Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-10-18
Aiming the Slaves,

In the field against the North. We attached but
slight Importance to this proposition, because we
could not think for a moment that an attempt
would be made to carry it out. But the Richmond
Se"tinet of October 18th endorses the proposition
in the following language:
We do not forget however, that there is
another source to which the Yankees look for rein
forcements and on which they build large calcula-
tons. We mean the negroes. Indeed, Mr.. Lincoln
openly admits that take away this help and he has
no chance of success. He and his echoes even af-
firm that they have at this time, two hundred
thousand sons of Africa in his military service
This is manlieSty untrue. Where are they p
Grants and Sheridan's and Sherman's armies, all
united, would not amount 10 two hundred thousand
men. But our enemies do not remember one thing.
Ehey do not remember that, President Davis
says, we are fighting not for slavery but for indie
Pendence. We would sooner sacrifice slavery
thousand times than be conquered by the Yankees
and then have it sacrificed 10y them. If it become
necessary We can enlist the negro element on our
own side. We make all the offers that the
Yankees can, and some that they cannot We are
far more considerate for our domestcS than our in
human enemies. We have not desired to involve
them in our wars. Save for our tend erneSS for
them, could long ago nave used them to far bet
ter purpose than the Yankees ever can. If neceS-
sity should ever o6ge US TO lay aside our scruples,
upon our enemies will be all the blame before God
and man."
The Sentinel is the special organ of the President,
and what it says on any subject is, therefore,
titled to more than ordinary consideration.
Dow dream, or is this sad reality? Do we indeed
live in a Gospel land, unler the sIn of the niie-
teenth century? Whatpeople is this? Are these
the descendants of Washington, and Jefferson and
CASTOR, and Lowndes, and Moutric, and Prentiss,
and Jackson, and Polk, aud Hrrison, and Clay?
The peopls-no, the government Of the North-wth
refinement of cruelty to which language can give
no adequate expression, las armed hundreds Of
thousands OF these poor creatures, hudlied them in
camps, and hurled their bodies against our breast
works and through storms of grape, and canister,
and minnie balls, and thus sent them to their death
in their efforts to overcome us; and now it is FRO
posed that aoe should do the same thing-Shou!d
"lay aside our scruples" and commit this great
sin against slaves against ourselves against hu
manity, and against God. Is government gong 10
do it2 lfn does it will proclaim by such an act
that the white men of the Confederate States arr
not able to achieve their own liberties and will thus
in reality give up a contest which it will seek t
prolong by the cowardly sacrifice OF an unwarlIkc
and comparatively innocent race.
The proposition is to free two or three hundred
thousand slaves, and then order them to fight foI
us. Will they do it? Would thcy not, with arm,
in their hands, either desert to the enemy turn
their weapons against US? And what would our
soldiers say to q proposition which would place
negro troops CT the same footing with themselves
We have right to speak freely, and we inteno
70 do so, so far as the Conservatives of this State
are concerned. They, the Conservatives have dont
more than their duty in this war. There are iewc
deSerters among them, and there are fewer Of them
at home than the original seceSsioniSts. They are
willing to continue the war by white men, and be
teeen white men, long there is ground to hope
that the South can succeed provided every honora
BILE effort is made meanwhile to obtain peace; but
they are not willing 10 remain il the ranks and
fight side by with negroes, against negroes aEl al
olitiOniStS, while originals are skplkinS from ser
vice, or making the employment OF negroes as sol
ders pretext for not going to the themselves.
The abotioniStS of the North are thrusting the
peor negro between themselves and danger; ard
row tine seceSsionists of the South are suggesting
the same thing, and proposing to arn our slaves,
in the hope that some of them may escape the bul-
lets they ought long since to have dared on the
field Of battle.
This proposition to arm our slaves is rot only in
expressiby wrong IN ITSELF but it is calculated to
demoralIze slave population, and thus increase
the chances that the Institution will he destroyed
by the war. Every intelligent STAKEHOLDER and
non.slavchoidor, and every citizen who has spark
of Conservatism or humanity IN his tosom shculG
set his face against It like flint. The prayer which
in the very nature Of things, would lie put up for
the success in battle Of our share oi these poor
creatures against the share or interest in similar
creatures en- TIE federal side with which they would
contcrd, would cause the blood to run cold and the
hair to stand on end Oar secession readers may
imagine such prayer, bnt we must be spared the
effort to conceive it and commit it TO paper.
The effect of so desperate proposition, together
with the statement of Mr.. Davis IN his Macon
speech in relation to the aOsenees from our army,
cannot fail greatly to encourage our enemies. The
New York Herald of a late date says:
"Our latest advices from Richmond present a
more dismal picture Of the desperate eXIremies OF
tle rebel COEGederaCy than given 10 the world
the other day by JEFF Davis in his docful harangue at
Macon, Ga and Je'S disclosures Of his melancholy
condition We're sufficient to convince the thinking
world that he has seen the fatal handwriting On the
! wall His confession that two thirds oC his enlisted
fighting men were dcscrterS or StraggierS, absent
without leave, settled the question; but when it is
! proposed at Richmond to meet this ruinOuS def.
cheney by arming the slave population, on the b-ss
! Of emancipation, we see the cncEy driver 10 the
pirates last resort, of blowing up his ship to
escape capture
The Macon speech of Davis, the furious but i'm
potent ef,rts of Hood to eztricatc hiiuseli from
Sherman the still more desperate but equally futile
ct)rs of Lee, right and left, to break through the
! tightening coils Of Grant convincing cvIden-
ccS that the rebellion is in it's dying Strug5 5lcs.
But if further evidence be demanded We think that,
to satisfy the most skePtical copperheAd. We have
only to point to the proposition OF the Richmond
Enquirer to make last effort to save the "Confed
er.ry " bv tearing aYay the lounGalOn uuvn which