, 1864-11-15
JEFF DAVIS MESSAGE,
Davis D1ore Of an AboZitfonis. than
Lincoln

tFrom the Richmond Whig, Nov. 8.
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Two propositions are plainly deducible
from the Presidents Message to which we
cannot for moment believe he would delib-
erate1y give his sanction. The first is that
for the slave than that Of seryitude that 1t.
may be bestowed upon him as reward and
boon. The second is that the Confederate
Government has right to acquire possession
Of slaves By purchase or impressment with
compensation, and then cmancipate them
without the consent Of the States, or, In case
Of mprcssmcnt, without the consent Of the
masters.
The first proposition is tho reputation Of
the opinion held BY the whole South and by
large portion Of mankind in other countries,
TINT servitude is tnc diyinely. appointed con.
that condition in Which the negro race espc-
cially may attain the highest molal and INTEL
1ectua1 advancement Of which they are capa-
BILE, and may enjoy more largely of snch COM
forts and blessings Of Life as are suited to
them. Of this we have no doubt, and We hold
Of the care and guardianship Of the master. #
the slave must fight, l,a Should fight for the
blessings he enjoys as slave and not for tic
miserics that would attend him If tree-
The second proposition is still mort start
ling It is the CONCLUSION that the Federal
VVA E4 IAA4CA& A4&o LIE FOhNA AAA At w EAt-A-
inmate slavery by Tie simple process Of i'm
pressing Or purchasing ali slaves, and then
emancipating them. Lincoln has never gone
20 far as this for in his plan for compensated
emane1ration, he expressly referred the
fhey only could determine it.. It Is nnneces-
sary 10 dwell on this subject. We are per
fectly sure that the President tcould never
have designed to giye his assent to 50 mon
strous proposition as this. The multiplicity
and magnitude Of the subjects thatclaim his
attention Will suggest sufficient excuse for
dnadyertcnce Of expressions and immaturity
Of views.
We have alrecdJ given nberal extracts from
Jeti. Davis recent messages. Here Is what
he has-to say Of the conduct Of the wnr. =:
DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
The condition. Of the yarions brl,nchcs Of
the military service is stated In the accom-
panying report Of the Secretary Of War.
Among the suggestions made for legislative
actio1aWi view to add to the numbers and
your consideration, there are some prominent
topics which merit special notice.
The exemption from military duty now &C.
corded by law to all persons engaged in Ger
thin specified pursuits or professions, Is shown
ssnsc 20 n De teory III f. dense 4
home, family and country is universally re-
cogniscd as the paramount political duty Of
every member of society; and in a form Of
government like ours, where each citizen en-
Joys IN equality. Of rights and privileges,
nothing can be more invidious than an un-
equal distribution Of duties and obligations.
No pursuit nor position should relieve any
one who is able to do actiye duty from enroll
ment in the army, unless his functions or ser
vices arc more useful 10 the defense Of his coun-
try in another sphere. Bnt it ia manifest that
this cannot be the case with the entire classes.
All telegraph operators, workmen In mines,
professors, teachers, engineers, editors and en-
ployces Of newspapers, jou1ncymen printers,
Eloc1nakers, tanners, blacksmtths, mlilers,
physicians, and the numerous other classes
mentioned in the laws, cannot, In the nature
Of things, hc either equally necessary IN their
several professions, nor distributed throughout
the country In such proportions that only the
exact numbers required are found In each To-
calIty; nor can it b. everywhere impossible
to replace those within conscript age, by men
older and less capable OF active service. A
discretion should be vested In military au-
| thorities, SO that sufficient number Of those
essential to the public service might be de
tailcd 10 continue the exercise Of their pur--
suits or professions, but the exemption from
service Of the entire classes should be wholly
abandoned. It affords gryat tacilty for abn.
scs, offers the temptation, MS well Us the ready
! means Of escaping service by fraudulent deri-
ces, and Is one Of the principal distractions
to the efficient operation Of, the conscript
LAWS. l.. :: :+ >t.'..::: T..