The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-12-23
slgasllrille &aniOll.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER %, 1864.
POIngs in the Rebel CoHgress-ArmiHg
Negroes Determined upon.

are reduced. After celebrating Wits
closed doors, it has been resolved e
arm the negroes, against the earnest
protest of the Governors Of nearly al
the Southern States; and in accordance
with the resolution, the CONSUMPTION Of
all able bodied contrabands has already
commenced in earnest; and as a sequel,
the negroes are focking iuto our lines,
in greatly increased numbers
Wewill not waste much time, or space,
upon the new policy adopted; but that
it is the most fatal blow the rebei
lion has received, all will agree. By
adopting it, the rebel authorities have
committed political suicide Itmatters
not whabmay be the real issues, pend
ing between the loyal and disloyal
States; the negroes understand that
the northern soldiers are their friends,
and that the South is fighting to con-
tinus them in bondage; and they viii
act accordingly. It's true their ideas
Of government are crude, and vague
but this very vagueness makes them
the more dangerous to their old mas
ters, and the more true to the northern
men.
We all know, when our men escape
from rebel prisons, how faithful the
negroes along their route are toward
them; how they supply them with
food, and act as guides; and all who
have returned, report that every slave
looked upon the Yankee as his dehv-
erer, and the rebel as his enemy and
hence, while the African has SHOWN
himself the willing soldier of the Gov
eminent, he viii not be even good
conseript for his late master.
Another importantmeasure proposed
to the rebel Congress, is embraced il
the resolution Of Mr.. McMulien, q
Virginia, to send peace commissioner
to Washington. Mr. McMullen is 81
fire>eater of the most violent stamp
was an original disunionist, and fan
type of the "ehivalry," one of whom
was declared to be equal TO FIVE Yam
KEGS and when, but few weeks since,
Mr.. Leech, of North Carolf6e offered
series of resolutions, in favor OF
peace, he voted against them. There
fore the movement, coming, as it does,
from him, is significant Of the effects
of Hoods disaster at Franklin-his last
one here having been unknown q
Richmond-and of Sherman success |
Mr. McBlullen has seen the message
OF President Lincoln; he is aware OF
the fact that the policy of the national |
Administration has been fully endorsed;
and be well knows, that no negotia
tions will be opened, which do rot
provide for a restoration of the Union /
and yet he proposes to send peace
to treat; and Of course
he,would not favor such a measure, un
less he was prepared to accept the
terms offered by the Northern people,
through the President We hardly be
lieve he is a fool, yet a fool he would be
to make the motion he did, unless be
was prepared to accede to all that Pres
ident Lincoln demands.
Nor does the resolution appear 10
have been offered on the spur of tn
it was premeditated and done
after a full investigation Of certain
matters Bishop Day had
had been in the North-doubtless at
Washington-and on passing General
3rants lines, he had a conversation
with the Lieut. General on the subject
IF sending such commissioners, and
he latter was prepared to pass them to
Washington, with theproper safeguard
This fact was stated by Mr.. McMullen,
n answer to an inquiry and the fact
f that inquiry having been made, il
that other members, beside
himself, were interested in the measure.
There can be no doubt but the results
f the last three months operations
ave been such as to convince the
Outhern peopleof the o e sness Of
heir cause Europe win do nothing {
Or them, as they expected in the be-
inning; last November put quietus
pom the peace party of the North, their
lost effective ally; and Mr.. Lincoln's
iesssge held the same positions as
lmed heretofore; while on every hand !
ar armies were successful
Hoods campaign, as one could see,
nd as is now proven, was failure ,
herman had moved through the heart
Georgia, and it was assumed, after
lpiuring Savannah, and perhaps :
harleston, would be transferred to
icbmond TO operate with Grant; and
ON East Tennessee, raids into Vr- (
mia and North Carolina were con-
antly kept up, and Breckenridge was o
owerless to prevent them. The She =
andoah valley. too, was the scene Of r
humiliation to the rebel
mics; and Sheridan could, whenever :
ssirable, cooperate with Grant, and 1
this extremity, the rebels had bat :.
1e army which was sufficiently strong e
deserve the name, in the field, ard 2
TAT was the one under Lee, defending n
and that can hold out 70 3,
At little while against the combined a.
roes ofs Grant and Sherman q
As for more men, hey can't be had
le most mereiless CONSUMPTION win
ot suffice to make up'for casualties, to =
y nothing about desertions; and JET
avis says, himself, that two thirds 4
those whose homes are on the mus =
= rolls. are deserters Nor is this all y
he only railroads leading from Rich. =
iond 70 heGulf States, are completely $
and the scattering forces
! Mississippi, and Alabama are as
owerless 10 reenforce Lee, as is the Z
rmy west of the Mississippi There is \,
A.