Year: 1864

The comments of the Richmond papers OF
Wednesday upon JEFF. Davis message, which
we published the next day (Tbursday) after.
noon, are full of Significance. II appears that
the rebel chief made certain admissions which
are considered hcretical in tho highest degree
by the slaveocrats and States rights men Of
rebeldom. We copy below the paragraphs
which have called down the Ire Of the rebel
press, with the exception of JefT.'s organ, the
Richmond Sentinel:


Viewed merely as property, and therefore as
the subject Of impressment, the service or labor
of the slave has been frequently claimed for
short periods In the constr action OF defensive
works. The slave, however, bears another re-
lation to the state--that Of a person. The law
OF last February contemplates only the relation
of the slave to the master, and limits the i'm
pressment TO certain term OF vice. But for
the purposes enumerated In the act, instruc-
ton In the manner Of encamping, marching,
and parking trains is needful, 50 that, even in
this limited employment length Of service adds
greatly TO the value of the negro's labor. Haz-
ard is also encountered In all the positions TO
which the negroes can be assigned TO service
with the army, and the duties required Of them
demand loyalty and zeal.


In this aspect the relation OF person predom-
mates so far as TO rerder II doubtful whether
the private right of property can consistently
and benefcially be continued, and 1t would
seem proper to acquire for the public service
the entire property in the labor OF tho slave,
and to pay therefor due compensation, rather
than TO impress his labor for short terms; and
this the more especially as the effect OF the
present law would vest this entire property In
all cases where the slave might be recaptured
after compensation for his loss had been paid
to the private owner.


Whenever the entire property in the service
Of slave Is acquired by the Government, the
question Is presented, by what tenure he should
be held. Should he be retained in servltude, or
should his emancipation be held out 10 him as re-
iCdrd for faithful SGrViee, or should II be granted
at once on the promise of such service I and If
en- ancipated, what action should be taken to
secure for the freedman tho permission of the
State from which he was drawn to reside within
Its limits af.er the close of his public service
The permission would doubtless be more
readily accorded as retc1rd for past faithful
service, and double nOtiUe for Jealous discharge
Of duty would thus be offered to those employed
by the Government, their freedom, and the
qualification Of the local attachment which is
SO marked characteristic of the negro, and
forms so powerful an incentive to his action.


The above passages in JefI.'s message are
considered incendiary in the highest degree by
the State rights and slavery ollgarchs. The
doctrines they teach are entirely subversive of
the "peculiar institution"


To assume that the confederate government
has the right to take slaves from the sthtes
and emancipate them, and, worse than all, to
assume that emancipation would be an incen-
tive to service, a boon, a rev ard-it is mon
strous! preposterous Such doctrines admit
ted by slave dealers would be suicidal, ruinous.