Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-01-11

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SOUTH-CAROLINA AND THE AR
MY. NEGRO QUESTION.


MY. NEGRO QUESTION.
Annexed is the report Of the committee
%, Confederate Relations on resolutions in
reference to employment OF negroes in the
Confederate army:
The committee on Confederate Relations,
to whom were referred sundry resolutions
relating to the employment Of slaves in the
army, and such portions of the Governors
Message as had reference to the same sub
icct, have duly considered the same, and
respectfully ask leave to report:
That, in their opinion, the employment
of slaves in tho army should he guarded
with the greatest caution. That this prac-
tice has become regular one IN the ar
mics of our enemy, is scarcely all argu-
ment for its introduction among us Z; for it
is clear that every slave captured and so
employed in the military service the Uni
tod States is to them positive gain, add
ing to strength in one department. and de-
tracing nothing from their resources in
any other; while with rs the labor TINS
secured to one branch of service is posi-
tive withdrawal of the of same amount OF
labor from the equally important field OF
supply and production. And your COM
mittee are further of opinion that it is
matter of very doubtful expedency to IN
trust tho wagon trains of all army entire
" to negro teamsters. But they are will
ling that the decision of this question
should be left to the experience, discretion,
and prudence of those charged with the adj
ministration of our military affairs, con-
tenting themselves with the ex preston OF
their decided conviction that this authori-
ty shonld be cautiously and sparingly ex.
erciscd, and the very least number should
be employed consistent with the practical
advantages that this system is supposed to
possess.
And they are further induced to acqui-
esce in the adoption OF this plan, from the
hope that this authorized employment of
permanent negro force will enable the
government to discontinue, to a great ex.
tent, if not entirely, the practice OF I'M
prcssment for coast defence, which has
j., caused so much annoyance and created
such serious embarrassment to the agri-
cultural labor Of the States; for they can
hot but think that in the number of negroes
indicated by the President as necessary
for this general purpose, he will find All
ample supply of all labor requisite for any
military work.
But in thus consenting to the use of ne
gro labor to the extent and for the pur
pose indicated, it is with the distinct un-
Outstanding that such slaves shall be en-
ployed in duties other than those which
are the distinct province Of the soldier,
and that in all such employment their
servile status shall be clearly and steadily
preserved; for your committee cannot but
express their disapproval OF the plan re-
commended by the President in his re-
cent Message, by which the Confederate
government is to become the purchaser
of forty thousand negroes, who are to be
declared free at expiration of their term
of service.
Your Committee can find nowhere in
tie Constitution the slightest shadow OF
power, either expressed or implied, to
make such purchase or declare such eman.
cipation, and they are satisfied it is in di.
rect violation of its spirit, which wisely
and explicitly commits all the social and
domestic relations and institutions of the
Southern people to the care and charge o.
the individual States.
But, even waving this objection, they
are satisfied that the introduction of sucl
system would only raise anew that very
class OF questions, i'll the attempted sou
ton of which our present troubles origi
mated, and which all through our past his
tory stand like sign posts along that broac
road to ruin which the old government O
the United States has travelled so fast ant
So fatally.
If the general government could pur
chase these negroes, they would have
either to be held as slaves or emancipatet
as freemen. In the first case their status
relations and duties would be subjects O
Congressional legislation-a proposition O
which our recent and bitter experience i:
sufficient condemnation. If emancipate(
as freedmen, they would either have to b,
employed in the dockyards, arsenals AM
other industrial establishments Of the GOV
ernment, or they would have to be re
nElnded to the States whence they wer
taken. 10 the first alternative all the pre-
ccding objections apply TO the latter, tn,
existing legislation Of all the States es
pecially the legislation of South Carolina
presents an insuperable barrier, and you
Committee are Of the opinion that this
not the time nor these the circumstance
for discussion or modification of such leg
islation.
Your Committee do not feel called on +,
discuss the question of the propriety O
emancipation as part of the system O
siavery-a question which underlies thi
proposition. 1t is sufficient for them +,
observe that the emancipation of fort,
thousand slaves, selected for no mora
qualification, but simply for their physica
fitness for special labor, who are either t,
be taken away from their families entire
y, Or to be restored to their families a
freemon, while their wives, children, ant
brothers are still held in slavaru ond NIX,