Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-17
THE ARMY QUESTION.

CiMP on CESriEvLLE HEIGHrs Jan. 18th, 1862.
To tie Editor Of the Wig:
The time is rapidly approaching when the service of
those volunteers who have enlisted only for twelve
moths will have expired and several plans have been
proposed 10 meet the exgency Of that occasion. Some
fears have been produced the minds of rulers
regard Ee-enlstnent at this critical juncture which is
coming upon U.S. Those who have mixed much with our
troops indulge no such gloomy apprehensions and evil
forebodng,. TIE men who responded promptly TO the
first call Of their country have relaxed Of their puE
pose abatcd Of their zeal, done nothing to war
rant these unjust suspicious. The people voted en-
for fnsl separation from the sectional ntoler-
of the NORTH knowing that t would involve in
farcidal but they preferred tho temporary horrors
Of civil dscord to wearing the letters Of atrucic
desposm and transmitting to po5erity the turmOs Cf
anarchy You will then probibly agree with me, Nj
Editor that additional legislation is required to
the present volunteers into Of their making
0nr authorities have displayed doubts Of their pirios
which have aroused the just indignation Of peops
born TO be free. Such treatment is ungraetu yea is
reasonable. The soldiers in the field have done
nothing to justify belief that they will prove deluqn
True, they have seen much disgust them with he
exists 10 the quartermaster, commssay and a,deinal
isp'rtments they valid for rejecting sp
pOaions for short iurloughs to dying relation,
adjust business imperaivey demanding attention. al
time too, when they could be spared without the sor
sustaining any detrmsnt by their absence. They
are frequently veIed the fl ousnsss OF political med
ders who cry loudly ION to Washington" but preserve
a respectful distance between themselves and the
of danger but they submit quietly to these snLoyanees
they do lot complain OF hard duties to be performed
forced marches and bard fare They are wiling 10 en-
dure prvatons, make necessary sacrifices, end a.
ways ready engage the enemy; they weariel wit;
tho ennui OF camp, that fruitful mother Of disease =
which Is demorailng our army, ard wilHbal az dow
efers from military prison our gallant Generals waei
they shall lead them forth to battle Il Is none Of TIE
aforementioned things they complain Of but It Is ~,
proposed legislation which Of COERCION which Lss
caused such widespread complaint. | had thought ".
took up arms against this very doctrine of coercion
Our rulers should presume 10 degree upon the pat
RIOTS N, intelligence and of honor OF the voluao
think kno. the temper Of our troops, having brc in
the amy nine months, and safely ali;m. that
such plan that offered by Nc Thomas, OF Fairfax 10
adopted, our proud Old Dominion will rue 10 suck
cloth aad ashes the day such proposition bscones
law on her statute book
LIT those who have remained at home be draffed,
withou. Discriminating ia favor Of any particular se
but make all subj .et to draft between eighteen and fer =
fa years Of age aad the present forces in SERVE,
will reenist without being forced to do 80. All they
require is that the burdens b. distributed with .vrE.
banded justice. proclamation, calling on the volIn
teers 10 rush forssrd to their country nensced ~
hOrdes Of ruthss, invaders, would cause thoasauts
to rally around her STANDARD, ready to die in her i,.
fence. bonu, of fly ,lars, and furiough OF Two
months, hold on: no Inducements TO Southern gentle
nsa Unlike the mereenaries OF the North, they caa
neither be paid nor oreei to fight. Oar army i,
posed of the talent wealth, chivay sud virtue Of tbs
South the are identified in feeling and interest