Evening star., 1864-12-12


down the Weldon Railroad. over the track o
the late Stony Greek raid. Their object 10 uu-
known. Some suppose IL to be a simple raid
for the hetter destruction of the railroad; others
that IL is intended TO make n permanent iodg-
inent at Weldon; Others that u Is aimed at
Wilmington; others that T. is a reinforcement
to Sherman; nothing is really known except
that the force of the three arms has marched
eft in that direction, and was last heard Of IS
miles .outh of Petersburg.
Exchange Of Prisoners.
From the Charleston Mercury, Dee. 81
Lieutenant Colonel w. Ii. Hatch ana his
Adlutant. Captsin NJ. j. D'Rrien, or the Ex-
change Bureau, lately On a visit to Savannah,
arrived IL Charleston on Saturday afternoon.
AT ten O'Clock on Sunday morning nag Of
trnce boat steamed down the harbor, in charge
of Lieutenant Colonel Hatch, 10 the outer
huoy, " here he was met by Lieutenant Col.
hulioTd. The interview w of the Commissioners
lasted I'LL 8 O'Clock.
The Courier SAYS arrangements were made
Ior continued exchange of prisoners or this
haIoor. Col. Mulford's fleet, comprising some
eient or ten vessels, are now lying outside OF
Tue narhor preparatory TO receiving prisoners.
Ahothef nag OF truce will go down on Tuesday
win number OF Yam kee prisoners Anurn.
Der OF cheers confined In Fort Pulaski will
PROBABLY De exchanged and returned to us at
The same time. Under arrangements made
with Col. M uiford there will be no Smelling OF
the city during the stay Of the Exchange Com
missioner, w hich will probably be from two
TO three weeks. Col. Hatch has already turned
over to Col Mulford, a. Savannah, $500 pYis.
oners and will exchange about 500 more at this
point.
Battle at Pocotaligo.
The Mercury says that passengers who az
rived Sunday evening reported that a q: :ht
was going on somewhere near Pocotaligo, as
they passed hat point, but no definite details
in regard TO the progress or result OF the re.
ported action could be gathered.
Message Of Governor Extra Billy Smith, Q
Virginia.
rHIIp
TIE CoNFEDERACY-HEFAyO ARMINg THE
SLAVES FOR THE CoNFEDERACY.
On Thursday last, Extra Billy Smith, for
merly member of our Congress, and now
Governor of Virginia, sent in his annual meg
sage TO the Nirgtnia Legislature. The docu-
ment is very long one, and is printed in all
the Richmond papers OF Friday last.
Gov. Smith appears 10 be arguing through
ont his message for a wholesale conscrip,ion.
Those men W HON the Legislature may exempt
from the Confederate Service, Smith urges,
should be put into the State service, and that
Virginia should have as large force OF "re-
serves as Georgia. For this purpose, he says,
" l respectfully urge in this dark hour of our
fortunes that the entlTe male population our
State msy he embodied for The purpose OF CO.
operating in our great struggle"
He treats at iengt th upon the question of arm
ing the slaves. He says sail agree that when
the question becomes one of liberty and inde-
pendence on one hand or suhjugation on the
other, that every means within our reach
should be used to aid in our struggle and TO
ba file and thwart our enemy.
Il say, every man will agree to this. No
man would hesitate. Even If the result were
TO emancipate our slaves, there is not a man
that would not cheerfully put the negro into
the army rather than become slave himself
10 our hated and yindiCtive foe. II IS then
simply question OF time. Has that time
arrived when the issue is fairly before us Is
il indeed liberty and independence or subiuga-
ton which is presented TO us The man must
he blind TO current events, to the gigantic pro-
portions of this war, and to the proclamations
of the enemy, who does not see that the issue
above referred TO is presented now, and
repeat, the only question Is, has the time ar
rived
care we able beyond question to wage a sue
cessful war against power three times our
own mum bers, with all Europe from which to
recruit, and no unhesitating1y put arms in
the hands OF our own negroes Tor our destruc-
tion! l will not say that under the providence
OF God we may not he able 10 triumph, but i
do say that we should not from any ma kish
sensibility refuse any means within our reach
which Will tend to enable US TO work out our
deliverance."
He then reviews the recent caucus OF South-
ern Governors, and having stated that slavery
s in the last stages OF dissolution, he cludes
the subje CT as follows
81 am aware that clamor has been raised
against the policy OF putting negroes into the
army by good and loyal men, because they
say the end is not yet, that our army OF citizen
soldiers is still competent to make good our
defense. No one would advocate the policy OF
thus appTopriating our slaves, except as q
matter of urgent necessity, but as public opin-
ion is widely divided on this subject does not
common prudence require US TO fear that those
opposed TO this extreme measure may be mis-
taken! Suppose 1t should so turn out how
deep would be their responsibility to the
country, TO freedom, and independence every
where.
II know it is the opinion OF some OF the high
est military authorities that the time has come
when we should call our slaves TO our assist
ance, and hold 1t to be clearly the duty OF
every citizen. however much he may doubt the
wisdom and necessity OF the policy, to co.ope-
rate In Strengthening by every mems our ar
mics. / repeat, know this policy is looked to
with anxiety by some Of the abest military
men OF the age, who believe that it is of the last
i'm portance that it should be adopted without
delay. 1, therefore, earnestly recommend the
Legislature that they should give this subject
earnest consideration, and enact such meas
ures as their wisdom may approve"