Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-09

oeen met by vast preparations on ours. North
carolina has some one hundred and thirty thousand
nshtng men. She has always been ready to fur.
n'sh the common government: with as many of these
men as it desired. If Mr. Davis had called for sew
enty yfve thousand, instead of thirtyseven thousand
hVe hundred, he would have got them; but her
people are not willing that he shall press her twelve
months regiments in for the war, thus violating
her and his plighted faith with those regiments,
and then proceed to make his levies for the the
whole body of her fighting men between ghteen and
five, thus destroying the volunteer system and
totally ignoring her authority sovereign State
over her militia. Why, this levy en- nsasse on the
militia for the purpose Of creating standing army,
would prove more repugnant to the feelings of our
people than even the French conscriptiou. We do
not know what French conscription is now, but in
1S45, says McCulloch, "the conscripts were chosen
by ballot'-that is drafted" for term of seven
years. The exemptions from service are, natural
lnfirmity. the being under the height of feet
4-5th inches, (Engl) the eldest of family of Or
phans, the only son Of widow, or of father blind
or 70 years OF age" &c.
The Richmond Dispatch vehemently advocates the
proposed conscrpton. Itadmits thatit would violate
State rights, but says "ths is no time for talking
about rights and privileges!" 1t asks, "if we are
to have despot, had he not better be one of our
own people than Yankee?" We answer, we will
not have despot of any stamp. The heel of
domestic despot would bear as heavily upon US as
that Of a foreign one. And the Enquirer and Wing,
though very much opposed to the principle of con-
still ;v +Lo
ing system, nevertheless yield their judgments to
others, and advocate the plan proposed. They say
the Republic must be saved at all hazards; but the
Republic as it was created by the Congress at
Montgomery, and by the border States as they be.
came portions of it. cannot be saved by a palpable
disregard of the rights of the States and by the
establishment of great military consolidation
The name may remain, but the spirit will have left
it. We believe that if Richie and Peasants were
living, and at the head Of these ournals they would
adhere in1exiby to the volunteering system, and
would oppose with all their might this proposed
invasion Of State rights.
The enemy presses hard upon us, and great, and
it may be- decisive battles near at hand Many
of the twelve months volunteers have. already re-.
volunteered, and thousands of men for the war are
pouring in from all quarters. The twelve months
men are not mercenaries-they aretrue patriots
They have right to he discharged when their
terms expire, and We believe they will insist on this
right; but if the country should call upon them in
this hour of peril to serve few months longer, we
believe they would respond to the call. They may
be persuaded, but not driven. If treated justly,
and if faith be kept with tbem they will not desert
the flag by taking advantage Of the exact time
when their terms expire. They have been anxious
for months to be led against the foe but the policy
of retreat has dampened their ardor, and reduced
our lines to such an extent that one great battle,
if it should go against US, might seriously mperil
our very existence Blu: the proposition for con-
sc1ption for the war; and especially the effort to
compel the twelve months men to continue in service
for the war, against their will, will never receive
our assent; and this policy recommended by the
President, if adopted by Congress, will result dis
astrously to the cause We trust the Congress will
promptly intcrpose to protect the rights othe States
and to check the tendency to military consolidation
and military despotism, which, regret to say has
shown itself thus early in the operations of cur