Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-01-16
How to keen uu the Army


Appears to be the subject Of the gravest coOsiiera
ton at this time 10 view of the fact that the terms of
enlistment of macy of the tweIve'months volunteers will
expire within the next six months and all within the
present year.
Sundry plans are proposed to meet this contingency.
The plan of Offering bounties inducements for the
twelve months volunteers to engage for the war has al
ready been adopted but has yet to be tried since but
few of the men have filled out their first term, and
it remains to be seen what of proportion OF them will
reenter the service after their terms shall have expired
This is predicatng the status of the army upon vol
untary enlistment. There are not wanting those who
contend that, if this is to be protraced one and
however we may hope speculate cannot knOc that
it aOH not be SO, safely act upon any other
premises than that il will be, and thus be prepared
to meet any contingencythere are those we say, who
contend that for long war, voluntary enlistment can
not be depended upon. That the State should call Or
and command men as it does money. In plain terms
that drafting Involuntary levy should be subst
tuted for volunteering voluntary enlistment. That il
would be as wise for government to depend upon vol
untary contributions for the means to support war
as it would be for it to depend upon volunteering OF
voluntary enlistment for the men to carry 1t on. We
suppose this is what the Richmond Examiner is driv
ing at and that the thing is indicated by the ree
rences made to the French System in the debates o.
the Confederate Congress.
We do not exactly know what the French system
means. We all instinctivey think of the ~ord "con
scription" when the French system" is referred to
but the idea of definite thing fact is not so readily
presented to our minds We think the system is
what in this Way:-In every commune In France lists
are kept On which are inscribed the names of all the
males under a certain age. Of these average num-
ber say three hundred thousand annually reaches that
age being that Of liability to military duty Their
names are then placed upon another list out of which
the recruits for the year to be drawn by lot They
are in plain terms enrolled for that is the literal
ing of CONSUMPTION. Their remain on this from
their goth to their 26th year.
Surprising the French army, on peace footing, to
number four hundred thousand men, drawn for period
of FIVE years. it is evident that the term of service Of
onefth oftbese eighty thousand would expire every
year. But of course as it is natural suppose that
in time of peace certain per centage of deaths must
occur therefore those drawn each year must 60 to
ply the losses by death equally with those by expracy
of the terms of former draftings that probably
number equal to one-third of all the young coming
OF military age in any year called for and drawn
within that year. All the young mea on the lists fol
any certain year required to repair to place
within their respective districts, some day fixed
there to draw lots who shall 60 and who shall
stay. AS to the different classes according tC
age, the adjustment of the reserves, the induce
ments held out to remain in tie army after the re
quired term and SO on we not prepared to speak
even if time and space allowed, which they do not
Neither 90 We pretend to minute accuracy in wha
we have already sad for have book authority
at hand but we believe that near enough to be
ing correct to give fair general notion Of the system
Both in this country and il England there has al
ways existed prejudice aganst-a dread of this sys
tenn, as system, and we think that now, however i
might be submitted to temporary military necess
ty there would be jealousy of its introduction lest
should grow into an Institution and become par
Of our permanent governmental policy.
This something else must be done, however, or tn
Confederate government must relax some of its rules
Take the instance of North Carolina. She has thirty
eight regments-we think the numbering now wi
reach hrty-nne but the first volunteer regiment is GU
of service Of these only ten are for the war. Hoy
many OF the twelve months men will re-enst canno
now be known.
The Governor is forced to refuse volunteers Offered
because the Confederate Government will not accep
any regiment for less period than the war; unless the
are rendered armed and equipped. The Governo
cannot arm those Offering because be has no arm
to give them. All the State arms are alread
in hand If he accepts companies that he cannot arm
they must be kept at the expense Of the State, until
the expiration of those in service and their retire
ment, he is enabled to provide them with weapons
II the Confederate government would modify the ru
somewhat and accept men to be placed in camps of il
structon and drilled and made ready to take up tt
the arms that others might and will lay down. it is pro
able that no difficulty would be experienced 10 keel
ing up our forces. This would involve some addition
expense, we know, but little, perhaps as any oht
plan that could be adopted. We feel pretty certai
that with little modification of the rules Mort
Carolina can keep up and increase her force of lively
months men. Without resortng to the French Sy
tenn or something like it, she cannot get out an add
j tional force of men for longer period.
An Outrage.
Cur readers will recoect that Judge Biggs Ordinance
the State Convention requiring citizens natives of tt
State to take oath of allegiance rejected
majority. Yet we learn from communication IN the La
Raleigh Standard that the tax collector oumbus COM
y has practically OVerrued the decision of the COnvento