Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-04-05

thirty FIVE thus destroying the volunteer system and
totally ignoring her authority as sovereign State
over her militia. Why, this levy en- massc on the
militia for the purpose of creating standing army
would prove more repugnsnt to the feelings Of our
people than even the French CONSUMPTION. We do
not know what French subscription is now, but In
1916, says McCuloch, Z" the conscripts were chosen
by ballot"-that is, drsfted-" for a term Of seven
years. Ths exemptions from service are, natural
infirmity. the being under the height Of feet 1
4-6th inches, (Engl) the eldest of family Of or
phans, the only son Of widow, or of father blind
Or 20 years Of age" &c.
The Richmond Di.pafch vehemsntly advocates the
proposed CONSUMPTION Itadnits that it would violate
State rights, but says this is no time for talking
about rights and privilegesl" 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 Whig,
though very much opposed to the principle of con-
scrpton aud though still in favor of the volunteer
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 they be-
came portions of il, cannot be saved by 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 Journals they would
adhere inGexibly to the volunteering system, and
III. AZ l.. ~. a,.l
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 not mercenarieS-they aretrue patriots
They have a right to be discharged when their
terms expire and believe they will insist this
right but if the country should call upon them in
this hour of peril to 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 them, 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 iuper
our very existence. But the. proposition for con-
scripton for the war, and especially the effort to
compel the twelve months 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 interpose to protect the rights ofthe States
and to check the tendency to military consolidation
and military des2otism, which, we regret to say, has
shown itself thus early in the operations of our
government