192 



CONFEDERATE STATES. 



delusion went so far that it penetrated the legis- 

 lative halls, and threatened the disruption of 

 the harmony of our councils. Now, cheerful 

 voices are heard all around, and hope beams on 

 every countenance." 



This great change he ascribed, not to any 

 military successes, not to any new allies in for- 

 eign lands to stretch their arms to assist, but to 

 the knowledge which had come to the hearts 

 of the people. "We now know," he said, "in 

 our hearts that this people must conquer its 

 freedom or die." 



He proceeded to relate how the peace com- 

 mission came to be sent and its result, and 

 asked, " What 13 our present duty ? We want 

 means. Are they in the country ? If so, they 

 belong to the country and not to the man who 

 chances to hold them now." After portraying 

 the determined spirit with which cotton had 

 been sacrificed on the Mississippi to prevent its 

 falling into the hands of " their enemies," he 

 further said : " I now ask has any man a right 

 to hold a bale of cotton from his country ? No I 

 I will say something in regard to tobacco. 

 Take all the cotton and tobacco and make it 

 the basis of means, without which wo cannot 

 go on. I want more, I want all the bacon, 

 every thing which can feed soldiers, and 1 want 

 it as a free gift to the country. Talk of rights ! 

 What right do the arrogant invaders leave you? 

 I want another thing. War is a game that can- 

 not be played without men. Where are the 

 men ? I am going to open my whole heart to 

 you. Look to the trenches below Richmond. 

 Is it not a shame that men who have sacrificed 

 all in our defence should not be reiinforced by 

 all the means in our power ? Is it any time 

 now for antiquated patriotism to argue refusal 

 to send them aid, be it white or black ? " 



Continuing, he said : " Our resources of white 

 population have greatly diminished, but you 

 had 680,000 black men of the same ages, and 

 could Divine prophecy have told us of the fierce- 

 ness of the enemy's death-grapple at our 

 throats ; could we have known what we now 

 know, that Lincoln has confessed, that without 

 200,000 negroes which he stole from us, he 

 would be compelled to give up the contest, 

 should we have entertained any doubts upon 

 the subject? I feel that the time is rapidly 

 coming on when the people will wonder that 

 they ever doubted. Let us say to every negro 

 who wishes to go into the ranks, on condition 

 of being made free, ' go and fight you are 

 free.' If we impress them, they will go against 

 us. We know that every one who could fight 

 for his freedom has no chance. The only side 

 that has had advantage of this element is the 

 Yankee people, who can beat us to the end of 

 the year in making bargains. Let us imitate 

 them in this. I would imitate them in nothing 

 else. My own negroes have been to me and 

 said, 'Master, set us free, and we'll fight for 

 you. We had rather fight for you than for 

 Yankees.' But suppose it should not bo so? 

 There is no harm in trying. With all my early 



attachments and prejudices, I would give up 

 all. It can only be done by States separately. 

 What State will lead off in this thing? 

 South Carolina I know will follow Virginia, as 

 well as every other Southern State, if she but 

 take the lead. When shall it be done ? Now, 

 now. Let your Legislature pass the necessary 

 laws, and we will soon have 20,000 men down 

 in those trenches fighting for their country. 



" You must make up your minds to try that, 

 or see your army withdrawn from before your 

 town. I came to say disagreeable things. I 

 tell you you are in danger, unless some radical 

 measure be taken. I know not where white 

 men can be had. It is said there are quarter- 

 masters' clerks, railroad employes, and men 

 in bomb-proofs, but I tell you there are not 

 enough able-bodied white men in the country. 

 Do you suppose we have worked night after 

 night, by this infamous gaslight you have 

 here, and not found out this thing ? " 



.The further proceedings of the meeting are 

 unimportant. On the next day a member of the 

 House of Congress, long a friend of Mr. Davis, 

 brought forward a bill to give effect to the sug- 

 gestions of Mr. Benjamin, and providing for 

 the voluntary enlistment of slaves for military 

 service. When the bill was offered in the 

 House a motion was made to reject it, which 

 was lost by yeas 21, nays 53. It did not pro- 

 pose to change the relation of the slaves to their 

 owners except by the consent of the States in 

 which they resided, and in pursuance of the 

 laws thereof. A motion was then made to 

 postpone the matter indefinitely, which was 

 lost; another to refer it to the military com- 

 mittee was also lost ; and the motion of the 

 original mover for a select committee passed. 

 The great degree of favor manifested for the 

 bill indicated a radical change of sentiment, 

 which finally, under the influence of events, 

 ended in emancipation. The objections urged 

 against the measure were that it would be vir- 

 tually staking success in this great struggle on 

 the capacity and fidelity of negro troops ; that 

 it would be obnoxious to a large portion of the 

 soldiers; that the proposed liberation of the 

 slaves becoming soldiers at the termination of 

 the war was nothing but abolitionism ; that by 

 conscription of the slaves every ground assumed 

 at the commencement of the war would be 

 surrendered ; and that it would be a confession 

 of weakness which would operate to disadvan- 

 tage both at home and abroad. 



A resolution had already been offered in the 

 Senate, instructing the Committee on Military 

 Affairs to report a bill with the least possible 

 delay, to take onto the military service of the 

 Confederate States, by voluntary enlistment, 

 with the consent of the owners, or by conscrip- 

 tion, not exceeding two hundred thousand negro 

 soldiers, but was defeated. At the same time 

 the demand for the appointment of Gen. Lee to 

 the command of alMhe armies was successful. 

 The appointment was made, and he at once is- 

 sued the following order : 



