Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-03-18
The Supply of Food.

Under this head the Fayetteville 0bseroer gives
the following extract from letter from Randolph
County: -
"a letter was published some time since in the
O1ssrrer as to the future prospects of few Counties
up ia this part Of the land; to which intended to
reply, but seeing that others have alluded to it.
may just say that the writer was very much mista-
ken in his observations have fearful forebodings
as to the present and future prospects Of people
in this County being able to support themselves
The labor here is far the larger part done by white
persons and SO many Of them IRE called into the
field, causes these painful forebodings. Tune will
make manifest"
We have made inquiries on the subject Of many
persons from various parts of State, and our
conviction is that while there is enough meat and
bread to do our people, if properly distributed, un-
ii! the next CROP yet with the great drain upon
white labor ,ccasioncd by the CONSUMPTION, and the
certainty that there will be no surplus of corn or
meat next year il, any of the Counties east of the
Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, the prospect
next fall and winter is more gloomy than it is at
present This is our candid opinion. But will
what is in hand he properly distributed :? We fear
not The majority of those who have corn and ba.
con will hold it, for in the first place. they do not
need money, and in the second place. they do not
want ordinary currency for that which is equal to
specie To take it by force would be to inangurate-
mob law, of which no one could foresee the end
Almost every alternate farm from this point to the
Tennessee line, which is or has been cultivated by
white persons, is now lying Idle, growing up in
weeds and brers, with decaying fences and many
small farmers will find it impossible to make more
than half CROP on account Of the scarcity Of corn
and farming implements. And to this gloomy view
is to be added the strens probability that the Pres
dent will CALL in the course Of few months, for the
couscrps up to 45, and that the forcible impress
ment Of corn and bacon throughout the State will
be common thing by the first day of june. Will
the people submit to this impressment? We think
not Fore our part devoted as we have been and are
to the cause and the friend as we of the soldier,
fthe issue should be made between supplies for the
soldiers and the starvation Of their wives and child
rem at home, as we'll as the wives and children of
others; shah take sides with the latter. If the
worst should Come the soldiers, with arms in their
hands, could provide for themselves but if the wolf
of starvation should once enter the houses of the
women and children, they would he too feeble to
drive him out. Happen what may we. will pot
stand by with Our hand on our mouth and our pen
paralyzed, with the spectacle before US Of helpless
women and children starving and dying for ue want
Of bread. They, at least are innocent There is no
blood on their garments They, did not labor to
break up the old COVE, q;nent and orirg the war,
which has been so full Of calamity to us all.
a dry of humiliation and prayer has been ap-
pointed by the President There is need for it
rhe people of these Confederate States are more
stepped in moral guilt than they were before the
var To large extent we are nation Of extor-
TONERS. The exceptions shine like the stars that
peep now and then through the openings of the
clouds on stormy night. Let the really pious
among u.s. ''cry nightly to God for succor and
deliverance from our cruel enemies at the North :;
and, above all, let them earnestly beseech Him to
deliver US from those wicked persons in our midst
who withholding corn from the poor and row
Ing rich the miseries Of the suffering and fororn.
Let them implore Him to bless the earth for the
sake of the innocent and helpless as well as for
those who are fighting our battles.
1t will not do to follow the example Of the Phari.
see by thanking God that we arc not like other men
nor will that Minister of the Holy Gospel properly
or thoroughly perform his duty, who shall dwell
with pleasure on the records of bloody batte-eds,
or nculcate spirit of hatred towards the great body
Of the Northern people. God be merciful to me,
sinner" is the humble and heartfelt: ejaculation
of every soul which hopes for and receives the hea-
venly blessing The Northern government, with
the consent Of majority Of the people, is wsging
| cruel war against US but our own sinfulness can,
not be palated nor mltigated by the fact that our
enemies also wicked. A just God will take ven
| geaEcc. Let US leave that to Him.