The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-08-15

F THE PETITION or CERTAIN Non Coz.
RESPECTFULLY PREsENTED TO the Con.
FEDERATE STATES CoSaRlss.
To lAe Speaker and Mem6rs Of Congress of the Con.
fsderate States Of Ameriea
Your petitioners respectfully represent that they
are all over the age Of thirty i've years. under
In the military service Of the Confederate States"
prsuious to the 18th day of April 1862 the date Of
the Conscript Act. Some Of your petitioners be-
long to companies mustered and received into ser
vice for twelve months, some Of whom rs-enlisted
for the war previous to the 10th day Of April 1857
and others who have not re enlisted; some who
have received the bounty money, and others who
have not rsceivedi It. Most Of your petitioners bad
under the call Of their respective States and the
President Of the COnfedsrats States eulisted for
three years or tho wal" previous 10 the 10th Of
April. 1862.
Your petitioners are from the different States of
the COnfederacy-some Of them over hfty years
old. others under seventeen years Of age. At the
different periods of their enlistment the pr0speets
Of the army Of the Confedetacy were darkened and
being overshadowed by series Of mishaps, blum.
ders, and military misadventures The cause no
dear to every true and brave Southron was, TO ali
outward appearances, waning. and needed renewed
energies and unmistAkablo popular manifestation
Of personal bravery and individual sacri6csa
The call for fresh troops increased energies, and
redoubled exerttous. waa promptly responded to
by your petitioners, a. volunteers IN the army Of
the Confederate States. At that critical juncture
OF the affairs Of tbs country. neither your petition
ers nor the public had any idss OF the passage Of
the Conscript Act. 1t was then believed that
the settled policy OF the Confederate Government
10 rest its sustaining reliance the untrammeled
free will and high spirit Of the Southern people "
be called forth. organized and put int action un
der their respective State organizations Your
petitioners conld not have aaticipeted the passage
Of the Conacript Act or the adoption and sanction
Of any system Of military Organization by the Con
fsdsrats States Government. which would claim 10
rest - basis on tho abusgstion Of the chsrished
principle Of State vereiguy and individual tree
dom Of will They - did their Hsates rsenraed
the cardinal principle OF Individual personal 1bsr.
y and unquestioned State sovsrsiGnty = The key
note 70 the existing revelusion.
uadsr impulsss Of no ordinasy character. your
petitioners, In the hour Of their counsry's DANGER
Isft homs, family eli. % (sh frssass n tAS sr-
~ fresns. TO pssesrvs aAcrsd THAR hlrsh-
nght-individuaal psr1onal hbssty, under shsir ~.
now, prepared 10 aacriAcs svsfythins bat their
honor end manhood. TAey belisved. g they -
every right 70 believe tha1 ths aUesd ssAeue a. he
army wouM remain On The hasls which AnA ben
adopted md nectianed By ~ rsspeaaivs lsgisaer
uoa 81 The Oonfedsea1e GoseRnmenl. Had th0a q.
ertainsA paaiey and sccEs6leoA 0atsa q nllitary
oroaniaa1toD heeA Dagtalnea ao9 eaasls4 ens, IN
oee ~ yenr pes1ti0sm wsaM Aave eesaphinea
UndN ~ eeaviselna thae - saeA shanoe woal6
es eonalA - ma1e. YeeR psl1alanan vsionessssa
ftesly anA &sn1iobd wlnfn0ly. TAAy Shno enies-
- t1aa ssn1s1aA M ~ CsalsaseaAe oto>,a
vAten ihey led - rl(1A = snsee ws9a sses ~
yaaleeaa " ~ ela.eacf 10y: ~ -
- yen evsee1. fa11 q u le en q
vlas -. ~ \ u - - =