Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-11-12
= For the Standard.
Mating of the Citizens of Martin, Halifax
= Rertfe and Northampton Counties.

rM0eting OF the C1tlZCuS u Aois'HS AAoAAAsAS
BERTHE and Northampton Counties.
At meeting of the citizens Of Martin, Halifax,
BERTHE and Northampton counties, which was held
at GAINESVILLE, Halifax county, on Saturday, the
25th October, 1862, it was
Rssolced That five hundred copies of an Act
to authorise the formation Of Companies for Local
Defence" be printed and distributed throughout
the counties of Warren, Martin, Halifax, BERTHE
and Northampton, and that committee OF three
be appointed, who shall issue an address to De-
published with the said act calling the attention
of citizens thereto and urging upon them the for.
nation of such companies for home defence ano
County Police
In accordance with said resolution, tho under
signed, who were appointed a committee TOT the
purpose respectfully present to their fellow
the act and address following:
AN ACT TO AUTHoRIsE THE FORMATION OF VOLUNTEER
COMPANIES FOR LOCAL DEFENcE.
The Congress Of the Confederate States Of Anasrs-
ca do enact, That for the purpose of local defenc
in any portion of the Confederate States, any num-
Der Of persons not less than twenty, who are over
the age of forty five years. otherwise not liable
to military duty, may associate themselves as .
military company, elect their own officers and es'
tablish rules and regulations for their own govern
men:, and shall be considered as belonging to the
Provisional Army Of the Confederate States, serv-
ing without pay or allowances and entitled when
captured by the enemy to all the privileges Of prso
ners of war: Provided, That such company shall,
as soon as practicable, transmit their muster roll,
or list of the names of the officers and privates
thereof to the Governor Of the State the Command
ing General of the Department, or any Brigadier
General in the State or Confederate service to be
forwarded to the Secretary Of War; but the Presi-
dent or the commander of the military district may,
at any time disband such companies: Provided,
That in the States and districts in which the act en-
titled IAN act to further provide for the public de-
fence" approved April 18th, 1862, and the acts
amendatory thereof have been suspended, persons
of any age resident within such States districts,
may volunteer and form part Of such companies so
long as such suspension may continue: Provided,
That no person shall become member Of said COM
pany until he shall have first taken the oath of allie
glance to the Confederate States of America IN writ
ing, copy of which shall be filed with the muster
roll of said company as above prescribed.
Approved Oct. 10, 1862.
To the Citizens Of Warren, Halifax, Martin,
Northamp ton and BERTHE Counties:
FELLow-CITIzENs The counties which you own
and occupy as your homes, form the margin of the
most fertile portion of the Valley Of the Roanoke.
These homes, so dear to you, ruthless and inso-
lent foe instigated by the lust of rSpne and plum
der, seeks to wrest from you Win all the means
and appliances which art or wealth can furnish,
they now make preparation to invade your so,f and
drive you from the homes inherited from your faith
erS, by the violent enforcement Of their acts of
contiscation to deprive you of the fruit of long
years Of toll and industry-to expel you from the
land made sacred blythe graves of your ancestors
to proclaim unlicensed freedom to your slaves-and
thus turn these innocent jewellers in your house.
holds into savage and ruthless instruments of your
destruction
Already, by the occupation Of Plymouth, do they
stand as it were upon the threshold of your DOORS
Even now do they thunder at your gates Already
have you heard the boom Of their artillery, and
soon, perhaps, may see the cleaning of their bayo-
nets and the flashing Of their guns, as they attempt
the ascent of the river Will you stand unmoved?
Will YOU snpincly rest at home whilst they come,
with insolent and fell design, to overrun, drive out
ard destroy? Will you plead exemption, age, or
substitutes in defence of your homes? No! you
will meet them as freemen should meet their foes
face to face and foot to foot you will stand and strike
for your homes and ftherland-strike for your
wives and your ch,ldr n-strike for your rights and
the precious boon of freedom.
Rally, then, fellow citizens and to the rescue
Arise, o. countrymen! and meet this hour of your
peril with calm and steadast hearts, with earnest
and determined, wills. Organise companies form
yourselves into authorised bands devoted to the de-
fence of your homcs-to the maintenance of your
rights and p-operty-to the preservation of gootz
ordcr-to the destruction and exterminatina of tn.
invader. Form yourselves INTO companies under
the above rected act of our Congress for local de-
fence. Elect officers, good and true, who will lead
you in the path of hanor and duty. IT'S no holi-
day parade to which you summoned, but to
work-the earnest wcIk Of men and patriots.
Earoll, then, your names without delay with
those who have been appointed for the purpose
prepare yourselves for the encounter which may
soon come-stand ready to Strike with brave hearts
and bold hands, till the last armed foe is driven
ANONYMOUSLY from the land; and in after times.
when peace shall again smile upon the country, and
prosperity visit your hearths, you and your chill
drcn will turn with honest pride to the recollection
Of that day when you stood forth at your countrys
CALL ready to do oil which becomes brave men in
the defence of country and home
RICHARD Fl. SMITH,
p NJ. EDMONDSToN, Com.
EDW'D CONIGLAND,)
T II