Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-03-23
TIE NE5R0 QUESTION AT RIJd-
MOND.

| MIR. Hunter, IN the Rebel senate, the tuiiy Of
srming the negroes ia the South, whether
viewed as matter Of principle or Of cxpedi-
ency While voting for the bin nnder the
colppulsion of instructions from tire Virginia
Legislature, which he felt bound not to aisre-
gard, he at the same time entered protest
against the propriety of the vote. He acted
against his own convictions of duty, and 50
far was consistent with himself as Secs
sionist,a pro-Slavery man. and an advocate
of State Rights. he had .hcpel, upon enter
ing Coufcderacy of States homogeneous upon
the Slavery question, that all agitation upon
that question would cease forever. lie finds.
to bis surprise, the Rebel Government assum-
ing the power to arm the slaves. While lc
i, bewidered by the contemplation Of the re-
suits likely to ensue upon this unwarrahtable
assumption North Carolina through its Off
cial channels, sends a protest against its pas
sage Georgia sends'a howl Of dismhy over
this disregard Of State Sovereignty, and South
| Carolina forwards feeble demand for its re-
lection. But General Lee i,nperously insists
upon it. and the Richmond press forthwith
declares that his demand "mnst overbear
every consideration Of civil and social
policy" The meosnre had been finally dis
posed Of, after mature dciibcration, it was
thoneht, by rejection in the Senate Of one
majority. The Virginia Legislature, how
ever, dissatisfied with this result, insisted upon
| its. reconsideration, and instructed its Senators
to vote for it's passage. Thus, in defiance of
the wish of a minority, and in contempt of
the protests Of other States, Virginia has sue
cceded in accomplishing the very thing best
adopted tie wreck its fortunes and blast its
hopos. ''''
Mr.. Hunter and Mr.. Graham, in calmly
reviewing this extraordinary procedure, de-
clare tina. it will be regarded by the world as
a confession of despair and virtual abandon
ment OF the ground upon which Secession had
been originally effected The former pre-
rents the Inconsistency in the following per,
tinent aud iorcible manner:
I'VE had Insisted that Congress had no
right 10 interfere WIN slavery a'i 1P'n W'
coming into powerof the pat who i. was
known would assu.ae ana exercise Tat power
W. seceied We had ais, ,h.u ,.,,,,uoca tia,
whenever the two races were thrown together
one must be master aud the olber slave, anj
we ''hc'ea'eu ourselves against me aecu'"-
H., ,''.', .,'',, s ,""'
the NEGRO Now. what 90, tii, n,,no,,t,,u
admit! The right of the central TO srrum.nt
10 put the slaves into tn; mii''l", am t.
e'"' Nv '"'' - A'n, "'''''' 'e P'ecu
~. a.,,..I ...,n,,,., .,-,,.,". =,
slaves. u. Ii We ar. rip,i in po,,i, 20 mis- m.,-
sure. we were wrong IN denying the old Gov
crnment 'he f'ght 10 interfere ".th the 'nSt'-
p';,. | 90. ,h'ar i.. sa'so'.
.boou wc canf,,s tha, ". were iusincrrn ycr.
hyp,critical, mastering that slavery Vas tn,
best state TOR the negroes themselves. y BIZ" ''
Ii must be intensely CALLING to the SOUTH
ern leaders to rei.ct that their own madness
is accomplishing so much morc--in6uitely
more--tban the Republican party in the North
ever contemplated in regard to the disposal of
Slavery. That party was based simply upon
the ground OF the restriction of Slavery with
in its Legally authorized limits. II sought to
exclude " from the territories, but it was no
part @ iis Intent to Interfere with its existence
where it was protected by law. For the
Emaucipa ion Proclamation, for the Ccnstitu-
t;a,l ,m.,jmo,t xn,lishn, Sl,ver, f,r ,,o
49, l.l, ..
ue"'o" " ~ 'a','" W.
Inc wrecS OIL their hopes u slave empire the
Southern people have to thank the tyranu"us
a,urpati,n of their own leaders. Bat far be-
,,J ;,d;ro., hl,vs !, ,L,;r ,,,s,,, .s
'ec's' .ne'i "'e'p'"e''"s 'o"se4aeHoeS' are
the sclf-iDticted stabs occasioned hy this
changing s'ae' upon 'ns great Issue oi Tue
Hrusg'e' iro'y !" ID an ao"huoh'nsh' Oh
'as Contest lot u proposes 10 arm ana e"'an-
elpa'e 'h' s'aNes' A'o'i'''h Is no longer
na'ea ~oiu' aua 'ne oc''en'fn' measure 81
snien us Tue s'"uo' Is uussea7 10 'ne'f
oosohs oy 'oe very 'fs'niahs WHO hSa no
language 10 expires their untleaSur2d deteSta-