Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-11-23
jeff. Davis McsSage---Ncgro Soldiers.

JcT. Davis Message Negro Soldiers.
message The following is Jcirs, position
ON the black soldier question:
In addition to the duties heretofore por-
formed to the slave, he might bo advantQ
geously employed as Il pioneer and engineer
laDorer, and that event the number should
be augmented to 10000, Beyond this limit
OF their employment it does not seem dcsir-
able, under existing circumstances. to go.--
moral distinction exists between the use
OF slaves as soldiers in defence Of their homes
and the Indictment of the same persons to
lnsurrccton against their masters. This
subject is to be viewed by no one, therefore,
solely in the lightof policy and our social
economy, When SO regarded, must dis
sent from those who advise Il general levy
and armng Of slaves for the duty Of sol
dicrs, But should the alternative ever be
presented Of subugation or of employment
ol slaves rs soldiers, therc seems no reason
to doubt what should then be our duty.
SO it appears that JEFF the First holds ii
to be very right for negroes to help rebels,
but very wrong for them to defend the
country! That is Legitimate pro-slavcry
logic.
COMMENTS ON THE MESSAGE.
The following is from the Richmond
Wing Of the 9th
Two propositions are plainly dcducblc
from the Presidents message, which we
cannot for a moment believe he would de-
libcratcIy give his sanction to. First that
/ the condition of freedom is 50 much better
/ than that Of scrvitude, that it may be be-
slowed as II reward. Second that the Con.
| tederate Government has the right to require
| possession Of slaves by purchase or impress
mcnt, with compensation, and then cmanci-
/ pate them without the consent Of the States
the impressmcnt being without the con
sent Of their masters
The first proposition is reputation of
the opinion held by the whole South and
large portion Of mankind in other countries,
that scVitudc is the diyncly appointed
condition for the highest good Of slaves, and
is that condition in which negroes may at
tain the highest moral and intellectual ad-
vancement of which they are capable and
may enjoy most largely of such comforts
and blessings Of life as arc suited to them
OF this we have no doubt, and we hold that
| it cruelty deprivcs the slaves Of the care and
guardianship of the master. If the slave
must fight, he should fight for the blessing
| he enjoys rs slave, not for the miscrics that
attend him if freed.
! The second proposition is still morcstart-
ling. 1t is n concession that the Conltdcr-
ate Government has the power and right to
eXtermnate slavery by the simple process
Of impressng or purchasing all slaves, and
then emancipating them. Lincoln has never
gone so far as this, for in his plan for COM
pensating emancipation, he expressly refer
red the question to the States, acknowledge
ing they only should determine it, 1t is
unnecessary to dwell on the subject We
are perfectly sure the President could never
have designed to have given assent to SO
monstrous n proposition us this. The null
tiplicity and magnitude of the subject that
claim his attention furnish sufficient excuse
for the inadvertence of expression and views
from which theories so out OF place in Il
saveholding community are dcducibo
The message is partially reviewed by the
Sentinel, which thinks its views are SO
clearly and happily presented as to need no
calculations. The Sentinel demands a wise
policy and administration of the railroad
system, and urges the building Of a road
from Danvile to Greensboro and another
from Danvllc TO Lynchburg, and asks for
Il road direct from Richmond to LynchbWg
The Dispatch and Enquirer have nothing
of importance concerning the message.
The Examiners views ON the negro qucs-
ton are similar to the Wings. 1t says the
adoption of the plan would be a concession
to Aboltionism improper and absurd In
.,,l "a,
detail all editors, the Examiner SAYS the
Constitution guarantees freedom OF the press,
and the President, who is sworn to support
that Constitution, proposes to subject every
editor to the caprice of Seldom or Ben
jamin.
In discussing the message in the rebel
Congress,
Mr.. Swan, of Tennessee, offered n rcsolu-
ton declaring that no cXigcncy exists, or is
likely to occur, requiring the placing of ne
grocs in the army.
He also introduced resolution to recall
all Commissioners from foreign nations.
Discussion upon the resolution was brici,
but sharp.
Mr.. Miles of South Carolina, opposed the
proposition to arm the slaves.
Mr.. Footc, of Tennessee, favored, but said
he desired waiting the decision of the enemy
on the question of the employment Of ne
grocs. This decision would appear in the
result of the present election. If Lincoln
was elected he would favor giving the Pres
idcnt full power to employ slaves. lie was
ready for the black flag, or anything before
submission.
The bill to raise more men for the rebel
army places all resident white males between
the ages of eighteen and iorty-five in the
army, revokes all exemptions and details,
and authorizes the President to make de
tailc whom necessary.