The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-02-03
SPEECH OF GEN. J. A. YOUNG,
OF NRCKLENBURG,


mittee on military affairs being on its second read
ing in the Senate, Mr. Young, of Mecklenburg,
addressed the Senate in substance, as follows
MR. SPEAKER: Attic commencement of the
session of the Legislature, the condition of the de
fences of the Eastern portion OF our State were
such that the threatened invasion of the enemy
created general anxiety for its safety. Imme
diatey upon the organization of the committee on
military affairs, sunlry bills and resolutions were
referred to it relating this ensrossing subject
Being membcr Of that committee, | am at lib
erty to speak of the manner in which we attempt
ed to discharge our duties Before attempting to
frame bill for the consideration of the I.egisla.
ture. we endeayored to obtain all the Information
from the Governor and Adjutant General that
would be useful to US, and to ascertain as far as
practicable the views Of ose functionares to d.
rect us in our labors This We did by personal
interview with them, and the bill reported, to
which this under consideration, is substitute, is
shaped in conformity to the information thus OBJ
taincd
Since that time the enemy have assembled their
forces on our eastern shore, made raid towards
the centre of our State, and been repulsed. The
powerful army of Burnside has been met at the
city of Fredericksburg and overwhelmingly de-
feated by our inyincible soldiers. These impor-
taut events have necessarily produced important
changes in the condition Of our deiences in the
! East Though the enemy have landed largely
| increased force at Newbern, and perhaps other
points on our coast, the Confederate authorities
have been enabled to transfer to our State, from
| points relieved from pressure, force considered
amply sufficient to meet and repel any attack they
NAV make These Confederate forces now
confronting the enemy, watching their movements
and forming abundant protection to our State
against any important invasion. Under these
circumstances. the question should now be serious
" considered whether there exists at this time a
necessity for the organization of any force to act
as a State Believing that there does not,
and in connection with other reasons, shall vote
against any bill that may be proposed.
We will, however, examine the provisions OF the
bill now before us. Its first section cont aims its
4nost important feature, which is the provision
that ten thousand troops may be raised by the
Governor, by voluntary enlistment from those
subject to perform military duty 1t is no refcc-
ton, Mr. Speaker, upon the gaantry or patriotism
Of that class of our citizens yet out Of service, to
say that the days fdf volunteering for this war
have passed At the first call TO arms the younr
men Of the State, and all who were not prevented
by commanding private cons derations, responded
with alacity which gave an abiding confidence
in the result Of the struggle. This heavy drain
upon our population rendered the necessity great
or for those then retained at home to remain.
The withdrawal of portion of those originally left
by the first conscr pion, Of course made 1t more
important for those to remain Ii will be remen!-
bcrcd that the first conscri ption act invited those
upon whom it operated to volunteer, by providing
that they not only mi ght do So but at liberty
to select the service and the company they should
JUN. aud ask Senators to recollect how very few
availed themselves Of this privilege This, too,
when the conscript law compelled them to enter
the service, and when they knew that under its
provisions they would be distributed through the
army as the authorities might direct With these
facts known to the Senate, | may with propriety
ask if they seriously contemplate raising the force
indicated in this bill under this provision alone
There will be volunteers, but they will consist
only of those who are subject the CONSUMPTION
now abou: to he enforced And when the whole
mustered into service the corps for State de-
fence will amount perhaps, to a regiment and a
battalion. If it be the purpose Of the Legislature
to provide corps for State defence, let rot at
tempt it by such legislation as must, under exist
ing circumstances prove failure.
The bill reported by the majority of the com
mttee will raise the force desired if passed and its
provisions enforced, and will bring into service
class of conscripts, who, under the shield Of an
appointment as Magistrate commission in the
militia have avoided active service greatly to the
discomfort of those who have responded to the
call of their country, and facing the enemy for
the term of the These brave defenders of
our country will feel that the Legislature fails to
come to their proper support by requiring this
places of those who have fallen battle or by dis
ease, to be filled by those al homc who are under
every consideration strongly appealed to by du-
. ty to he in the field themselves
But, MIR Speaker, this bill is not only shaped to
defeat the purpose it processes but is fraueht with
mischief. 1t not only declares to our troops in
service that they need no longer look to US to
strengthen their ranks and enable them to contin-
ue to reap laures for themselves, to make reputa-
ton for the State, and to achieve liberty and in
dependence for themselves aud children, but gives
to the State of North Carolina the unenvable dis
tinction OF having, in the midst Of this great re-
, voution when the hosts of the enemy we're devas-
Eating her SOIL despoiling her own citizens and at
. the very moment when the Confederate forces
seem to be marshaling to combat the foe for her
own Immediate protection, of placing herself i'm
opposition to the common Government of the
States, aud of multiplying the law BY which it hopes
to be able to prosecute this to deliverarce
Why, sir, did the States associate themselves as
| ,Confederacy? Was it not for their common de-
fence, which should be directed by common
Government? Is there not By this association, a
common bond OF union for mutual support, made
sacred by pfighted faith Aud is North
Carolina, the moment when the conflict is
transferred to her borders, to dishonor herself
by breaking it? These considerations should
cause Senators to pause aud reflect.
Suppose it now practicable to raise the ten
thousand troops proposed by this BILL the question