THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION—THE SOUTH “Leans upon the blood-stained sword,” and despises it—slavery to outlast all governments. From the Richmond Dispatch, Jan 6

The South has given an answer to Lincoln’s Proclamation of Emancipation at Fredericksburg and Murfreesboro. If he wanted to know in advance what would be the effect of his promised Proclamation, he has probably by this time been partially enlightened. The South does not answer his manifesto with words. “She leans upon her blood-stained sword,” indifferent alike whether he oils his speech with soft, conservative blarney, or whether he howls forth the threats of the incendiary and murderer. When he comes near enough he strikes, and sends his myrmidons reeling back, bloody and dying, to their master. So far as his promising of a St. Domingo campaign is expected to intimidate our people, he may decide whether the late battles give any token of such influence; so far as it is designed to operate upon the servile population, he might as well proclaim emancipation to the serfs in Africa. When he undertakes to give practical operation to his policy, by organizing and sending among us negro regiments, we shall know how to deal with such an emergency. It will, then, be a literal hoisting of “the black flag” by his own hands, and his sable standard will not be recognized as entitled to the protection of the rules of civilized war.

The black barbarians will be dealt with according to the State laws already in existence for such offenses and their white companions will be subjected to the same capital punishment.

But no proclamation which the Yankees have issued or may issue will have the slightest effect upon the slave population of the South. Wherever his armies have penetrated they have kidnapped every negro they could lay their hands on, and proclamation or no proclamation, whenever they are able they will continue to do the same. But beyond the lines of the Federal Army Slavery will continue intact and impregnable as the rock of Gibraltar.