Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-02-10

wOu Id for An lnet2nk 10 VOC6G9 b8o GOnBf0-
Grafton of these terms is ready and willing 70
be a slave TO his ewn negro. To sucn degTn-
dation AZ d disgrace war has not yet orougnt
any Of these people. Reconstruction ana sep
arate State action are all that this peace som
dead.
Now, since the enemy have told as their ulti-
matum, and will not entertain any other prop
oeition; since we must fight or we are slaves;
since now the question OF reconstruction 10 one
Of fact and NOT of theery-that, too, the fact OF
negre, poverty for the white man and our
property for the Yankee-let us all unite in
harmonious and determined effort to defeat the
enemy, and teach them that, though we are for
humanitys sake desirous or ending the war
yet not for the life of rs a!l will we consent TO
such terms as those proposed. The campaign
of 1865 must 90 on, and on its issue depends the
future Of these people. II defeated and de-
stroyed in that campaign, those that survive
will have nothing worse to submit TO than is
now demanded by the enemy, while those that
fall will at be at least free from slavery, dts
honor, and infamy; while, if we are successful,
we shall not only escape the fate Of lnfsny
BLESSINGS OF liberty and prosperity to us and 70
our children forever. Since nothing is left to
us bnt to fight; since the enemy will not per-
NIT any discussion of the means Of our ending
The war, let all determine that SO far as We can
the fight shall be a good one-shall be q fight to
which our children's children can point with
made their country free from the despotism of
mean, low, wretehed people. Let fight
the fight out, and leave to God the issue OF its
battles. Let US do our duty, and God will
neither forsake us nor permit US TO be over
come.
We learn that the commissioners will make
report in writing to the President to- day.
The Rebel Congress-Further Debate on
the Arming of the Slaves.
In the rebel Senate on Saturday, after some
unjmportant business, the consideration of 8
bill to provide for the employment of free
negroes and slaves to work on Qualifications
and perform other hard labor connected with
the defenses Of the country was resumed, the
question being on the motion OF Mr.. Orr, OF
South Carolina, to reconsider the vote by
which the second amendmhnt proposed by the
House was rejected
Mr. Watson, Of Mississippi, addressed the
Senate in support OF the amendment. He said
when the question OF arming the slaves was
presented as a necessity-when it was found
necessary to arm them to W hip back the North
ern horde-he would be ready and willing to
favor that proposition, even to the CONSUMPTION
of the last able. bodied negro. He then allu-
ded briefly to the denunciations of the Presi-
dent on the floor OF the Senate. He was not
the partisan of the President; still he regretted,
and would not participate in this wholesale
denunciation. That the President had erred
be knew full well, and was prepared te admit;
but where could we find him who had no.
erredl The Macon speech referred 70 by the
gentleman from South Carolina was indeed an
unfortunate speech, and, in his opinion, il
would have been wise on the part Of the press,
people, and Congress to have thrown the man
tie of charity over the shortcomings Of their
chief executive officer
Mr Sims Of Kentucky, said that since he had
been a member Of this Congress he had voted
for every proposition looking TO the placing OF
men in the army, and had opposed every one
which decreased the number OF arms bearing
men, and when the question OF arming the
slaves Of the South to aid in beating back the
Yankee horde was presented he would cheer
fully support it. We want men and want them
Immediately. We have lost ground. Our
armies have been beaten back by overwhelming
numbers, by mere brute force, and he would
N n n
sary 10 aid in repell1ng this invasion. Senators
here had prated about aboiitionIsm and panic.
They were cheap phrases, but would not save
the country, with its i've millions OF people.
We want recruits. Where are they TO come
| from Will the quartermaster and commits
| sary bills, passed the other day, recruit your
armies The first fight will not come on for
three months, and if the army is to be strength
ened it must be done before that time, il will
| be too late to repel the attack of Grant or ar
| rest the march of Sherman If yon rely upon
| these men, or upon deserters who have hid
| themselves away in mountain Businesses, yon
| will build your house upon sand you rely
| upon reed and straw.
But, said he, ''it was OF the utmost import
| ance that public confidence should be restored,
and at once; and, in his opinion, the first step
necessary TO attain that object was the res.or 1-
| tion of General Johnston. This Congress, the
press, people, and army are all loudly calling
upen the President to restore him. Ken
tuckians who have fought calamity in the
army OF Tennessee with one voice demand the
restoration OF this gallant officer, whom they
| are proud to call their favorite leader. II al
luding to the President, he said that that officer
| OF late had received suggestions 80 unkind
that he had driven away nearly every repre-
sentative man In the country, and in their
stead natterers were courteousiy received and
rewarded
Mr. Sims again adverted TO the proposition
to arm the negroes, which had been ntrodu uoed
INTO this debate. Sherman was loose snd
| roaming at will, and yet gentlemen say they
want negroes to raise corn. Unless sherman
is checked you will soon have no territory,
no cotton, no corn, or wheat, or plantation
For this reason he weuld vote to place them in
the army, put muskets in their hands, and let
them aid in whipping sherman and then they
could 60 TO work and raise corn and wheat.
From South Carolina and Georgia.
From the Richmond Sentinel, Feb. 81
The rumors started on Saturday and rene wed
yesterday, to the effect that Sherman had pos
session of the railroad between Branch vile
and Augusta, were without foundation. We
learned last night at the War Department that
! an official despatch had been read from Branch
Vile yesterday, the tenor of which rendered ic
certain that snch was not the case. Moreover,
| telegraphic communication with Augusta-
| temporarily suspended on Saturddy-was re-
| sumed yesterday. Conseq equently. before going
to press, we may receive something from thai
| quarter. repulse OF Sherman, who is now
| arrogantly presumptuous on account Of his
unimpeded march through Georgia, would
work wonders in bringing the North to it's
| senses. The Confederate generals and the
| men under their command on his front ara
commissioners, to whose pacific eXertiOns the
country may we'll look with prayerful soiIei-
tude.
The New Rebel Flag.
| From Richmond Sentinel, Feb 6.
| The new Confederate flag adopted by the
| Senate on Saturday is as follows: The width
| two-thrds OF its length, with the union now
used battle flag, TO be I'D width three ftths
of the width of the flag, and so proporiio
as TO leave the length of the field the side OF
the union twice the width below Ii, to have a
ground of red and broad blue saltier thereon,
bordered with white and emblaZoned With
| mullets Of five pointed stars corresponding In
| number to that Of the Confederate States; the
field to be white, except the outer half from
the union, which shall be a red bar extending
the width of tn nag.
CONVERSATIONAL.
In THE SENATE yesterday after our repc7E