Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1862-04-16
Communicated.
OUR FOES.
APRIL u. 1862.

There are evils amongst us
about which there has been much talk,
but no definite action has been taken
for their suppression or correction. A
crisis is upon us feplete with danger.
and fraught with consequences of most
momentous and vital interest. The is
sue Is clearly one of liberty or slavery;
yea. even Of life or death. We are now
con,ending with a powerful and unprin.
cipled external foe, whose object is to
effect our subjugation and ru n; such is
the numerical force of the enemy that il
will require a perfect unity Of action,
aud q combination OF all our strength to
successfully repel him Shall wei then,
at a time like this, permit an internal
foe to Turk securely in our midst. revel-
ing upon the rich banquet afforded them
by the scarcity of the necessaries of
life, and the necessities Of the people,
whilst others are rendering but little il
any assistance, either materially or pc
%cuniarilly. No man can now set up an
excuse of neutrality. No. sir, he that
is not for US is against US. 1t will do
fer foreign Governments to assert their
neutrality; but no citizen of either the
North Or South can rightfully claim
such a position. Every man is com
PEELED, in the present state of affairs, to
have his preferences in this great con
test for independence; and unless he
manifests it by his conduct we have a
right to doubt him; and the people
should assign all such their true posi-.
ton, even ii it should be transportation
beyond tue lines of the Southern Con-
federacY. There are a contemplate
few, and | am happy to say there are
but few, who have the temerity to say,
that n certain few, or a certain political
party are responsible for the present
condition Of the country; and. in exten-
uation oftheir own reprehenslble course,
inquire, who brought on the war? and
excuse themselves upon the ground OF
having no personal agency in the mat
ter. Such an excuse is SO preposterous
that it scarcely deserves Tefutation but
would simply ask all such, what would
they think Of a resident of a city, amid
a general co~Dfagration. whether origin
ating from accident or the torch of the
~incendiary. who would refuse to assist
in subduing the flames, for the reason
that he had no agency in applying the
torch. until the devour;ng elements
should reach bis own dwelling, and drive
him out a houseless and homeless mar
tyr to his own folly; there is as much
philosophy in the latter as in the former;
and any one thus acting would be Justly
entitled to the appellatiOn Of q fool or o
mailman. Ye men of wealth and af1u.
ence, what have you done or what are
you now doing, in behalf of our beloved
country? What sacrifices have you
nude? What has been the amount o.
your donations How many sons have
you sent to the war to fight for the pro
lection of your property d Jour homes
Say not that you have given your 6fty
or your hundred dollars ut the com
n1encement of the war. Past gifts vii
not suffice for present demands. The
graat body Of OR army, like your indi
vidUaF bodies, require their pericdica'
supplies of uourishment and it mus
I have it, or it will languish and die.
Would it be charity to supply the poor
furnishing beggar with one meal, ant
send him off to perish? No his oft
returning wants must be supplied, OF
your charity avails him but little. Then
out of your abundance, fill the stomach
Of u great Southern Confederacy and
when that is digested and appropriated
to the development of our energies and
our strength, give in accordance with
the demands of necessity. The forcgo.
ing allegations of delinquency, or
might rather say disloyalty, have proven
to be serious hindrances to the success
ful prosecution of the war and it is as
much the part of wisdom to divest our.
selves of all membranes and bindran.
ces as it is to provide the necessary
weapons and other means of warfare,
David could not have contended with
the great Slant Of the Pbilistines whilst
clad in the massive and cumbersome
armor of Israel. but laying it aside, and
taking a weapon to which he was accus-
toned. he slew his adversary--then lei
US profit by the example, and remove
every incumbranCe and hindrance out
of the way, by compelling. if necessary.
every man 10 do his duty; that a day Of
fearful retribution awaits those who dc
not, l have no doubt /; but | am not in
favor of procrastinating the day of reck
oning--let us attend to il now--he who
would be free must himself strike the
blow.
let us cali a meeting Of the citizens
Of Noxubee, aud resolve ourselves into q
Committee of Safety and Defence; Their
let said committee appoint a Committee
of Inquiry composed of good and true
men whose duty it shall be to ascertain
the names of all persons who have been
either too craven-hearted or too pgrsi.
monious to give of their substance Lie.
rally to the support of the war likewise
the names of all peculators and specula.
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