Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-01-22
=. z-e..,-......-.x t.-.s-- For lie Standard.
PLAN FOR THE RB ORGANIZATION OF THE

Army:
Mn. EDfftR: see IN Richmond paper that "a
tlah f6f the Reorganization Of the army" drawn up
G5 iii Experienced officer Of the army, is before the
Legislature Of Virginia. 1t is proposed to consider
all the Virginia troops now In the eld drafted for
tile Vat asc also that the Richmond Examiner
aAvisGs ths Confederate Government to ORDER the
tfodps How In the field to remain. cannot believe
that the proposition before the Virginia Legislature
will meet with much favor, or that if such propo
sition should be adopted, other States will follow
the precedent There is no telling, however, what
men who have kept aloof from the privations and
dangers Of the camp may be induced to enact con-
corning those actually in the field. 1t is scarcely
probable the Confederate government will attempt
to follow the advice Of the Examiner. But lest the
General and State governments should be SO infatu-
acd as to attempt the line of policy suggested, it is
proper the people should speak their own minds on
the subject
The government cannot do every thing It wants
TO do 1t is weak thing, without the sympathy
and cooperation of the people, and am certain that
large majority OF the people will consider such an
act as that proposed, as unequal, unjust and op-
Pressive. When the government called for twelve
months volunteers it did not once occur to those
chivalrous men who offered their services in re-
Spouse to this CALL that when their heads were once
IN the moose they were to be deprived Of freedom,
and forced to remain in the service beyond their
term OF enlistment. 1t to me- that in so do
ing, tho government would be acting in bad faith to
the volunteers.
If the time should ever come, when the South
will need all her fighting men in thu field, why then
the soldiers now in the service viii .ic' cordial
obedience to their countrys demand. But if part
| are to fight and part are to remain at home, by
what show of justice can those who have al
ready voluntarily served their country for txalXe
months DC compelled to continue in the service,
| while those who have all this time been ENJOYING
domestic sweets are permitted to remain at home.
| Many who are now in the service will doubtless re-
enlist for the war-but very few of them will cheer
fully submit to the wholesale drafting proposed
There are men IN the army now that ought to be at
| home-the condition OF their families demands It :;
| while there are many at home who ought to he in
the army-there is nothing in their circumstances
| to eAcuse them from the service. 1t seems to me-
then, that it would be wrong to force the former to
remain in the service while the latter are permitted
to 80 at large. If the government adops the draft
ing SYSTEM | doubt not that the twelve months
volunteers will be willing to go home and take their
chances along with other citizens. Even this would
hardly be fair, but it would certainly he much more
just and equal than the wholesale drafting suggested
| have had an opportunity of personal acouaint-
with the officers and privatcs of several regi-
ments now in the service and hesitate not to pre-
DICT that II the government should undertake to
compel the volunteers now in the field to remain
after their term Of service has expired, it srM fnd
itself Without the porer to succeed in the attempt
There would be a revolution in a revolution. A
greater fuss woud arise than has been seen in
the South. | am happy, however, to believe that
the government will not find it necessary to resort
to such an arbitrary measure. The hearts of the
people are with the government in this war. \
large proportion of the troops now i'll the service
will certainly re-enst for the war, without drafting
and hundreds Of thousands at home are only wait
ing for vacancies in the service to occar when they
will rush into them with an enthusiasm equal te
that manifested at the beginning Of the war.
VOLUNTEER.
Jan. 10, 1862