Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-01-17
ArminE the Slaves.

f'ot approoatlon, an arbcle from the wilmington
CaroIiniGn, in which that paper says
1--WE would have each State provide homestead
for the black soldier on his return home-this as
reward. And then we would give him freedom as
| means of enjoying the property given him. We
would give him the right TO hold any species of
! property which 3 white man could hold"
Such is the, doctrine put forth by public jour
nal in the midst of q slaVeholding people. Aside
from the wretched war policy which it urges, it is
abolition doctrine, and ncendiarv in its character.
1t is Lincoln doctrine 1t is the very doctrine which
this war was commenced to put down. Surelyw
ought to have peace now, since extremes have
metl-since the partzans of Mr. Lincoln and the
partizans of Mr. Davis have united not only in the
advocacy of abolition, but m the same means OF
efectinS it! Negroes are not only to be conscrpt-
ed and placed in camp and on the field on level
with our white soldiers, but they to have their
freedom and homestead at the end Of the war, as
their reward The negro soldier is to have a home
stead, but the white soldier is promised nothingl-
No homestead is to be provided for him. His wife
and children, already Oeggared by the war, must
toll on, and the children must grow up in ignorance
ard rags because he is white; but the negro is to
have his freedom and homestead the negro is be
the pet and the gallant Eeteran, with the scars
offfty battles on his body to be turned off to work
as tenant if he have no land, and must be jostled
and insuted IN his neghborhood as long as he lives,
by his black comrade, who is to have a homestead
provided for him by the State If this is not ne
groPho6iG run mad, we know not what is. Why,
our enemies have not yet proposed to divide our
lands among our negroes. Aggressive and harsh
as they are, they have appeared disposed thus far
to spare US this humiliation. They offer freedom
to our slaves, but not homesteads. But if they
should go farther hereafter and tell our slaves that
if they will abandon their masters and fight under
their flag, they will give them our lands as their
reward, they might plead the above offer as an ex-
tenuation of their crime, and declare to the world
that some of own leading journals had set them
the example BY proposing such policy.
The 0OntederGte, in copying the CdrOlinidR's
article, says:
"Without concurring entirely in the sentiments
therein contained, there Is much to commend it to
the pablo Since the attest of our military leaders
from two points of observation has declared in favor
of the employment of negro soldiers, the spirit of
the press is very properly conforming to this stand.
ard authority. Of the right, we never doubted; of
the e1pediency we are now convinced If the South
negro be appealed to- with the proper moral in
ducements to enlist his sympathies, We doubt not
either his capacity, his willingness, his deli
ty; and with this element of strength our lnde-
pendence is certain. The soldiers are almost unan-
inmous in favor of il. They need reinforcements,
and their wishes ought to be controlling infu-
ence"
1t is not true that the press of the country is
conforming to this standard authority" A poor,
contemplate, subsidized press, many of whose Ed
itors are detailed men, are conforming" under
ders, aS we admit, to this black STANDARD, but
the free presses of the land whose Editors speak
for the people instead Of power, regard the propo
sition with adherence Nor is it true that the ne
gro possesses either sufficient capacity, willingness
or fidelity to make good soldier. No race of men
will make good soldiers who do not embrace some.
! at least, who are capable of commanding. But il
is admitted on all hands that white officers aust
| command black soldiers; otherwise the black SOL
ders are worthless This e1plodes the idea that they
have capacity. As to their Willingness they would
show it at onco by taking to the woods as soon as
they heard OF the order for their conscrption and
so far as their fidelity is concerned, the few who
might be forced into the ranks would illustrate that
| by deserting to the SnGpy. Nor is it true that
the soldiers in favor of arming the slavesf On
! the lrary, they regard it not only as an insult
to themselves but as fraught With the most alarm
| ing consequences to their families at home.
But a writer in the Confederate over the classic
signature Of b. K. B.. caps the climax of absurdity
by proposing to reward the negro for his services
as soldier by allowing him "by law c ration of
tobacco, sugar, and Whiskey, fer life'-an "extra
suit Of ornamental clothing once year." with
stipulation that be is to have every Saturday in
| fha To fbaG GLa 5of
before? Cufee is to "chaw his-own hacker
drink his own whiskey, sweetened with his own
sugars and he is to have license Go he pleases
in his ornaments, "every Saturday In the year,
Shades of Washington, of John Taylor of Caroline,
| of Macon, and of all other worthless who, in their
| day. possessed some common sense! The whiskey
we imagine, is designed to improve his morals
Such small things as reading his Bible, and receiv-
ing religious instruction. and hearing &c old master"
or i" old mistress" expound his duties, the duties of
his wife and children, and his relations to his Maker,
are not accounted worthy of this /" ornamental"
negro; bat he is to have whskey in lieu of all these
Fortunate African tho very kinks in his head
would become straight under such treatment. Of
course our government chaplaius would ask bles-
Sing on the whiskey; and all good people would
admonish this Ornamental African, with several
scars upon his back, honornhlE rAeeiuna iA- AaAs-
perate run from :he enemy, that he must drink at
least as much as the law allowed. And he would
drink 1t. Society would have pleasant time with
these interesting relics. They would be orna-
ments" indeed. ...-...
The Destructive leaders are certainly very fertile
in e1pedients to keep themselves out of the war;
First pesceab!e secession was to give US indepen-
dence; then King Cotton was to do it; then foreign
Intervention was to do it; next should certainly
whip the enemy when we got him away from his
| gunboats; end now, all these expectations having
failed, we are to get Independence through the