The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-04-09
Italy would have been disarmed of their

| stantly been encouraged to become
Lafayette, and Great Britain would no
have been afraid to back him in parlia
mentary declaration, no matter how th'
working classes would have felt.
Seventh. That it would raise the block
ade and give US provisions and clothing
Gen. Cleburn's proposition was KEEP
a profound secret. 1t seems to have
alarmed and angered the Confederate
authorities, and they appear to have ap
pretended that if it should become
known among the rank and file it would
make trouble. The following letters
concerning it show how it was received
CONFEDERATE STATES AMERICA,
WAR DEPARTMENT,
RICHMOND, VA, Jan. "a, 1864.
To Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, Dalton,
Ga.-General: Major Gen. Walker has
communicated directly to the President
copies of memorial prepared by Major
Gen. Cleburne, lately the subject of con.
sultation among the generals of division
in your command, as also of a letter
subsequently addressed by himself to the
generals present, asking the avowal OF
The opinions entertained by them in re-
latien to such memorial, with their re-
plies. am instructed by the President
to communicate with you on the subject.
He is grati6ed to infer from your declin-
ing to forward officially Gen. Walkers
communication of the memorial that
you neither approved the views advoca.
ted in it nor deemed it expedient that
after meeting, as they happily did, the
disapproval of the council, they should
have further dissemination or publicity.
The motives of zeal and patriotism which
have prompted Gen. Walkers action
are, however, fully appreciated, and
that action is probably fortunate, as it
affords au appropriate occasion to ex-
press the earnest conviction of the Pres
ident that the dissemination or promul.
CATION of such opinions under the pres.
ent circumstances of the Confsderacy,
whether in the army or among the Peo-
pie, can be productive only of discour'
agement, distraction and dissension.
The agitation and controversy which
must spring from the presentation of
such views by officers high in public con-
fdence are to be deeply deprecated, and,
while no doubt or mistrust is for q mo-
ment entertained of the patriotic inteuts
of the gallant author of the memorial,
and such of his brother officers as may
have favored his opinions, it is requested
that you will communicate to them, as
we'll as all others present on the occasion,
the opinions as herein expressed of the
President, and urge on them the suppress.
sion not only of the memorial itself, but
likewise of all discussion and controversy
respecting or growing out Of it.
l would add that the measures advoca-
ted in the memorial are considered little
appropriate for consideration in military
circles, and, indeed, in their scope pass
beyond the bounds of Confederate action
and would, under our Constitutional
custom, neither be commended by the
Executive to Congress nor be entertained
by that body.
Such views can only jeopardize among
the States and people unity and harmony,
when for successful cooperation and the
achievement of independence both are
essential.
With much respect, very truly yours,
JAMES A. SEDDoN, Sec. of War.
Gen. Johnston communicated these
views of President Davis to the officers
present at the council in q circular let,s
ter. Gen. Johnston next wrote the Sec.
retary of War as follows:
DALTON. February 2. 1864.
Hon. j. A. Seddon, Secretary of War
Sir: had the honor to receive the
,letter in which you express the views Of
the President in relation to the memorial
of Major Gen. Ceburne on the 3lst ult.,
and Immediately transmitted your in
structions in your owp language to the
officers concerned.
.. None of the officers to whom the
memorial was read favored the scheme,
and Major Gen. Ceburne, as soon as that
appeared. voluntarily announced that be
would be governed by the opinion of
those officers and put away his paper.
The manner of strengthening our armies
by using negroes was discussed, and no
other thought practicable than that which
I Immediately proposed to the President
I regarded the discussion as confiden
tial, and understood it to be 80 agreed
before the party separated. This and
Gen. Cleburne's voluntary promise pre-.
vented any apprehension in my mind of
the agitation Of the subject Of the me.
mortal. / have had no reason since to
suppose that it made any impression.
Mo,t roopooff,1lv uotr ohoNiapt cor.
want, J. E. JOHNSTON, General.
Before the war closed Gen. Cleburne's
plan had gained many adherents in the
Confederacy. For instance, the Cover
nor of Louisiana wrote:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, |
SHREVEPORT, La, Sept. 26, 1864. !
Hon. James A. Seddon, Secretary. of
War, Richmond, Va.-My Dear Sir {:
The time has come for us to put into the
army every able-bodied negro man as a
soldier. This should be done immedi-
ately. Congress should, at the coming
session, take action on this most import
ant question.
The negro knows that he cannot
escape censcription if he goes to the
enemy. He must play an important
part in the war. He caused the fight
and he will have his portion of the
burthen to bear. We have learned from
dear.bought experience that negroes can
be taught to fight, and that all who leave
us are made to fight against us. l would
free all able to bear arms. and put them
in the field at once. They will make
much better soldiers with us :han against
us, and swell the now depleted ranks of
our armies. | beg you to give this your
earnest attention.
With assurances Of my friendly re.
gard and very high esteem, 1 remain,
very respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY w. ALLEN.
Gov. of Louisiana.
Soon after the question of emancipa,
tion and raising colored troops was dis
cussed in the Confederate Congress. But
it was then too late.
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