Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-07-17
The PsOple nnd their Public Servants.

We are elSa 70 perceive that the Pres;dsn: has, in
the exercise Of the powers vested in him by Congress
thought proper to issue bis pTOchn'to calling into
s,rvee all between the ages OF Is and As This course
j, veI-tmed in view Of certain extraordinary eug-
Qssious that he should dsreg rd al lawful Suthory,
ani assume military dictatorship. The people cen
bu appreciate the propre'y Vi the step, and Vi" second
il mos, heartily.
The Constitution, backed by . public patriotism
which has never f5r moment filtered even in hours Of
far more immins peril than besets u, provides
adequate means for any emergency. To so beyond
these, and assume mitar dctiOrl power, is toignore
the one aud impeach the other. IL there Is any
thing in which we have been peculiarly distinguished
over the tyrannca government OF the North IL is the
patriotism Of cur people and the broad, unrammeled
liberty which they enjoyed. Patriotism and freedom
are correlauve terms The absence of one uCcesSa,cs
the abrOgatOn Of the other Il clnnO. BE- said that
liberty and dictatorship exist. They are an
tagonisus a. violent ald npcable social or physi-
cal economy develOpe.
Who would dare intimate a want Of public zeal aud
devotion to the cause on the part of the Southern PEG
pleg Woe to Us, this day, if such charge could be
JUSTIFIED By past experience and sad indeed, would be
the prospect before in tue future any act should
be committed on the part OF Government that will
imply dssru5, Of Southern patriotism It has borne Us
triumpsaniy through the fiery ordeal Of two years
war unparalleled in magnitude. It will sefye tie fullest
need, of tina. war to is triumphant eOnsummAton, if
We bat keep it unimpared 10y dstrust Of its fidelity
I,here any reason 20 srDss it2 Has any emergency
vet arisen 20 which il has not been eqully Can any
arise which will be beyond the range OF its capacity p
Every ratoaal man must answer no. Why, then, seek
20 substitute for an unted e1pedent in the shape OF
Dictatorship which is in direct antAgOnism TO iI -
No, only that bus il IS at With the great controlling
idea of this conflict and the spirit Of the Institutions
which We are aborng TO maintain at cost Of so much
hlood and treasure Are we to shake of the yoke OF
the Yankee tyrant to pass under AcOtber LITTLE less OBJ
noxousf II 80. the sooner i: Is known the better
The people are doing al they can to meet tins great
emergency and viii continue 30 to do But, resort to
the coercive policy Of military dictatorship, and while
YOU nav force msn into the ranks 0y laEless power
you extinguish every patriotic impulse In them' ana
render them mere auomaa in the field without the en-
nobng inspiration of patr Otsm which has secured VIC
tories for our armies in the past against immense 0oos
Il cannot be denied that We have in the South some
eowardy skalkers from duty whom to force INTO scr
vice an obligation on the part Of the proper autaor
ties which they cannot in justice 70 the country, over
look. This obligation Is seiOiued upon TEN BY two
fold oOnsdsratons-the defence Of the country and
the preservation Of s currency from ruinous depreOia
ton. AvArica and eOWardics eOunterparts, and in
the class who have shirked their duty in this emeF
geuey We have the true representatives Of both This
class should, BY al means be held smenable to their
proper responsibilities TO the country in this hour of her
trial and no plea Of business professional respOnsi
bes should be permitted to OvezFuls this q linn for
their services.
But does the application Of coereive pcl'cy In
speot 10 this class which merely eKeepdo al in the
gnd combination Of patriotic spirits that give life and
power and impulse to cause, demand the exercise
Of dictatorIL authority Are there no means within