Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-09-02

the validity Of the act of the Legislature wGs
sustained.
This, being tbs decision nI the Supreme
Court Of the Enited States, should st least
conclude her upon the subject. Ert with
how much more force does ii apply "a the
condition OF the Confederate States-which
were sovereign and indepvrdepr States, il
vested with the perfect right OF selfSoveyn-
ne1t, and OF altering or abohshing their gov
ernmrnt when they formed their present
goverrment--than to the Colonies, acknow-
leGged dependencies Of thu British cr0p:rl,
having no pretense OF sovereign power, and
their course found ded On the allied natural
right To throw atf' Hi oppressive legitiinste
government in pursuit of their own happi-
ness, and 10 form nEvT one of thar oa'n
choice.
Ths.ne7ision fully establishes our right to
all tue usages anI privileges Of public war,
SUD TO all the ether ghts OF al independent
nation which nay be exercised pending a
public war. 1t places US entirely in thu col-
dition oi + IoreYn nation aFa.Esi which wsT
ia wagei 'hs the United States, and renders
the course af the Lincoln Government, in de-
ny;ng The application Of tie ru!rs OF cl7ilisaa
war 10 us, al outrage against humanity and
civilization. iMIssisjiPfI.
;To.taf Editors cf +Ae E1ssq,tires. -.
Gentlemen:--f have noticed, With much
pleasure. resolution in thu House OF Repre-
sentatives. by Nj. Cbambliss. of Grsansvil!e,
for tbs discharge from TIE Confederate army
Of OR noble boYe Hndrr II, who havs rolun-
tarily and otherwise enlisted in defence 1t
their homes aud firrsits; and whilst Ihfos:
A.. 4 ,t,,o
worthy representative, and hail it Sc move
nent, in the righ, direction, ta save to the
South, in the language of President Davis, irs
sesd-corT. h Thom the Southern Grannry Of
intellect il TO be replenishad, | would most
respectfully angEast to Mr.. Chanhlias and to
our Congressional representatives. the ncces-
sity Of scr1e Legislature action which wnuid
place 10 the service Of their c'antr::' many
hsa:r-, shle-bodied young men, whc have
sought and obtained hula petty sni ,ns;Gn,h-
can't Poat- Vl6c= appointments in MANY GOWN
ties of the STATS, for the sole parpnsS IT m,i!-
fary exemption. Many of the.r Young Pnst-
masters could no. have heen dragged into a
Pust-uifce appointment in timez Of pears;
now, since they have sought Office for its
protection only, rs might have been sup
posed, they Go not bring to the discharge Of
its duties any Of that sort Of honest labor
which follows due All proper eenes Of Off,
cial responsibility. snd the consequence ia,
that uLie-tarths Of them make anythins else
but good postmaEters. They have sought
the ofhce for evasion: 70 zroid labor on the
one hand, ana the exposure Of their precious
lives an ,he other; and they tally inland to
play tie game ri dodgins out, if lett und,s-
turbed. l'ar better give such appointments
TO men " ho nre wiiliug tc serve their country
in anT capacity, but who from age CT phTsi-
cal disahilir- sre DISQUALIFIED for the active
fiutiee oi tho camp, hila: they would make
honest and efficient Postmasters for these
petty couurry offices. rrRny n{ which do not
pa7 $50 per sonum. But tbeT sra worth -
their young ard hale sppointees precisely
what they would have 70 pay for substitute
in the arnv-for tLey rever intend to rsise
their litle finger in defence Of their oppresa-
cd country, so long as they are permitted Ia
play the game of evasion and substitution
10 all general rules thsTa is. fer the most
Ssrt, sone exceptions: but We arc able, IN
this case, TO give. but one which baa come
under our observation-that Of young man
who, although not possessed Of vigorous
constitution, proudly resigned lis office es
Postmaster aud went irtc the ranks pii-
vaLe to night tho battles Of his canntTEE, de-
ciaring that it never should be said that be
sLuiksd FesIonshiir lie is now sMnder
the Immortal StonewHi,, in the mountains of
his natve Slate; ready to do or die. Such
men can be trusted With Office in peace or
War.
Nv, II may IL asked what is The !sToely,
and how can It be made prEcticshe' WIZ,
in two ,cqys-hoth Of which will place many
active young men IN tbs army who sra never
going there until they arc forced; aud the
adoption Of neither of which will S5 sttend.':
vlth any 4erous lo,y Or Inconvenience IL tie
community generally.
Tia frs. i; the aboiiau.nE oI such rcttT
Post-obices 4s scarcely Pay exrans-z, ttsre-
by Clearly showing that they are not needed;
or could, with slight Inconvenience, he sueGti-
tu,ed by the rs.;t nearest office thnt Jid sis-
tain itself.
rhe second is this. To require nh snie-
bodied PoStnasters, between the ages pre-
scrhnd by the Conscription Act, and whose
salaries do NOS Amount 10 tia SUN Of i2O0
per afnnm, to he enrolled RS CoDscrFta snd
their offices iiisi by other men not subject
TO military duty
MeSsrs. Editcral navr bastii2 tar0wn oul theBs
suggestions, not for any Intrinsic value they
may possess, hut by way Of inTiting legisla-
tire action into channel, which, if ;Tisely
and prudently pursued, cknnot fail To be pro-
ductive of g,sst pubiic good.
Our attention has been frequsrrlg s.jat t"
ttis matter by the complaints oi the poorer
aud the -sa fortunate classes, some Of whom
are voluntarily hearing arms il their coun-
try's defence, and others who have been en-
rolled. whilst THAR D2Ta Fortunate and veal
thy neighkoIs hare been enabled, altogether
through monetary influences: to a7oid rs
sponsib:lity and skull behind some little pct
t. c-7unrr;- Post-Ofice: which, in ti-'s Of
n.ar. .nnr crull not be induced 70 hold.