Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-05-18
By the Governor OIL North Carolina.
A PROCLAMATION.
May 1~2--39-2t

/ HAVE WITH GREAT
sertlons from the ranks OF our gallant army. and That
there are many persons in The country who incile aud
ceal these misguided men at home, instead o fepeaur-
aging them to return to duty
or of the State OF North Carolina, 90 issue this my
proclamation, commanding all such evil disposed pea
sons TO desist from such base, cowardly and treason
able conduct, and warning them that they will sub
1ect themselves TO Indictment and punishment in the
civil courts of the Confederacy IA well as to the ever.
lasting contempt and detestation of all good and hon
Certainly no crime could be create. no covordice
mere AFFECT, no treason more base, than for a citizen
of the State, enjoying its privileges and pretection
without sharing its dangers, to persuade those VINO
have had the courage to go forth in defence of their
country, Wiley to desert the colors which they have
sworn to uphold, when a miserable death or a vile
skulking and ignominious existence must be tho in
evitable consequences; no plea can excuse it. Tre
father or the brother who does it should he shot in.
stead of his deluded victim, for he deliberately &C.
blood And sfp Che a SAM % q t6Rs 81 kin hin Who WHO ls ason and ana
conceals the oesertes: Epr who can respect either
wish or permit his own brave sons or patriotic damon
tiers, who bore their parts with credit in this rreat
struggle for independence, to associate. even to the
third and fourth generations, with the vile wretch
who skulked in the, woods, or the still yiler cowsrd
who aided him; while his bleeding country was cali
ing in vain for his help ? Both are enemies. sneaL.
ing, mean enemies to their country, before whom onr
open foes will be infinitely preferred. Both are foes
electrifying the world by their gallant deeds end
pouring out their blood upon the field of battle IN
pEOCSIl vi ely hOh VIM 1O sdpplAR LHe YltalS nf
our strength. And woe unto you, deserters. and yonr
aiders and a~betters, when peace being made and in
dependence secured, these brave comrades whom =.
have deserted in the hour of their trial shall retnyn
honored and Triumphant to their honest We that
hide your guilty faces by day, and prowl like outlaws
about by night, lobbing the wife and mother of 49,
noble defenders of their little means. while they arc
far awayf facing the enemy, do you think We can sso
cape a inst and danning vengeance when the d,v of
reckoning comes? And re that shelter, conceal and
feed these miserable depFedatOrs and Stimulate then
to their internal deeds, think you that We will he snorl
ad0 Nav rpSt assured 0hSnryinU a,G ,n..- -
eyes have marked you every one. And when the
oyerjoyed wife welcomes once more her brave and
honorable husband TO his home, and tells him how in
the long Years of his absence, in the lonely hon. ~
the night, you who had been his comrades rI,oelv en-
tered ner house, robbed her and her children of their
bread and heaped insult and indignities upon ner de.
fcnceless head, the wrath Of that heroic husband viii
make you regret in the bitterness of your cowardly
scattered militia, the land viii be full of veteran sol
uiers, before whose honest faces you will not hsy,
courage to raise your eyes rom the earth. II pernit
ted to live in the State at all, you will be IsFhMnrs
! You will be hustled from the polls, kicked in m,
streets, an honest jury viii not believe You ON oatf
! and honest men everywhere will shun Won as a na.t;
lence, for he who lacks courage and patriotism car
have no other good quality or rcdeeninr yirtue :
offered you, and l am not authorized to promise II
yet [ an assured that no man will be shot who shall
/ voluntarily return to duty. This Is the only chanc
TO redeem yourselves from the disgrace andipnomin
which You are mourning.
Again our troops have mot the enemy and a grca
and glorious victory has been won. Rut seyora
thousand of our soldiers fell in achieving il for ns :
Every man is nee1ed to replace the gallant dead. an,
preserve an unbroken front to our Still nowerfrI en-
envy. Unless desertion is prevented. our strenrt
must depart from our armies, and desertion can ncTe
be stopped while either through a false and mistakel
| sympathy or downright disloyalty, they receive an
! ceuntenance or protection at home 7 therefore, a.,
peal to all good citizens and true patriots in the Stat
to assist my officers in arresting desert rs. and =
frown down all those who aid and as.jst them. Plac
the brand upon them and make them feel the scorp an
contempt Of an outraged people. Unless the ZOO
and the patriotic all over the land arise as one man d
arrest this dangerous evil, it will grow until our a,
my is well nigh ruined. The danger of starvario
having happily passed away-the approaching an
apparently o4unteous harvest giving evidence ofaYl
virginia again Jubilant over q mighty victory-Ia al
well assured that our danger now lies in the disoi
ganization produced by d~esertion. You CAN arrest
my countrymen, if you viii hut make a vigorous ef
fort, IL you will but bring To bear the weight OF
great, a patriotic and united community in aid o
your authorities.
- In witness whereof, ZEBULos B. VANCE
SEA. ! Governor, Captain General and mman
tln-Chief, bath signed these presents an
- caused the great seal of the State to be af
Done at the city of Raleigh, this nth day of May
AD. ie@5 Z. B. VANCE.
By the Governor:
Z. H. BATTLE, DR.,