Governor Smith's message — a word to Congress.
To the Editor of the Richmond Dispatch:
I regret your space would not allow you to publish the model message of Governor Smith.
It is unquestionably one of the ablest and most patriotic State papers produced by the war, and will be pointed to a century hence for its broad statesmanship, its enlarged views and its genuine patriotism.
How well it compares with the narrow views and transparent demagogueism of Governor Brown, of Georgia, and the subtle poison and evil counsels of Mr. Vice-President Stephens?
He speaks like a man — like a patriot — who does not scan the acts of the Confederate authorities with a microscope only to find fault; but he exercises his ingenuity to discover wherein he can aid them in the struggle with our mortal foes.
His views upon the duties of State officers and the conscription of the negro are equally judicious.
The negro has his part to perform in this war; and the only question for us to consider is, shall he assist us to fight the enemy, or assist the enemy to fight us?
It is the opinion of General Lee, and of the army, that he had better assist us; and such, too, is the judgment of many of the wisest and best men in the Confederacy.
The question is not free from difficulty; but the difficulty is not so serious that it cannot be overcome by patriotism and statesmanship.
To this point I would invite the attention of Congress.
Let members, if possible, forget self for a brief season and meet the great questions discussed in this message in the same exalted spirit in which they are considered by Governor Smith.
Let the army be reinforced — by white men, if you please; and if not, then by black men. The few partisan editors and State officials who have raised such a clamor about the negro, and State rights, and habeas corpus, and liberty of the press, and who had rather say an evil thing of the Confederate Government than a good one, do not represent public opinion: they only utter their own narrow prejudices.
Let Congress treat them with silent contempt and do its duty. 