Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-12-10
The Commission to Richmond.

We are not definitely and, perhaps, not accurate
ly informed as to the result of the late mission to-
Richmond of the committee of the two Houses Of
our Legislature; but we learn that the committee
were courteousy received politely treated and in
formed by the President that this State would be
permitted to raise ten thousand troops, under IS
ment and kept in the State so long their services
should not be required elsewhere! Is that all? If
so, the President is determined to have all between
1s and 40, and the State is to depend on the boys
and those over 40.
Good policy, humanity, the morals of our boys,
and our hope in the future for healthy generations
people, imperatively forbid that singeboy under
IS be mustered into service, either by the State
Confederate government Let the boys stay at
home with their mothers. This war calls for men.
We agree with Mr.. Davis in what he is reported to
have said some time since, that the seed corn
should not be ground up"
We repeat what we said in our last, that this
State has sent more than her quota to the field of
volunteers and conscripts. South Carolina has, this
day, twelve regiments of reserved conscrps either
her own coast or in readiness to be placed there
besides six to eight thousand Confederate troops
under Gen. Beauregard. There were no conscripts
reserved in this State. They were called out at
once, and sent by thousands to swell our regiments
and many of them were killed or wounded in the
battles Of Boonsborough and Sharpsburg. If we
send any more at this time, we shall not only do
more than duty in comparison with what other
States are doing, but we shall further diminish our
l.c..
add TO the very great probability that many of our
people will suffer for food and raiment during the
coming year. Our first duty, in the last resort is
| to our own State We cannot close our eyes to the
fact that ten or twelve Counties our seacoast are
already devastated by the enemy, and that other
Counties in the eastern part of the State serious
ly threatened Nor can We close ears to the
cries Of the suffering poor There are thousands OF
these many of them the wives and children of our
gallant soldiers who are not as well provided for in
the way of meat and bread and clothing and shoes,
as our slaves. If we allow the ten thousand con-
| scripts between 35 and 40 to be taken, and then
RAISE, in addition ten thousand State troops, the
suferings of the poor will be increased tenfold.
But, we are told, a conflict is inevitable between
|
scrption law should be suspended. Well, suppose
there should be-which must give way? The Con-
federate government is but the creature of the
reign States The idea of permitting or azlowing
the States to raise troops of certain kind, is re-
Election their dignity and sovereignty. The con-
scription law is itself unconstitutional 1t not only
destroys the militia system of the States, but it
monopozes all the troops and the appointment Of
all their officers. On the other hand the Consttu-
ton expressly reserves to the States the right to
raise troops in time of war; but how can they do
this, if all their fighting enrolled and taken
by the common government?
| We fear that the mission to Richmond has not on
ly been of benefit to u.s. but that it will still fur
ther rritate people by suggestions and promises
that may never be carried out Meanwhile the con-
scrpton law, with its odious discrimination between
the small and large slaveowner and between the
slavowner and non,saveowner, is being enforced
I This law calls for at least ten thousand men. We
have already sent more than our due proportion
Shall we under the circumstances, send more? Let
the people answer. Let them, if necessary, assem-
BILE in public meeting and instruct their representa-
tives in the Legislature on this subject. Thank
God! the State is still sovereign, and the people
are still the source of all power. They true to
their Southern allies They have shown this on
scores of atte-ields and they will show i. again,
if occasion sbond present itself; but they are at
the same time true tothemselves Patriotism begins
at home. A man who does not provide for and de.
fend his home in the last resort hath denied
the faith, and is worse than an infdel."