Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-10-02
For the Standard.
THE SOLDIERS FAMILY, ETC.

The evils OF war have been seen and felt in every
age of the world yet. history furnishes no parallel
to the disaster which will overtake the social and
financial interest Of this generation, before the con-
summation of the civil connection now in progress,
between the once independent, proud and prosper
Gus States that composed the American Republic.
This war is assuming every day of its existence an
attitude in the annals of civilized warfare, more
threatening to the religious, civil and political in
terest of great and free people. The type of the
conflict on the part of the Federal government
seems now to be continuation of Determination and
total oblteration of Southern institutions. This be-
ing the character of the programme, it becomes
very important TO dissolve the ties of old party is
sues, and every effort to conciliae and unite the
diverse elements of feeling, sentiment, interest and
means, to drive back the forces of the ruthless nva
ders Of Southern soil. The time for discussing the
great issues involved by civil war is gone-the test
OF these to be settled by military skill and
the proves of arms. 1t is no time for Southern.
born men to differ, or brand one another with the
stigma Of traitor cast reflections upon the char
acter of those who differed in regard to the
hasty action Of dissolving the Union of the Aneri-
can States. That question has been disposed Of
and those men do not stop now to inquire of the
cause or the effects which is to follow the revOlu-
ton, but like true men, found in the foremost
ranks, in defence of the great Southern cause But
whilst this booE is claimed for Them and is demon
strated every field of action, there are men-no,
not men, but political duarts who are croaklng in
every community that those men who dared TO think
for themselves during the issues of dissolvng the
once monumental fabric of purely republican form
of government tainted as diSoyal to the soil Of
their birth, rccreant to the interests of their kns
men, and hearths Of their cherished fircsides and
ought in the opinion of this class of political aspi-
rants to be transported or disposed of the gbbet
Insult upon insult is offered to patriotic loyal South
ern born citizens by such Ignorant patry political
serfs in North Carolina. Is this the means by
which the great Southern heart is to be aroused to
deeds of daring? No, such only serves to awaken
deeper indignation for the ignorance and pusilani
nous croakng of such men. Let the appeal come
with spontaneous and paternal feeling, and but
voice would be heard rising from the deep souled
patriotic heart of the entire South. But there is
another element more detrimental TO Southern lib
erty-it is that of penurousEess. 1t may be seen
the faces of many that luxuriate upon the num-
Der Of thousands they own, and the prospect Of
adding four-fold to their present store. This fea-
turc of our States history has been 'simplifse" in
the capture of IIatteras in The face of faithful admo
milton by that class of men who branded trait
OTIS It may be seen in the eXtOrted features when
county or State bonds are offered and pcremptorily
refused for provisions to feed the poor soldiers wife
and children, whilst they are on the eve of suf
fering What kind Of patriotism Is that? Will
such patriotism gain the independence Of the
South Can men who hold their thousands in
store for speculation, the very existence and securl
tv of which, depends upon the achievement of
Southern arms, be true men, when they withhold
this help from the poor soldiers family, while he is
offering his life sacrifice on the field of battle,
in defence of his counrys cause and the protection
of the rich mans property? Nay, verily-such
are recreant to the of Southern independence,
and before that independence can be established,
and made stable in the eyes of the world, these
men must abandon their speculative ideas, open
their eEtiful stores of provisions, and purses if
need be- to the soldiers and their country-or the
soldiers will rise in their might and compel them,
BY forcing this spirit Of penurouSneSS from the land
of their BIRTH But it is hcard-the sound has gone
out, that the soldier receives pay for his camp SER
vice. and that he should be content to give it to the
relief of his family. Ifthat will not suffice, his fam
ily can then get employment on the farms OF the
wealthy, who will pay feed them for their labor
Is this the character of the patriotism manifested by
the property holders Of our country? Yes, it has
been mooted even that the soldiers family could
find an asylum at the poor houses of their counties,
that they could there be fed equally by county tax
alton. This is said to be feature in the Vandal
army arrangements, but was never expected to be
instituted in regard to the family Of the chivalric
Southern soldiers If this should he the case, how
many of the brave Southern soldiers would remain
at their military post Not one Let the burning
and indignant intelligence, to every true-hearted
Southerner reach the great army of the South that
their families were made paupers, and put in the
poor.houses to be fed and such revolution against
it has been witnessed in the history Of civil
ICED warfare. This principle of speculation and
covetousness in times like these, must be abandoned
by all men who are loyal to the South. And that
principle Of magnanimty which recognizes the
Southern soldiers as freemen, not as hirengs. must
be instituted. Men who entertain no higher opinion
for the soldiers of the South those brave hearts who
have volunteered their services in the of their
native soil, human freedom, and an institution the
most vital to that SOIL and the perpetuation Of that
institution, are not worthy Of the name of South
erner They are drawback to the cause of
human rights. And yet they are with us. 1t is
bad enough to charge an exorbitant price for
the little morsel that is sold to the soldiers wife,
but to refuse the State County bonds for it now
is feature Of devotion to country unknown to past
generations, in all the rigors of even uncivzed
warfare. Mark welt the ends of such men.
S. +.
b Rev. DR.. Reese, of Baltimore, of the Methodist
Protestant Church, and the talented editor Of the
Meth0rst proteStanfn If that Atty rocautlv COM