Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-01-22
For the Standard,
CAMP RUrrlN, Jan. 10, 1862.

EDITOR STANDARD: Thinking that your numer-
GUS readers would like to hear from the 3rd regi-
ment will give you few items of news from our
camp. Our regiment is now in very good health,
We have but very few in the hosp,tal-not more
than dozen-and they are not very aggravated cases.
mostly colds.
We have to drill twice day. once in company
and the other battalion. Col Scales has been quite
unwell for several days with the neuralgia, but,
drill for the past few days. The regiment is very
we'll pleased with him, and have every confidence in
him as man, and military commander
Are the powers that be" in North Carolina
making any preparations to fill our places by the
lst of May5 Our time will expire, and VIC think that
our places should be properly filled. have no
doubt if our regiments is dsbanded properly, and the
men left to their own choice tha: at least twohrds
Of them will re-cnlist; but If those men who have
been lying in their feather beds at home, are suffer-
ed to make any and all kinds of "militdry lars,"
it will be hard to get them back without draft
We have many thousands Of men in North Carolina,
who ought to step forward and fill up our places
II they will not come, let them be drafted and well
organized by the lst of May, and then everything
will be right If they cannot get to drill them
send 10 the regiments and get suitable men. We
all willing to fight for our country, to lay down
our lives and all We have, rather than, for moment
to submit to the Yankee government but l do think
that all ought 10 bear their part in the contest.
am, yours, &C..
A SOLDIER.
The foregoing is from twelve months volunteer,
who feels an interest in supplying the places Of the
twelve months men whose terms will expire during
the present year. This is matter of much i,n2or-
tance 1t should receive the early and earnest at.
tention Of the Convention, which will re-asseuble
on Monday next The Confederate government it.
self has not thus far resorted to any considerable
extent to the policy Of raising troops BY its own
direct action, but has left this to the States. The
President calls and the Governors of the States re-
spond with the number and kind of men which he
deems necessary for the service.
We observe that some Of our contemporaries art
favoring the conscripton or draft as the means o
raising troops in the future and that they urging
the establishment of permanent standing army
They say that such policy would be just to all
and that substitutes could be furnished employed
by the government for those who might not be dis
posed to serve, and who would be able of course,
| pay for substitutes. But would such policy b,
Just to those who too poor to hire substitute
! Surely not We should have an army composed o
those compelled to serve Of substitutes and Of thos
who, not being disposed to take advantage of thei
wealth by procuring substitute, would serve frou
choice. There would therefore, be two if not thre
distinct classes in the same army, thus permanent
! established; and money would be employed, IS il
former times, substitute for personal service du
the country. We are opposed to any such system
! II We must have permanent standing army afte
the war, let 1t be composed of enlisted men an
for the future, during the war, let us have volur
teers we'll paid, and vested with the right to choos
their own officers We believe that at least one
half of the twelve months volunteers from thi
State will again enter the service, not for twelv
months but for the war, if proper inducement
should be held out to them; and that thousands {
others who have not been in service, will join ther
in forming regiments for the war This is war
the people against arbitrary power-let it be fougt
by volunteers. They have shown themselves equa
thus far, to every emergency. Standing armies
raised by drafts, are the adjuncts and supports ,
despotism. The government will very properly &C
in raising troops upon the supposition that the ",
will continue for years. 1t may terminate within
few months, but the safest and best policy is to pr
vide for an indefinite period. Every considerato
of economy and efficiency is in favor of troops f
the war, and these, we believe, can be raised Will
ont resorting to drafts.