Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-01-22
From the Mecklenburg Jeffersoniau
THE LEGISLATURE AND THE VOLUN
TIERS

The conduct of the majority in oar State
Legislature towards the Volunteers in this
State, is a disgrace to that body, and will for
ever fix dark stain upon the characters OF
those engaged in it.
In the first place There was bill intTOdu-
ced to give the sum of ten thousand dollars,
(Which, divided out among / 900 men, is ten
dollars per head for the purpose of bearing
the expenses of the Volunteers to the places
of rendezvous, and until they are mustered in
to the service of the United States. For this,
the Federal papers claimed great credit for
their party in the Legislature, as the bill was
introduced by one of their party. But this act
of justice to the brave volunteers who are a.
bout to leave their homes and families to fight
the battles of their country, could not be done
without accompanying it with contemplate
party blow at the President of the United States
| The preamble to the bill declares that {" Where.
as, by the action Of the Executive, war exists
with Mexico" &c, thus throwing the blame Of
the war upon our own government, and not up
on Mexico. A Democratic member proposed
to amend the preamble so as to make it read
Whereas, by the aggressions Of MEXICO, wal
exists" &c. against this amendment every
Federal member present voted, and it was de-
feated. Appeals were then made by Demo
cratic members to their opponents to let tn,
words casting censure on our Executive b,
stricken out, so that the Bill might be at ono,
passed, as the Volunteers needed the money
This, too, was resisted and voted down by tn,
Federalists-they were resolved not to pass
the bill without at the same time striking
blow at their own country. SO, at our las
dates from Raleigh, the matter was still unde
debate, as it had been for two weeks before
Now what do the people think of such legis
lators' And what do the volunteers think o
such treatment' They are told-this is al
unconstitutional war-an unjust war Mexi
co is not to blame for it, but your own gov
eminent ls-yet, since you are going to fgh
in such cause, we will give you ten dollar
each to bear your expenses! Is it the oblec
of our Legislators to make our gallant Volun
teers, by accepting the pittance of ten dollar
each, endorse A LIE, upon their own govern
ment, and fix an ndelible stain Of disgrace up
on the cause in which they are about to peri
their lves' Shame! Shame upon sucl
uEpatriotc conduct. It's an insult to the vol
unteers.
The Legislature of Virginia, without wor
of debate, Wings and Democrats, all vote
promptly, ten thousand dollars to her Regi
n1ent; and South Carolina, by reclamation, il
which both parties Joined, voted her Regimen
tlcenty hoxso nd dollars 1t seems then, tina
it remained for North Carolina Federalism t
make breach in the phalanx of Southern pa
triotism, in an uncalled for assault upon tn
government of their own country, after tn
fashion of Massachusetts, now, as in 1912
Let party leaders look out.
And again. A bill had actually passed bot
Houses TO give the election of Field Officer
to the rank and file of the Regiment. Thi
oRpossd9n the ground that the voS1
choice OF: Officers. Despite all opposition
however, the bill passed, but was immediate
reconsidered, and it IS now understood tina
the appointment Of these officers will be give
to the Governor What do the Volunteer
think of this