Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-01-06
For THE RICHMOND WHIa.


make to President Davis, Governor Letcher the Con
gress of the Confederate States, the Legislature of Vr
ginia, and the people generally of the Confederate
States in reference the policy it seems to me- should
be adopted and carried into practice for our defense
against the unprncipled hordes that have invaded oar
States. desire in the first place, to say to President
Davis and Governor Letcher that they deserve and
have no doubt they have the thanks Of every patriot
in the Confederate States for the untring zeal they
have manifested and the consumae skill they have dis
played in conducting the defence of our liberties
But since in the language Of the poet, from the most
minute and mean a man of sense may morals CLEAN =
/ propose to them that they recommend, the one to
Congress and the other to the State Legislature, the
passage of such laws as will enable them to call into
the field next year. an immense army in order that The
gar NAV be brought to successful close in the sho Test
possible period therefore suggest to the President
and the members of Congress- the proprety OF extend
ing and charging the conscrp law, TO embrace oil
abeboded men under siItyfve years DID, and all those
that have furnished substitutes to be called into service
at the discretion of the President Those that haVeiur'
nished substitutes form class to be called next to
those between 40 and 45 and next those from 45 to So
hope from the success OF arms, it may not be
| necessary TO call over 40. But 1t will do no
harm to prepare for the worst. The skill OF
our noble officers and endurance of our soldiers under
arms has not been surpassed if equaled, in any age Of
the world But nothing has gone so far to dishearten
and demoralize our armies the substitute system. 1t
done pretty well il the outset of the war; when most
men, especially the early secessOnists thought it weuld
be little more than proractcd wolf or bear hunt But
4 ,,,.t,r, tbara
no time TO discuss who shall 90. Let every that Is
able 10 bear be summoned to the mighty conflict
And let the old men and nvalids and patriotic women
and BOYS and slaves make supplies for our armies Let
it not be said that those who have furnished substitutes
ought not to be called But least it may allow me to il
ustrate by a comparison Suppose each of you own
fine farm aud dwelling adjoining extensive forest and
said forest takes fire at a remote point from your farms
but ycu not being alarmed and being otherwise engaged,
YOU each hire some old der to go and fgh fire
with your poor neighbours but being no idle spectator,
YOU observe the flames making rapid progress towards your
farms and dwellings; would you remain idle, or would
Won "pitch in" and take the lead in the ight9 Make
the application gentlemen and enlarge and extend the
Conscript Act, so as to be able to have an immense
arn in the field by early Spring, to be ready, if Lincoln
attempts to execute his emancipation proclamation, to
fight under the black flag Ordinarily would be OPP
posed to this barbarous mode offghtng but since Lincoln
has declared his purpose free slaves, have
alternative left but flight dogs with teeth" BIT
am opposed to the black flag unless the that have
abstitrtes are required to fight Let them be called,
md then Won will have the men that OWE tire-vss-.7
to defend it. Let them stand side by side with the
brave men that are now doing battle, and my wcrd for
it. the wicked Yankees will for peace in less than
twelve months And again. allow me to call your aen-
ton to the ropriey of rcrnoddeing the exemption law
am no demagogue but, for the life of me, cannot see
the proprey of exemptng that has twenty slaves
while YOU require that has eight or ten children
to 90 into the army And again. why exempt Justices
OF the peace there are enough old justices to do the
local business Aud still, again, why exempt doctors
There are more rich in the army than at home and
if opy suffer attention. let be those home; but they
won't suffer- for they have the old doctors and ladies
and root and bark medicines for their cure.
There Is still another subject that desire to say few
words about Much has been said and written against
extortion and speculation. God knows that am OPP
posed 10 extortion and would gladly see stop put to
IT, but YOU had as well undertake to stop the Of
he noble James river as to try stop speculation But
Is commended that you ought regulate the prices of
prime necessares of life 10y law. If you fix tie price of
n bushel of wheat or other grain, you, in justice
to the farmers, will have TO fix the prices OF
what they have to buy and so with every article
that is used down to the merest trife, So / ad-
wise YOU not to touch that delicate subect but let SUP
nlv and demand regulate it, Do all you can 20 encour
ace the raising of prime necessares of life and in order
T. do So advise the enactment of laws prohibiting the
euture of tobacco in any of the Confederate States dur
ing the war; You have prohibited the dstilng of grain
in Virginia and believe is generally approved by her
people, and tobacco is more necessary 70 the sue
cessl prosecution of the than whisky. And again.
advise the passage of law prohibiting the killing of
lambs or sheep during the war. You have as much
right to take steps provide clothing for our suffering
soldiers as you have to provide food for theri.
We are now at sea upon the broad ocean Of internal
strife not of our own seeking, but forced apon us By
those that seek ruin, and the ruin OF our children
for their own agrandizement hence it s right and
proper to do all aud everything that will sure success
to our arms, and that in the most speedy nay Equal
ize the burdens as Se as you can and lie sure TO pro-
vide for the soldiers and their wives and children and
unless am mistaken with the blessing Of Cod if it be-
we will be able to conquer peace ne-I year in per-
petual separation from the Yankees, with less loss
of lie than we will be able to do in three years at the
rate we are progressing. have said am opposed
to the black Gag, ordinarily, but what are we to do
Lincoln has proclaimed TO the world his Intention TO Tree
our slaves And shall We for fear of retaliation, shrink
ON the deltlee OF our property No, verify he hat
would not die in ;c last deh if necessary, in defence
Of his property IS worthy TO be Free Aud again,
suppose OR citizens wee 20 undertake to free our
slaves, would wcnot hang OF Peneta-dary them! Aud
shall We be more le1ient to foreigners that may be Ia en-
in the act for fear of reaatiOn; no, verify forbid il
honor, forbid It bea7en l. therefore, in the name Of
honor, AID all that is due to liberty IL upon the Exec.
uve to recommend and upon The Legislature to EN- ct
laws necessary raise and fight ubder the black flag,
from and after the first day of April next unless Lincoln