Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-12-17
Troops for State Defence.

.H Troops for State Defence.
We know the subject Of raising troopc is q diff
cult one but with all respect for the Legislature we
must say that in our opinion the troops for State
defence ought to be raised by ooluntesrs from 1e to
30. To permit any more conscripts to be taken
from the State is to put it out of the power of the
Legislature to raise State troops Our State cannot
submit to both these drains on her population and
pursuits.
If the conscripts are taken, raise no troops; if
the conscripts are not taken, raise the troops.
This State has already turned over to the Confed-
crate States more than 80, 900 men. If the con-
scripts that remain should also be enrolled and
turned over at least 600 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 Weldon Road is made
the line Of Defence In that event the whole of the
Eastern part of the State will have been surrendered
to the enemy, and all that the State can do will be
to withdraw some twenty thousand Of her troops
from Virginia. She seiu do this, before she viU see
the Eastern Counties, up to the line Of railscay,
desolated By the enemy. She will do it, be the con-
sequences what they may. The great mass Of our
people will be true to themselves in the last resort
They acknowledge no masters, either at Washing
ton or Richmond. They will control their own re-
sources in the last resort for the defence of their
own soil; and, under Providence, they are the mas
ters of their own destiny.
We hear great deal on this subject about the
importance of avoiding conflict with the Confede
rate government. This comes for the most part
from gentlemen who were not at all scrupulous
about bringing abouta conflict with the old govern
ment and tearing it down before good cause was
given for so doing; but now, when we insist on
justice, on the rights of State, and plead for
measures which the defence, if not the existence
of the State depends, these gentlemen trembe with
apprehension lest conflict should take place be-
tween the two governments If that conflict should
come the blame for it will not rest North.C Caro-
lima She has sent more troops to the field in pro-
portion to her population, than any other State;
and she has sent three conscripts for one sent by
any other State. Her gallant sons have been placed
in front in nearly every important battle, and the
bones of thousands of them now moulder in Vir
gnia SOIL 1t is needless for her to say that she is
devoted to the common cause when she has done
so much for it. She has been neglected-grossly
neglected. There is no good ground for hoping
that she will receive justice at the hands of the gov
ernment at Richmond. We should rejoice if there
was such ground. Now, the remnant of her con-
scripts is called for and she is to be left naked to
her enemies. Where, then, is the conflict !? Is it
not by the Confederate government wih North
Carolina? We warn gentlemen that the people see
and feel these things do; and that if any pre-
ference is to be shown in this matter, vital in its
nature, itmust be shoson in auor of North Carolina
Woe unto the public man, who, for any cause or
for any government shall do omit acts that will
lead to the utter impoverlshment the devastation,
and the ruin of his own State We must so act,
that while doing and suffering all We can for the
common cause, We shall not deliver up our own
| State to the horrors of general invasion-to the
chances of starvaton-to the danger of domestic
strife and bloodshed, and to comparative Gepoi iula.
ton and, as consequence of all these, to the
moral certainty Of not being abe at the close of the
war, to resume our course in the march of nations
with such means and such resources as will render
US respectable in our own eyes, or respected by
others.
1t is clear, from careful reading of Gov Vance's
message that he expects the ten thousand troops
to be raised as rolunteers out Of the conscripts.-
Speaking of the conscription law and the raising o.
troops for State defence, the Governor says:
ITO raise an adequate force for State Defence from
our citizens beyond the age of 45, and submit t.
this vast drain besldes THAT is, the conscriptior
law,1 thought entirely inapracticable. l hoped
too that by aiding and assisting in the execution O
the conscription law, l would be efectually provi
ding for State defence This reasonable hope has,
regret to sag, been disappointed"
He then refers to the fact that though North Car
ona has greater extent of sea coast than any 9th
er State, she has had fewer troops given her for it
defence and then, addressing himselfto the Legis
lature he says, "it is for you to say whether yo,
will suffer defences as heretofore, to remain ex
clusively in the hands of the Confederate authori
ties or take steps to carry out the will of the las
Legislature, and raise troops enough on State au
thority to strengthen the weak hand of the genera
government on our coast"
Our friends in the Legislature will perceive tina
in advancing these vews zoe are sustaining Gocerno
Vance, His message met with universal public ap
proval. The people are with him, and he is thei
servant and spokesman. We appeal to ths Con
seruatipcs in the tuo Houses to stand by the Gooer
nor.
REs1GNED-We learn that Capt R. S. Tucke
and Lieut.. 7. j. Utley, Of fuckers Cavalry, hav
resigned because the company has been forced int