r.
Davis and his cabinet to carry through Congress the bill enrolling
slaves and to emancipate them. Finally the hour was at hand, and amid
the mutterings of dissenters, and threats of members to resign their
seats if the measure was forced through, the administration began to
realize more sensibly its weakness. However, it stood by the carefully
drawn bill.

Of course the negro people about the city of Richmond heard of the
proposition to arm and emancipate them if they would voluntarily fight
for their old masters. They discussed its merits with a sagacity wiser
than those who proposed the scheme, and it is safe to say that they
concluded, in the language of one who spoke on the matter, "It am too
late, de Yankees am coming." There were those among them, however, known
as the free class, who stood ever ready to imitate the whites, believing
that course to be an evidence of their superiority over the slaves. They
were very anxious to enlist.

On February 8th Senator Brown, of Mississippi, introduced a resolution
which, if it had been adopted, would have freed 200,000 negroes and put
them into the army; but on the next day it was voted down in secret
session. Upon this very February 9th, when Senator Brown's resolution
was lost, Mr. Benjamin, Secretary of State, addressed a large public
meeting at Richmond. He made a very extraordinary speech, setting forth
the policy of President Davis and his cabinet. Emissaries of Mr. Davis
had just returned from the Peace Conference at Fortress Monroe, where
they met representatives of the United States government, and learned
that the conditions upon which the Southern States could resume their
relations were those which they were compelled to accept finally. During
Mr. Benjamin's speech he said:

"We have 680,000 blacks capable of bearing arms, and who
ought now to be in the field. Let us now say to every negro
who wishes to go into the ranks on condition of being free,
go and fight--you are free. My own negroes have been to me
and said, 'Master, set us free and we'll fight for you.'
You must make up your minds to try this or see your army
withdrawn from before your town. I know not where white men
can be found."

Mr. Benjamin's speech created an intense excitement among the
slave-holders. The situation seemed to have narrowed itself down to a
disagreeable alternative. They must either fight themselves or let the
slaves fight. Doubtles