Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-09-28
The Sober Second Thought.

We continue to receive Information of
.reactionary movements, in those parts of
the State where some of the peopls have
been led to believe that by holding the
so-callsd peace meetings, the war could
be brought to a close, and the halcyon
days Of tranquility and prosperity be at
once restored to them. They are begin
ming to see the d~elusion, and to learn that
the culy road to peace, is a determined
and persistent resistance to the vile enc
my who CONES to seek our ruin, and will
certain visit it upon us if we fall into his
power, whether it be by subjugation
while asbly fighting for u rights, OF by
a base and cowardly submission to his
fendish designs.
We conversed with . gentleman from
Randolph county, a few days since, who
assured US of a reactionary movement of
this kind in that county. He. also gives
US an account of the most deplorable state
of affairs there, brought about by deser-
tiers from the army and men conscript
age who were skulkihg from duty. Our
informant stated that they were going
through the country day and night, rob-
bing, stealing and committing all man
of deprsdations. He mentioned the name
Of Alfred Brewer, Esq, who has often
represented the county in the Legislature,
whose house was visited and he was
forced to surrender all his firearms. Or
the next day a squad of the same gans
returned to his house and literally sacked
it-taking almost every particle of wear
ing apparel and bed clothing, and carry
ing off a large quantity. of provisioas.-
And they are roaming all through tn
country visiting like outrages upon al
within their reach.
Such a state of things has aroused tn
people to a state of self-defsncs, an
they are turning out in large bodies t
arrest the thieving scoundrels and tur
them over to the ~conscoipt officers. Sew
ersl have been shot, two 0 three kille'
and a good many arrested.
e The people are beginning to understan
this state of things as one of the fruits
, these meetings that refused obedience
!, the laws of The country, induced soldie
, to leave the army and give up the contes
and encouraged men of the conscript a,
to take to the woods rather than
into the ranks of their sountry. And t.
o industrial and frugal class Of citizens WI
] have homes and provisions for their fan
flies, now see that these men must be .
= rested, and the sent iment and feelil
!. which brought about this state of thing
must be put down, and these lawle
mercenaries dispersed, or their proper
4 will be taken from them, their hon
# be desolated, and the whole country
4 ransacked and ruined. No wonder the
- is a reaction there.
d And as it is in Randolph so it will al
q must be in other counties, where des,
: tiers and skulking conscripts are allow
to remain unmolested. They are col
~ PEELED to remain in the woods, and ct
d sequently cannot earn q living by hon
is industry hence they are forced to st,
rs and plumber, and those who refuse
- decline to arrest them are the suffer
IN their houses and beds are stripped
clothing, their smoke houses and CT
y robbed, and their families exposed
their ravages at all times. The safety
every mans home, family and proper
l. now calls upon him to arrest these felix
81 and rid the country of their danger
and thieving presence.