Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-12-22

PROPOSED INCREASE OF THE ARHY.-The Peters
burg Express, which affects to be an ultra Southern
paper and which has heretofore lectured us for
comments on the wretched administration of public
affairs, is at last coming to its senses, IS the follow
ing extract from that paper will show:
" 1t smacks to much Of military tyranny, this pre-
mature organization of all male citizens between the
ages OF 40 and 55 into a reserve corps We hold
that as long as one half of the whole number of sold
lers whose names are now on the muster rolls, are
suffered oy the government to remain absent from
tne poSts-to thrOng the streets of our towns. and
TO crowd every rural thoroughfare and neghborhood
as they do there is no occasion for disturbing and
harassng elderly men above the age Of 40 with these
nterferences OF the government in their pursuits.
And what, we would respectfully ask Mr.. Sparrow,
is TO- become of the hundred thousand stragglers,
about whom he does not vouchsafe Us single word
Does he imply by his silence on this head that he is
not In favor of compulsory process to bring them
back to their duty? Is he for letting them go in
tnelr Sinking ways unmolested blythe arm of the
government Here is at once an ample supply of
vigorous bone and muscle to meet the demand from
the army which he is for satisfying by enrolling
reserve to be composed of young boys e. seed corn,
as the President calls them) and old men, Just as if
it was thought that should future exgencies require
the services of those exempted classes of our popu
Iation they would refuse TO aid in delivering them
selves, their wives, children, property-eyerything
dear to the citizen-rom total dire and rretrevable
destruction at the bands of brutal and lawless foe
We call particular attention to the following sec
ton OF Mr. Sparrow's bill, which is a mere speci
men brick of the pile:
"SECrIoN 5. That all persons liable to duty in
the reserve corps shall enroll themselves within
such time and at such place places, in their re-
spectlve counties or parishes, may be prescribed
by the PRESIDENT and that upon their failure to do
so the person so failing shall be conscribsd to the
army in the. .JfeLd"
We have underscored the exceptionable passages
IN this section to mark them fer the readers rehec
tons. Here is an increase of power proposed to
be given to the President, which we protest against
as VloatiVe of the whole spirit and tenor of the Con-
stitutlon. The President is Commander in Chief of
the Army, but citizens between the ages of 45
ana 90 form constitutionally no part of the army
unless by their own UoL2ntary enlistment in it. he
has power enough already to enable him by a wise
ana right exercise of it. to conduct the to tri
umPhant conclusion Let him use it in driving back
to their places the hundred thousand and upwards
OF absentees and then there will not be the least ne
ceSSlty lor Congress either to disgrace the govern
ment by deliberate and outrageous repudation of
ITS solemn contract with persons who have furnish
ed substitutes, to confer upon the Executive ad
ditiona and extraordinary authority, which would
be susceptible OF the grossest and most vexatious
abuses, as recommended by Mr.. Sparrow. The
idea Of his bill becoming law, in any thing like its
present shape is simply preposterous."
We beg the Express not to take so gloomy view
| Of public affairs. The time has arrived for saving
the country, and the country tOW be saved. The
| original secessionists will do it They said, a long
time ago, that when it was indspensably necessary
that they should enter the army, they would do so.
| The time has arrived They also said that each one
| of them could whip ten Yankees. There are at
least ten thousand of them in this State who have
not gone, but who were going when the time came.
If one man can whip ten Yankees, ten whip one
| hundred, one hundred one thousand, one thousand
ten thousand, and ten thousand one hundred thou
sand. They are going. Meades army will be
whipped. The tide Of invasion will he roll ed back
from Richmond, and even Petersburg with its
worthy Mayor, who is so much distressed at the
idea Of the Standard newspaper circulating in that
ancient borough, will be relieved. Courage, broth
er Express. The secessionsts of North C"- quo
rushing to the rescue Thev int'-;r " so r ~ l"e
| 49, IL oro tho .--4o men. Room for them on
~ nrhl;c.soIares of Petersburg room for them
~ I,nr hearts, PeterSburgia room for them,
"nd provisions for them. for they are all poor men,
not having made quite all the money that has been
realized in this State by exortion aud sPe cuatlon
| Only allow them to fund their surplus money II
Confederate bonds bearing six per cent interest pay
ahle in specie and convince them that they are &C
tually needed the ranks, and they will rush to th
conflict as to a festival.