endence and peace.
From all signs slavery is doomed. But if 200,000 negro
recruits can be made to fight and can be enlisted, General
Lee may maintain the war, very easily and successfully, and
the powers at Washington may soon become disposed to abate
the hard terms of peace now exacted."

"February 21st.--The negro bill has passed one house and
will pass the other to-day, but the measure may come too
late. The enemy is enclosing us on all sides with great
vigor and rapidity."

"February 22nd.--Yesterday the Senate postponed action on
the negro bill. What this means I cannot conjecture, unless
there are dispatches from abroad with assurance of
recognition, based on stipulations of emancipation, which
can not be carried into effect without the consent of the
States, and a majority of these seem in a fair way of
falling into the hands of the Federal generals."

"February 24th.--Yesterday the Senate voted down the bill to
put 200,000 negroes into the army. The papers to-day contain
a letter from General Lee, advocating the measure as a
necessity. Mr. Hunter's[42] vote defeated it. He has many
negroes, and will probably lose them; but the loss of
popularity and fear of forfeiting all chance of the
succession may have operated upon him as a politician. What
madness! 'Under which king, Benzonian?'"

"February 25th.--Mr. Hunter's eyes seem blood-shot since he
voted against Lee's plan of organizing negro troops."

"February 26th.--Mr. Hunter is now reproached by the
slave-holders he thought to please for defeating the negro
bill. They say his vote will make Virginia a free State,
inasmuch as General Lee must evacuate it for want of negro
troops."

"March 2d.--Negro bill still hangs fire in Congress."

"March 9th.--Yesterday the Senate passed the negro troops
bill--Mr. Hunter voting for it under instruction."

"March 10th.--The president has the reins now, and Congress
will be more obedient; but can they leave the city?
Advertisements for recruiting negro troops are in the papers
this morning."

"March 17th.--We shall have a negro army. Letters are
pouring into the department from men of military skill and
character asking authority to raise companies, battalions,
and regiments of negro troops. It is a desper