The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-09-22
From the Raleigh Age.
SOME STARTLING TRUTHS.


cation to the perusal of every man in the Stat,
who has wheat, corn, bacon or any of the necessa
r1es of hte TO SELL whether he has raised the same
| or purchased it to sell again We. cannot set
forth IN stronger coiors than correspondent ha:
done, the condition of affairs in our country. He
certainly has depicted them in the most ehrina
light; and they are based on his own observation
and experience; and zoe know the-writsr to he q
/ man whose statements may be fully relied on.
The statements he make. should strike terror
and alarm into the hearts OF all who are withhold
ing the necessaries of life from the people or are
exactlng such enormous prices for them that the
poor are almost sure to starve for they cannot raise
the money to pay such exorbitant demands The
corn, and wheat, and bacon and other necessaries
are IN the country in abundance. The people
know thls, and yet they suffer for the want OF
'nem! lt is the strongest evidence of the law
abldlng character OF our people, But they.will not
allow their wives and children to storpe when they
know their rich neighbors' barns aud meat houscs
have plenty and to- spare, and yet they refuse 10
let the people have of their abundance There Is
| a point where forbearance ceases to be virtue.
and then woe to extortioners and those who hoard
/ up the necessarics of life,
| We have no doubt but our correspondent states
truly the cause of many desertions from our
armies. Many who do So are true to their
country and brave as lions They are willing 10
|
! pendence; but when their wives, mothers and
daughters write to them of their suffering condi-
ton, and appeal to them to come home and keep
! them from starving to DEATH it is almost mure
than human nature bear; and if they desert
under such circumstances, the blame rests more on
those who let soldiers families suffer around them,
than on him who yields to the strongest and most
touching appeal that can reach human heart.
What can men mean or hope for who are thus
| n alo...
feliow-citzens? Laying aside the grievous sin
before God of which they are guilty, (for such
beings tpeither fear God nor regard man. what
good will their treasures of money; or produce do
them, if ther@ pursue this course much longer? !?
The enemy some other Judgment will overtake
them, and it will crumble and perish in their
sight. The curse of God already abderh on
them; and He has sad-"he that witbLoldeth
corn, the people shall curse him;"-and who can
withstand thc arenging hand of God aud man
IF our armies are thnncd by deserters coming
home to look after their families, they 1cU haze
bread and meat for them,. money or no money
And if the people become exasperated against
those who are the cause Of the suffering around
them, who can tell what the consequences will be!
What our correspondent says Of the condition
in the west, is our condition here and everywhere
1t is alarming, truly. With an abundance in the
ohd, want, suffering and starvation stare in the
face every where. Is there no remedy? Can
nothing-will nothing be done? If not, we are a
ruined, conquered, subjugated people.
AS our correspondent intimates we must regard
each other as brothers, united in one common
cause and bound to one destiny, for veal or woe
and all contribute to the aid and support of one
another-then all will be we'll But if not then
all is lost-liberty, property and everything.
The following is the communication alluded to-:
. OUR CONDITION..
Mr. EDITOR The affairs of our State at present
are in "a deplorablc condition; and instead Of any
prospect of things getting better, they seem to be
growing worse daily. If We are overrun by the
Yankees and are made to become mere vassas and
tributaries to the unprincpled vandals of the
North the people Of North Carolina, and especially
the grain producers and capitalists Of the State,
will have to bear most of the blame I know that
some Of the secular papers of the State have con-
ributed great deal towards the present condition
of things; but their part is comparatively small
with that of the corn, wheat, bacon and money
speculators These are the leeches which are
draining out the life blood Of cur Confederacy,
deprcciating Qpr currency, disbaniing army,
filing our rs5untains with deserters from the
soldery, and converting hundreds of our less in
formed backwoodsmen into tories and bush
whackers. They are doing this BY Withholding
the prime necesS&tles OF lie from the solders
families or exactihg such enormous prices that the
poor women and children of our brave soldiers
not able to procure these commodities thus causing
the wives and mothers of soldiers 70 write to their
friends in the army and Leg them 10 come home
and keep then from suffering These things |
know TO be SO. Standing the other day in 4
depot in Western North Carolina as the train was
about leaving with some deserters for the army.
heard an old mother say to her son whom they
were carrying back TO the army, EYou must go my
son, but come back as soon as you &c. there, aud
bring your gun with yo2-tell all the Boys to
bring their guns aud come home, for We win all
oerish here if they don't come home and kill the
spectators" and then turning to me with fearful
face-she said, "NIr 4. ought they 10. all to como
houie? Tor We pOor women folks here cannot get
one bushc Of wheat corn for our money and
VIC must perish" Said |, '.Madam, your SON il
needed 10 the army; and unless ogr country is
unit on this subject, We will be ruined people
Sad auother lady, "We know that, but what orc
ne to do? Not one pound of salt get for
love nor money; not POUND Of meat nor bush
Of corn will the'peoPle sell to US for our. money
aud in the name Of God must ~e perish that the
South mag be established ?"
7 left these women with thirty or forty standing
on the platform, some praying for peace, and ssme
cursing the war: ... !.
Now sir the above is the state of things in the
mountainous portions Of our State; and unless the
neorle who have the grain will suffer their patriot
Zen, 10 nredominate the coming result Is palpable