Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-09
Presidents message-Conscrip,ion

Wis alluded to in our last the subject of conscrip.
tion. The message was briefly debated in Congress,
and then referred to the military committee, with
| instructions to report.
In the Senate Mr.. Clark, of Missouri, Mr.. Spar
row, of Louisiana, and Mr.. Wigfan. Texas, advoca-
ted the proposition contained in the message and
Mr.. Oldham, of Texas, opposed it. The latter said
he did not believe that Congress had the power ex-
ccp through the Intervention of the States to force
citizens into the Confederate army. Mr.. W,gfall
replied, maintaining that this power in the Confed
| crate government was full and conclusive He said
the volunteering system had failed, and that mo
troops can be effectively carried into the field who
elect their officers" He said:
I'VE need large army. How are you to get It:
Take these conscrpt soldiers and put them into the
old regiments. This was Napoleon's plan. No man
has any ndvua rights, which come in conflict with
the welfare OF the country. The government has
much right to exact military service as it has to
collect a tax to pay the expenses of the government
The people will not volunteer to fill up the old reg
lments. we want no new regiments-we hav'nt
time to train them. We want trained troops, and
the only way to bring effective force in the field
is to fill up the skeleton regiments by c;nscrpton,
and keep them full. The safety of our liberty and
our homes require that we shall do this 1t will
not do to talk about the justice of our cause the IA
YOUR OF Providence, or the aid of foreign nations
We must have heavy battalions. We have to con.
tend against powerful nation, which exhibits the
desperation of gambler who stakes all that he pos
sesses. We are waiting here for Providence, or for
eign governments, to help u.s. We lean upon
| broken reed"
Mr.. Oldham, in his reply, said:
THAT it the was object and theory of our gov
ernment to secure and preserve the liberties the pco-
pie. II they are to be DESTROYED, he didn't care
liz whether 1t was effected by the General or State
Government This system of conscription prevailed
only in the despotisms of Europe. England never
did and never will resort to it. II Parliament
to attempt to establish it, the result would be the
overthrow OF the government Ours is free gov
ernment, resting upon the consent of the people,
and to require that every man between eighteen and
thirty five should perform military service without
the consent his State would be destructive of the
liberties Of the people. Was it ever conceived of
before by the widest magination that such power
was conferred upon Congress? The gentleman
(Mr. WigfalD says that Washington, Jefferson and
others favoured the exercise of this power He had
heard great called up before to sanction great
sins. Did Washington ever propose to convert this
| country into one great camp? Mr.. Oldham said be
had great confidence in the President, but if Wash
ington himself were living, and endowed with all
the virtues ascrlbed to him, he would not put the
Liberties of the people into his hands. Our Pres-
| dent might not abuse the power, but some future
military cheftain might avail himself of the prece
dent to do So"
The plan proposed is thus "All persons resi-
ding within the Confederate States, between the
ages of eighteen and thirtyfve years. and rightfuly
subject to military duty, shall be held to ls in the
| military serrice Of the Confederate States" This,
then includes all the volunteers now in service
for twelve months, whose terms have not expired
As the terms of the regiments expire, all over thr
ty-ive years of age to be released, and all be-
tween the ages of eighteen and thirty6ve are to be
torcibly retained and the regiments to be filled
up by the conscrpts, who are to have no voice. in
the election of their officers. North Carolina, for
example, has some thirteen to fifteen thousand
troops for the war, and some twentythree or twen-
ty.four regiments for twelve months, whose terms
will expire within the next four or five months
and her authorities now engaged, and success
fully engaged in putting in the field her full quota
| of thrty-se thousand five hundred men for the
war, expecting to raise and retain at the same time,
some twelve thousand troops for State defence
When Carolina raised her regiments for twelve
months and rendered them to the Confederate gov
ernment, she made solemn contract with those
regiments that they should be discharged, if they
should so desire, at the end of the time specified
and the Confederate government in accepting these
regiments, became party to this contract. Now
it is proposed b1eak this contract to the great
er portion of the men composing those regiments
and to force them to serve during the war! We
protest not only against the bad faith involved in
l,,to %Ho LOT {bu
rights of the States by this attempt to reach out the
arm of Confederate power, and take citizens fol-
the war; without the Intervention aid of the State
authorities, without even consulting those author
tiles. If this proposition should be adopted, it will
disorganize the existing militia systems of the
States, put stop to all volunteering and SO far as
the cooperation of our State authorities with the
Confederate government in raising troops is con
cerned it will arrest that at once and the latter
government will raise troops and conduct tho wal
without regard to State lines State authority
The Confederate government it is true, possesses
the power to "raise and support armies" But il
was never supposed for moment that this power
included the right to call for for thu
war, without regard to the cooperation or authori
tv of the States themselves. Such a power was
never before exercised or claimed in this country
If claimed and exercised now, it will be done in vic
lation of the spirit Of the Constitution and in defo
CATION of the rights of the States This is our judg
ment and we do not hesitate to utter it. This is
the peoples war; and not war to be waged by
forced levies. If the people will not volunteer IN
sufficient numbers to carry it on, and to repel ths
invader, then let them bear the consequences. But
they hare volunteered, and they wiW volunteer il
greater numbers than can be armed and managed
If the President or the Secretary of War, or thos
who have the management of the war, had actet
with that foresight, sagacity, and energy which tn
country had the right to expect Of them, we shoul
now have FIVE hundred thousand men in the field
ready to meet the foe. But twelve months ago,
is said, the President thought that fifteen thousans
men would be sufficient; and the Secretary of Wa
and Others high in place, were constantly assuring