slave
holders. 1t is an admission Of the false
ness Of the claim they set up that the
Slave is more contcnted in his state of bond
age ,amd happier when wearing the shackles
1t is a confession Of the weakness and i'll
iquity Of the institution
Meanwhile the "niggcr question" is dis
cusscd throughout the South, In Congress
the debate is personal and violent, the
press becomes Incorporate, and members
/ of Congress indulge in isticutls. 1t is Il
confession of the desperate condition of the
Confederacy, and shows that they have lost
all confidence III the success of their schemeSs
BaE" \ Washington dispatch says "A
statement appeared in one or more Of to-
days papers. enormously attributed to the
Washington Agent and reported for the
Associated Press, that Commander COLLINS
has been ordered to return to Bahia, Brazil,