Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-12-09
oasrages By the Military.

s i Ss.7.< O0trAgos BY the Maltt0rys 49,
We published in our last the resolutions intro
duced by Mr. Mckay, Of Hasnstt, denodncing the
conduct ofs squad Of Conieder1te troops in burn
ing house in that County, and requesting the Gov
ernor to call out sny portion Of the military force Of
the State to prevent such wanton and lawlsss de-
structon Of property These resolutions passed the
Commons by vote Of y to 81. ltseems that this
squad Of soldiers required the wife Of deserter to
tell where her husband was, and because she refus-
ed to do so, or, not knowing, could not tell they
set Ere to her house and burnt il to the ground
We learn that Gov. Vance has very promptly and
properly had these soldiers arrested, and We sup
pose they will be held to answer for their conduct
In the course of the debate the subject Dr.. Nc
Gormidk, Of Harnett, said that the proof Of this
wanton destruction Of property was ample, and be
urged the house to take prompt action, 30 IS to
warn evil doors against such conduct He said he
was determined 10 insist at ill hazards on the rights
guaranteed to his constituents by the Bill Of Rights
and to see to it. so far Is his action was concerned
that those rights we're not trampled on with i'm
punity. Hesaid be had it from good authority that
preparations had been made to burn the house of
another citizen of his County, thus showing dis.
position to make these outrages more general
DR.. Mccormick and Mr. Mckay deserve the
thanks of their conststuents for the arm and deter
mined manner in which they have asserted thsir
rights.
No good citizen is disposed to obstruct or e,hbaf.
rass the military authorities in their efforts to ar
rest deserters. But nothing will Justify the destrac
ton of property, whether belonging 10 the innocent
or the guilty. 1t is the business Of the oeers who
command our troops to protect not to harrass and
Cypress the people. No deserter unless in the ac'
of resisting should be shot withouta trial; and the
families of deserters ought not to be punished on
account Of the guilt of deserters. But we have
heard and fear it is true that horses have been Il
ken from the pillow, provisions seized and carried
away, and. even the fathers and brothers of deser
ters roped around the neck and hung up until lift
vas in jeopsrdy, because they could not or would
not tell where the deserter was We have heart
also that these cruelties together with the arrest
citizens on the charge of disloJalty because they
had attended public meetings, have depressed ant
alarmed the people in many localities in the wester'
part of this State, nsouch that they deterret
from going to the polls aud exercising the right o
suffrage at the late elections; while the domesti
detecttces-certain Destructives-who are REGARDED
by certain officers as the only true men, and vhs
are swift to give false informAo against their Con
sentative neighbors, went to the polls with thei
heads up, and voted. We repeat deserters mus
be arrested and sent to their regiments, and ii
proper steps to this end should be sanctioned An,
commended; but no military officer has right t.
order the obstruction Of property, or the persona
punishment of citizen, or even the arrest Of cit
izen without civil process, or the death of deser
ter without trial. unless the deserter is n . state o
resistance or rebellion. This Is q government o
Christian people, Upheld by reason and based o.
LAW; and every wanton, cruel, illegal, unsconsti
,utonal act by the military tends to array PEG
pie against the government 1t is the interest a
we'll Is the duty Of military officers to act in such
way as to make the people love, not hate the gov
ernment Il they love it, they will die for 1t If ne
cessary; but it they hate it it will perish, and viii
7 It our Independence