Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-01-27
IMPORTANCE on SLAVE LABOR

Mississippi. do not afford Encouragement TO such
al idee.
IMPORTANCE or SLAVE LABOR.
The crops. Of which | have spoken above,
will be raised now ss heretofore. BY the labor
of negro slaves. They have. up TO this time,
proved to be a most valuable part OF the social
system Of the south, aud there j. not the least
Indication that they will vaver in their faithful
ness this year. IL some OF the men are taken
for soldiers. the women and big children will do
the light Geld work. and the fields will resound,
rs they always do, with their joyous, happy
songs.
USANIHITY or SOUTHERN sESrfsENr.
81. IL is 4 mistake to suppose that The south
ern planters and owners OF slaves are opposed
70 using the latter ss soldiers, and afterwArd OF
giving them their freedom. aud the means of ma
king that freedom valuable 10 them. The plant
es constitute a most influential portion OF the
southern people. Their representatives in the
rebel congress understand and express their
views. The latter we're stated in g recent letter.
and they are based upon a fixed determination to
conquer their independence, even il, in order 10
do 80. they are compelled TO sacrifice the institu
ton of slavery. They are determined that the
element which has been the foundation OF the
wealth Of the south, shall now be made the ia
strument to gain their independence The south
err planters are not fools. They see that II the
war has not already killed the institution of
slavery. il hs- greatly endangered it, perhaps
| given IL A fatal blow. They see the hiteeH mil
lions OF people at the north arc fighting for its
extinction. for 40 they interpret the result of Ne
Lincoln's re election. They. on the other hand
are fighting. not for slavery. but for national in
dependence. 1t they do not gain their i%ndepend-
snce, they will certainly lose their slaves. ] have
not exhausted nv facts. although | have, per
haps. my space. Surely il is better TO look these
facts in the face, 20 acknowledge their existence
aud TO prepare to meet them AS becomes men.
than to delude ourselves with the sirens song OF
| the speedy end of the war through the exhaust
ion of the south.
REAL OBJECT or soITnERN ENANcIrATION.
There is reason TO fear that entirely too much
stress has been attributed by the administration
N the negotiations for peace which are now 60
ing on. To the fact that measures are on foot at
the south which may result in the ultimate ex-
tinction OF slavery ia tie southern states. IL is
stated by persons at Washington that permission
u visit the rebel capital would not have been so.
corded by the administration to Mr.. Blair il the
president had not been satisfied that Slavery At
the south has received IFS death-blOw, IN the de
termination OF the southern people TO arm and
after te emaucipate then slaves. The re
suit OF Mr. Blair's mission will probably be
known in New York by the time you receive
this. Whenever II is made known your readers
will sec how futile il any hope Of peace upon
such an idea From the beginning Of the war TO
the present time the leading men at the south
declared that they were not fighting for slavery,
but for independence, in order that they might
be able To regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way. The sincerity of this declara-
ton has always been doubted by the republican
party. But il; will be impossible to doubt it
when it shall become manifest that the southern
slaves have been armed. and will ultimately be
set free as II means OF gainin. southern indepen-
dence.
THE SUBJECT DELIBERATELY STUDIED.
This subject of arming and liberating their
slayes-in other words. the subject of how TO
make the slaves most useful in gaining the indie.
pendence of The southern states, has given the
public men a. the soEth more trouble and con
Germ. and has been more difficult of solution,
than any which has hitherto confronted them.
IL has been literally environed with difficulties.
1t has been under constant discussion Mt Rich
mOnd for some months. End has been calmly and
deliberately studied in all its bearings. All the
arguments for and against the measure, have
been carefully weighed and measured. The sub
ject has been at lsst definitely settled and a Ger
tain policy in regard to the matter has been
adopted. That policy. in brief, is as follows:
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE POLICY AporTED
The measure is to be an exceedingly gradual
one. The number OF slaves to be armed at first
and for the first year, will not exceed 40, 900 or
$4,000 men. They will be formed into regiments
of 500 men in each. under white officers, OF
course; aud drilled and disciplined, ss we'll as
armed, exactly like the white soldiers OF the con
iederacy. Their uniform will be slightly not
materially different. They are hot 10 be led
into battle the first year. Their disposition and
temperament as soldiers under arms are TO be
studied: and in the meantime they will strength
en- the confederate armies in the field to that ex
tent, BY relieving from garrison and guard dut,
that many white trained soldiers. In guarding:
railroads and bridges. and filling hundreds OF 20
sitions that now require small detachments from
the regular confederate army, they will render
real snd efficient service. But above all. partic
ular attention is to be paid to their instruction in
regimen,al drill and tactics. They are To be 20
drilled in this respect that, when they take the
field they will DE able to join the army as eficlen,
resimental organizations.
ORG AVIATION OF THE SOUTHERN CoLoRED TKOOrs
The second year the negro regiments are TO
be organized. l 200 men ia each They are then
20 be brigsded. four regiments 10 a brigade, and
attached 10 the various armies in the field. This
year il is expected that they will participate in
all the actions in the field. and their conduct in
these actions will determine whether or not the
experiment Will be successful, or whether il shall
be continued on dropped. Ia the meantime 100,
600 more negro men will be undergoing the
same regimental training. By the third year.
the confederate leaders expect 20 have l5O. 600
Of these negro soldiers in their armies, regularly
organized IN divisions. by themselves. Ii will
be understood ihst they serve. and fight. y.
slaves.
EHEiR 0fflCKRS EEsPONsIBLE FOR THEIR COSpi,s
AND EFFICIENCY.
Their freedom is only L. be given TO indivii-
Gals. and only after a certain period of uniform
good conduct II the field The officers of these
negro troops viii have rather a hard time, Tor
they are - DC made responsible tor the good
conduct - their men The captains and lieuien
ants, Tor Instance. are 20 b. held responsible TO,
the cleanliness and sobriety OF their men. aud for
the conGI,lon OF their arms and ac~coutremeats.
The colonies anu majors are 10 he held respOnsi
bic Tor the efficient dOu4itiOR OF the regiment ~
an organization The bricadier generals sTe -
be held responsible Tor the general good coadgc,
OF the Tieade particularly that no plllage or
misconduct J. allowed. &c. After 3 certain re
Rod OF faithful service, however. the regso sol
der will be rewarded with freedom. and the
means Of OBTAINING a comfortable lvelAoo.
cas- rHtIR TipELIrY Ok DfFENpED on:
II i not thought by any Of the leading men o;
! the south that The war will la, four gears more
probae.ytot 50 long But if il does. aud II the
shove policy is carried out. il can no longer be
doubted that the rebel armies can DC KEEP, up 10
a AHAA u