The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1883-08-11
General Lee aud the Racks.
lNews-J Journal

var. l Salu L DeitcNeu tha' th's
bold exercise of the war power
was the blow that proved fatal to
the Coufederacy. Possibly re- '
piled my friend, "but since my in
terview with Longstrcet | have
always been inclined to think that ,
its effect has been greatly overes'
timated. Longstreet told me that
il did not make the least differ
ence either in the conduct of the
war or its final result. The slaves
we're convinced from the firing OF
the first gun that they would be
set free il the North whipped MS.
The Confederate armies, up to the
issuing sf the proclamation, had
the best of the fight, and whatever
may have been the real opinion of
the leaders of the Confederate |
armies as to the outcome OF the
struggle, the slaves never doubted
that the South would succeed un
III Sherman made his march to the
sea. While they longed for the
triumph of the North and secretly
reioiced at every Union victory,
they never dared hope for such a
result. IL was, therefore, polcy
for them to remain upon their
plantations and be true to their
masters, knowing well that with
the entire male population armed
and in the field, any attempt at
insurrection would not only be
, abortive, but would be terribly
avenged. We did not fear them,'
continued Longstreet, shalt as
much as VIC had feared them be
fore the war, while the SLAYER,
question was being discussed, ses
sion after session, in Congress
: Lincoln's proclamation of warning
= his first PROCLAMATION, declaring
that he would emancipate slave
> in all States found in rebellion q
:, certain future date, struck II
" terror into our hearts. On tn
n contrary, there were many VIII
=, =, saw in it the opportunity for con
:, pletely reversing the situations
- the two sections in their relation
TO foreign governments. 1t
very certain that both Englar
- and France would have recognize
~ the Confederacy after the fir
- battle of Bull Run but for the
:" stitution of slavery. General lie
~. whose acquaintance with the Nc
~ y thern people and his knowledge
: their almost illimitable resourc
~ convinced him at the very thret
~ -, hold of the war that the Sou
~ could not succeed without forei
" aid, was eager to turn blncol'
u w first proclamation to advantal
=, He stated his views TO a numl
-" of Southern Generals, | being 0
~. of them. His proposition was Il
nas Lincoln's proclamation should
20 Immediately met by counter pr
lamation from President Da'
~ emancipating the slaves With
i'n condition. He said such a prot
''s nation would add q quarter o
ms million men to our fighting tore
and would stimulate those sla
:" who remained at home to fill
o,n rapidly thinning ranks and incre
wy ~, our army supplies. But the gr'
'"o est advantage we would der
'"o from It would be the sympathy
'op recognition we would receive 4
~ foreign Governments that "
w nv beginning to grow restive and
patient under the long-contln
up' interruption of their cotton sup
'"S0 The council of Generals, if !
."iS member right, unanimously ad
'no ed these views, and waited
e'ei President Davis in body. II
and many more reasons were III
. u" upon him, but he declined to
a"u upon them, declaring that the
','oi had been commenced to pre-
m slave property, and to volunt
's,ys -. relinquish it would not resu
: ~ independence, but in restor'
of the Union with slavery abe
"'0' ed. The North would undoub'
enter into negotiations for !
at any time upon such a basis
would no doubt gladly pay
ent a sonable compensation for the
II Mr.. united slaves for the sake
New restoration of the Union wi
en- as slavery. This wise suggesti
lator: Gen. Lees fell through, and
<, and it's failure our last chance o
Suns terry and independence was
then -s-
|: Two Chicago girls tested
that ability to hold their breath.
k Mr.. could not begin breathing
ustice when she wished to, and was
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