Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-22
RebeI NeRro soIdiera.
LRB CALLS FOR A LAheR FoRcE OF HEeRuEs
From the Richmond Examiner, Feb. Is.

LRB CALLS FOR A LAAeR PoRoE OF HEaRuEs.
From the Richmond Examiner, Feb. Is.
The idea of employing negroes to help
in the defence of their homes has greatly
ripened in the public miad; and especially
since the atrocious uItimatum of the enc
my at Hampton Roads has fully brought
home tS7Hs all the imrsrative necessity OF
bringing out and using all the elements Of
force which we car possibly command. 1t
is also very we'll known that Gen. Lee,
who has accepted the powers and respon-
sibilities of General. in Chief, urgently
calls for a large force of negroes to be
placed at his disposal, to be used accord
ing to his best judgment. 4 The country
| will not venture to deny to General Lee,
in the present position of affairs, anything
he may ask for.
In the President's message at the open
ing of the present session, the subject was
most ipjudiciously presented for the first
time to public attention, coupled as it was
with suggestion that emaucipationm might
be held out to negro soldiers as a reward
for faithful service. This suggestion was
said, and justly said, to contain and to af-
firm the whole doctrine of abelition; be-
cause, if emancipation be a "reward" to
negroes, then freedom is better state for
negroes than slavery. But in reply to this
it was urged they think it boon and a
blessing, they will deem it q reward, and
will give more jealous and faithful service
in the hope of it. This implies that we,
the white race, are no longer to judge for
negroes, but 10 withdraw our care and
guidance from them, but also to cheat
them, by holding out to them as ablessing
that which we know would prove curse.
This, therefore, is also abolition; isnd the
worse sort of abolition, because it would
be abandonment of the negro race in this
country to misery and eventual extirpa-
tiou; it is abolition, not of negro slavery
only, but of uegroes also. go.
Such were the obvious reflections which
occurred to thoughtful minds on seeing the
suggestions in the Presidents message;
aud up to this time the judgments of men
upon the whole measure, as a practical
measure, have been disturbed by the in
PRODUCTION of topics which raised ques.
I ton Of morals and right. So far as right
and morality are concerned, the position OF
the Southern people is aud has been i'm.
pregnRble. They feel that the relation Of
master and slave has been a blessing to
the slave; that they have profited the ne
gro race much more than that race has
4 ever profted them; and what is more, they
know that they, the planters of the South
are the only defence of the negroes against
that sanguinary Northern "phiIanthro.
Ipy"t2) which would deprive them of the
protection of owners, in order that they
may disappear from the face of the earth
and leave their place open to miserable
white laborers working tor the minimum
of daily bread. Upon every ground ofjus'
lice and humanity, this Southern people
feels itself entitled, and indeed bound, Il
hold its existing relation with the blscE
race, so long ss possible. II compelled by
the strong necessity OF sell. preservation tc
abandon or to modify that relation, it will
be under strong protest, and taking heaV.
I en- and earth to witness that the blood o.
lthoss simple creatures does not stain ouI
hands.
II is also very certain that negroes are
I not intended for soldiers, aud will never
light when they can avoid it; aud that Il
I've could but collect and bring back the
tabseutees without leave, now on the rolls
of our armies, we should never have tc
consider the project Of alloyiDg with thil
4 base material the pure metal Of our Con.
federAte ranks.
Yet, when all this has been said, still
comes back the urgent question. how U
meet the formidable and multitudinoui
hosts of 9 vindictive invader this yer!
spring1 and also the not less urgent de
i mand of the great soldier on whom We al
depend TO command our armies, for poWe
70 use negroes in defence of the country
Who viii take the responsibility of refu
sing that appeal9
Congress has now several bills before II
intended 70 authorize this description Q
force. But Congress is somewhat slo1 an