Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-11-25

1t is more difficult to rule with 6rmness and JUS
tiee than it is to submit to authority. The officer
should know his duties and perform them, and the
soldier should know his place and at the same time
have his rights. The service is never benefited
by harsh or tyrannical conduct the part of Off
GERS. The vicious and the guilty should be pun
ished, but never tortured or dsgraced. Put out
the fire of manhood in soldier and you destroy
his usefulness Fan that fire. by Justly bestowed
praise, and sympathize with the soldier in the hard
ships and privations he has to endure and you will
not only render him grateful and satisfied, but you
will add courage and enterprise to his conduct
To buck a soldier, or put him in the guard house
because he reads certain newspaper, or to punish
him for trivial offences as if they grave ones,
is Of the essence of tyranny. 1t ought to be the
pride and glory of our govsrnme Mt and of all off,
GERS who placed our soldiers, to cultiv ate
in the soldiers sense of dignity and manhood, as
we'll as disposition to submit to authority. The
great Napoleon, Gen. Havelock, Generals Andrew
and Stonewal Jackson, and others no never march,
ed but to victory where victory possible, were
idolized by their men, because they we're not only
infsxbly just in their dealings with them, but kind
offered. The common soldier, as he is called, is
the only hope of the country in the terrific struggle
now upon us; and every consideration .,f interest
as well as justice dictates that he sho ud be kindly
treated
We have been led to make these rem arks by a
letter recently received from q worthy officer in
one of our regiments, who says: ~
1.-THE arbitrary power now being e1er. Used by
some is indeed alarming. You only hear of occa-
sional instances. A gentleman Of ntelligen CO. phi.
lanthropy and patriotism the other day su ggested
an idea to me which think would be go, ID one,
especially when visit the guard house, and see the
manner in which the men are treated. 1t ), that
the Legislature authorize the Governor to ppoint
agent whose business i. shall be to visit all the
prison Houses inquire into the condition of those
confined, the nature of the charges against them,
&C., and report to the Governor or Legis;lat ure-
This suggestion, if carried out would certainly
make commanders more cautious in pref erring
charges and inaicting punishment"
The suggestion is a good one, but We doubt
whether it Could be carried out It would he OBJ
ected to by the Confederate military auth ties
and the States, our correspondent will bear in
mind, though they were sovereign in theory a nd in
fact when the new government was forme d, have
very little power now. The Governor has the
power to promote officers in certain regimen Is, and
that power we believe he has generally exercised in
AUST and proper manner; but we trust he will
hereafter make it rule to promote no officer, and
recommend the promotion of none, who are in the
habit Of treating their men cruelty. We do not
know. that he has promoted any such, nor do We
believe that he will hereafter but the extracts we
have made above will, we trust serve to impress
him more deeply with the importance of the SUBJ
ject Gov. Vance is tie friend of the soldiers, and
sympathizes with them ip their sufferings and pr-
vations; and while he is the advocate of proper
discipline and subordnation in our regiments, and
would do nothing to render the men discontinued
with their officers he will not stand by and our
brave soldiers made the victims Of injustice, cruel
ty, and tyranny, if he can prevent it.