The New York herald., 1865-03-12
The Negro Enrolment Act.
THE MEASURE REs0R1RD TO AB NECESSARY TO TIN
ExIsrESCE OF THE SOUTH.

From the Richmond Enquirer, March 81
The subject Of putting the negroes the army
yesterday before the Confederate Senate for final
The discussion Of great interest The Virginia
Legislature having instructed her Senators for the
proposition secares the passage Of the lao ~
Mr. Hunter, Of Virginia, opened the discussion, and
though announcing his purpose TO vote for the b yet
gave the which influenced him 70 oppose IT,
sena,ors Graham Orr, wisfal and Caperon concurrcd
with Mr Hunter In opposition and Senators semmes,
avor Of the measure We shall attempt give any
sketch Of the debate. The measure 10 ct w
not Of which tho country has resorted
in order 10 defend her existence There may be much DIFF
florence Of opinion as 70 the good result Of the
20 or
Its influence upon slavery is more OF spprchcn
sion than reality, for .iavey is dead i, " g.le This
principle Of government which, In the case Of slave
ry had been assailed. The point Of interest alto
gcther confined to the border Statcs to them rendition
OF fugitive slaves Of much practical Importance To
tho Gulf Statos Of practical importance what
ever To the border States the Territories were outlets
for the Increasing slave popula'ions but the GInf
States wanted slavcs and bad nonc 70 rcrnoye. Yet
for mother the failure 70 execute the Fugitive Slave
law, nor for participation In the Territories,
would virginia dissolve the Union. The Gulf States,
In the Of their clear right chose TO make these
questions the occasions Of their -.mption of powers
formerly eeded to tbs general government. If the Union
was one OF tn constitution of u, United States
was tho organic law or c 8ernnen; but If tho Gulf
States cold " coer.ed into Oh d!ence to tho Union,
there was no bnsent-no selfro.r r5nnent The issue
tn made up Was undecided from the organization OF
the Confederate government Ut Montgomery until the
fall of Sumter Virginia Iu convention, formally re-
jccted the Montgomery constitution She abded by the
Union But when the April lroc auaaon Of Mr. Lincoln
called her to war and she called upon Fight either
for against the principle Of consent and the right
OF self government, the convention did not hesitate
moment. She seeded and took up with those
staes who asserted the principle Of sGscn and against
thos, States that denied that principle. Slavery and
negroes the occasion Which developed the actual
fact the principle OF consent and tho right OF self gov
ernmcnt, just as the tax on tea and tho stamp act
brought permanently out the claim OF the British govern
ment tax the coonHis The war, tho part Of Vir
Qinia Was undertaken for slaves Than that
OF the Revolution fought for the tax pound OF
The occasion often confounded with tho "
this
is no surrender of tho principle Of the contest for
these States 10 emanclpa.c their slaves II they think
proper to do 80 for their eenc The Yankees may he
lighting to emancpatc the negroes but not ngh
ing TO keep them In slavery We arc lighting TO preserse
tho used by both parties may become the same,
without changing the pd and Object OF the connie We
may eancpse our slaves 70 ind GO them 10 6gh, for
our right OF self government The Yankees emanclpate
them 10 prevent them fighting for us
Virginia has more to nght for IA the point Of honor
than she ever had the point OF interest Sho cannot
and she will yield the right Of ssf government She
will sacrifice every material interest and tho life OF
every man. white and black rather than yield the right
and force 10 her enemy TO drag her back into
the Union II this putting OF the negroes into the army
wolves the abolition of slavery, Virginia cannot hesitate
since the failure OF armies to maintain and defend
the cause involves not only the abolition af slavery but
the ensla,emont OF people vhg MA dm not instruct
her ma TO Gse o. ~, sSe eG h ted
would never yield up the contest as long o. sho had .
man. white black, to fight Tor IT, Her instructions
her virtual ri dgc TO fight on and yield She
may be conlucred--the Providence OF God may design
for this State future Of slavery but AZ long che has
any means Of maintaining tho conflict sho viii devote
them 10 the sacred cause OF sclf government
Tho Congress- by its delay has ca sed men TO inquire
whether the Congress faithfully represents the people
not, thcn the Congress has no siness In Richmond II
negroes 10 be kept In at tho hazard Of enav
ing the whites then the further sacrifice Of the whites
useless bnt II every means is 10 be devoted 10 the
cause, then on with the tight