The Opelousas courier., 1865-04-15


and reinforcing, the army. War was game that
could not be played without men and men we
FsF5st have He (the speaker) was here to day
to tell very unwholesome truths. He would be
blamed and abused for them, probably; but he
could not help that-When our soldiers in the
trenches are sending up earnest appeals for help.
will you withhold that aid whether that aid be
white or blackf [Great cheering.1
Mr.. Benjamin submitted some statistical facts,
showing the lighting element available between
the two sections in 1860. The Confederate
States. exclusive of Tennessee and Kentucky,
had within their boundaries one million and six
ty thousand fighting men between the ages of lS
and forty-hve years. Against this formidable
force the euemy have arrayed three millions of
men, at various periods since 1861. There are
in the South, six hundred and eighty thousand
black men of the fighting age, and capable of
being made fighting men. Let us say to every
negro who wants to go into the ranks, go and
fight and you are free" Don't press them, for
that will make them runaway, and they will be
found lighting against US, instead of for us. As
yet but one side is told. The Yankees can beat
us from the beginning to the end of the year,
making bargains Let US stop the negro from
running over to Sherman, by saying, ST you go
over to the Yankees you will get your freedom,
but you will perish from off the face of the
earth, for you cannot live in that cold climate.
Fight for your masters, and you shall have your
freedom without ineurring the other danger
Let US promise the negro in good faith that if he
will fight for us he shall have his freedom. La
voice: Lets try it." Yes let's try it. He (the
speaker) had never lived in any but slave
country. and most of his audience, doubtless, had
his black mamma nurse; but he would willingly
give up all for the attainment of independence.
hat tofn 1,al AZ
to the aid of Gen. Lee7 (Cries of Virginia ")
Who gave birth to secession and led off in the
first cannon shot of the revolution9 South Caro-
lima, and one after another the Southern States
wheeled into line. Virginia held back. for her
love for the Union was as strong and as warm
and ahectionate as the love of a mother for her
child. The people began to ask, what of Vir-
glnla7-Ihen came telegraph saying that VIZ
glnla was going to abandon the South, that she
was lukewarm, reluctant, and holding back
(poice, s'who held her back?') but soon another
telegram informed us that Virginia was with us,
and like South Carolina.
We are looking to her to lead in the new
measure of war policy which is inevitable, and
come it must.-When shall it be done? Voices.
Now, now, now!"l Yes, now. Ask your Legis-
lature to pass resolution recommending the
measure to Congress, and in twenty days Gen.
A0e eau NC reinforced Dy SU,UGU men.-Ihe
speaker was no sensationast, no alarmist. He
had come to the meeting for the very purpose of
giving utterance to some dstasteful truths.
Without the adoption Of some decisive, energetic
measure like this. there was danger-great dan
ger, to avert which, were he so much a Vircinian
as he was Lousianian, be would not hesitate to
make his last sacrifice. louisiana will follow
Virginia.; and she cannot take one step which
Louisiana will not follow ---a.- .-a
This only alternative is presented Either we
must fight the Yankees with our negroes, or
they will take them and hold them as a shield.
fighting US with their emancipation proclama.
tions in force. And if there be such place as
hell on earth. then it would be illustrated by our
condition. This struggle over, and our subjuga-
ton accomplished, our slaves freed and we slaves.
What the Yankees propose to do by the amend
ment to the Constitution of the United States is
to free the negroes as they conqner u.s. and if
they fail to conquer us to let them remain as
they are.
In conclusion, Mr.. Benjamin paid conpli-
nent to the Virginia ladies', for their patriotism
and devotion to the cause, and closed with an
eloquent apostrophe to peace