Newbern weekly progress., 1862-12-20
Troops for atase Defence.

We know the subject of raising troops IS q
difficult one, out with all respect for he LegIs-
lature must say, that in our opinion the
| troops for State defence ought to be raised 6y
co2unteers from l8 to so. To permit ani
| more conscripts TO be taken from the State is
| to put it out of power of the Legislature to
raise State troops. Our State cannot submit
to both these drains her population and
| industrial pursuits.
| II the conscripts are taken, raise no troops;
| if the conscripts not taken, raise the troops.
This State has already turned to the
| Confederate States more than $4,000 men. II
| the conscri pts that remain should also bo
enrolled and turned over, at least 10000 will
have been mustered into Confederate service.
| Well, suppose this done-what next? No
State troops are raised, and the line of the
Wilmington and y eldon Road is made the lins
| Of defence. In that event the whole Of the
Eastern part Of the State will have been sur
rendered to the enemy. and all that tpe State
Can do will be to withdraw some twenty thou
sand of her troops from Virginia She eoiU do
this before she seiU see the Eastern Counties,
up to the line Of railecay, des0lated by ths
enemy. She VIII do It, be the Consequences
what they may. The great mass Of ot9 penplo
| will be t7ue to themselves in the last res6fs.
| They ack nowledge no masters, either al Wash
ingtoa or Richmond. They will control their
own resources, in the last resort, for the de-
fence Of their own soil and, under Providence,
We hear great deal on this subject about
the Importance of avoitlir e conflict with the
i Confederate government. This comes for the
most part from gentlemen who Dot all
| scrupulouS about bringing about a conflict
With tbs q gesss-pllsssnt as.l tearing ~
before goo3 cause was givenfor so doing; but
tow when insist justice, on the rights
VI our State and plead for measures on which
he defence, If not rhe existence of the State
depends, these gentlemen tremb!a with appre-
1ension lest conflict should take place be-
ween the two governments. If that conflict
hould come, the blame for it will not rest on
North Carolina. She has sent more troops to
he field in proportion to Eer Population than
NY other State; and she has sent three con-
cIlp'S for one sent by any other State. Her
,iiant sons have been placed in front Of near
V every important battle, and bones of thou
a7ds Of them now mouider in Virginia SOIL
t is needless for her to saY that she is devoted
o the common cause, when she has d-ms so
much for it. She has been neglec ed-grossly
reelected There is no good ground for hop-
ng that she will receive justice at the hands
f the government at Richmond. We should
'joce II ere was such ground Now, tho
e ant OF her conscrjpts is call, d for, ard she
, to be cit naked to her enemies. Where.
hen is the conflict Is it not by the Con-
.dera ate government sciM North Carolina? We
yarn gentlemen that the people see and feel
heSe things do and that if any prefer--
nee is to be shown in this matter, vital in
IS nature, it must be sh0cR an fac0r Of North
1trotina. Woe unto the public man, who,
" any cause or any government, shall do or
init acts that VIII lead to the utter impover1-
Sh!Hcnt, the devastation, and the ruin of his
wn Statet We must act, that while doing
nd suffering all We can for the common cause,
re shall not deliver up our own State to the
orrors OF general lnvasion-to the chances
f starvation to the danger of domestic strife
I'd blood Shed and to the cOmDaratiye deDOD-
la: ion ; and, as a consequence of all these, to
he moral certainty of not being able, at ths
lose OF the war, to resume our course in the
larch of nations with such means and such
csources as Will render Us respectable in our
wn eyes, or respected by others.
1t is clear, from careful reading of' Gov.
'ance's message that he expects the ten thoU--
and troops to be TGtssd o0funteers. cut 0f tho
Dnseripts: Speaking OF the conscricption law
nd the raising of troops for State Defence the
Governor says:
ITO raise an adeqnare force for State defence,
'om citizens beyond the age of As, and sue:
lit to this vast drain besides that is, the con-
eription law. ! thought entirely impraeticGble.
oped, too, that by aiding and assisting in the
xecu:ion of tie conscfiption law. l. would be
providing for State defence. 1his
'aSoHate hope has, regret to say been d'snPp0int
He then refers to the fact that though North
arolina has a greater extent of seacoast than
ny other State. shs has had fewer troops given
er for its defence; and then, addressing himself
the Legislature. he says at is for you to say
neither you will snffar defences, as hereto!
ne. to remain exclusively in the hands of the
onfederate authorities TO take steps TO carry
1t the will of the last Legislature, and to raiss
oops enough on State authority to strengthen
lie weak hand of the general government on
lr coast
Our friends IN the Legislature will perceive
ATTN advancing these views use are sustaining
or Tdnce His message met with universal
hic approval. The people with him. and
, is their servant and spokesman Hc appeal
the Conservatives in the too Houses to Stand 6y
Z Goecrmor. -RateisA StaRdafd, l2th'