Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-14

RASS-Siy
Spain and Mexico. We are now in a decidedly better
situation than we we're twelve months ago. The con-
quests of the enemy are al Elusive. What has be
gained BY vicksburgi What by Gettysburg A little
prestige and that is all Those places threw over the
public feeling some temporary shadows long since ban
shed and now the great heart OF the Confederacy is
glAddened by the brilliant victory Of the West But
will not pursue these pleasant prospects wish to
occupy myself with the extraordinary and ominsus
measure called the militia bill, which has emanated
from the Senate and which believe all Virginia hopes
will be crushed in the House.
What would be our situation il this bill should be-
come law, and the Governor proceed to call out all
persons from sixteen to .6ty6ve There would be left
the women and children, and negroes and Senators,
and few old men in the evening Of life. Would not
anarchy be the result Could these remnants Of men
protect the women and children preserve the property
of the country and keep in order the negroes and the
skulkers from the army, who escape military duty by
conceAment in the forestss In many places there
would not be man to the square mile IL would be q
general invitation to all sV-dsposed persons, blacks
and Whites to indulge themselves their hearts con-
tent in robbipg rape and all other crimes which allure
NEIL Wlt0Oub law HituOuh pOhOo, tuo icaE
punishment before them. The country would be prac
ticay surrendered to the negroes and they would be
emancipated from all control How many Injuries real
and imaginary would they not be melted to ayenge in
this intorregnum Of al government Their brutal ma
ture could not resist the temptations which would be
presented to them. Here Is liberation of the kind
without the intervention of the Yankee.
It is not presumed that masters and overseers viii
be included in any bin Of exemption. This Is taken TO.
granted.
What an inviting field would be presented here for
Yankee emissAres, in the absence of all who could
make them afraid. They might come and 20 at their
pleasure seduce the slaves from the service Of their
masters rob- burn, or do anything TO crafty their pas
sions or subserVe their purpose Of subjugAtOn. The
men would be absent organizing drilling, preparing for
home defence, while their homes desolAted or do
sLOyed.
All who are not now in the army in this State are as
much engaged in the defence Of the country those
who are. l speak in general terms-there are some
droues in both positions. They producing grain
aud meat and WOOL and thousand other things ne
cessary for home Defence and defence the frontier,
as drilling or any other camp exercises They doing
the ponce VI thS OVuuuyb buo
of society enforcing the sWs and arresting stroling
Yankees and our own deserters taking care Of the
families Of absent soldiers attending to their Affairs
and thus preventing, in many cases the absolute ruin
Which would befal them but for their kind attention
There is father nov in my eye who has FIVE sons in
active service who have been lighting with heroic vaor
over the length aud breadth OF the Confederate States
with cheerful hearts, knowing that their wives and little
ones are cherished aud protected at their homcs by
their father They have the cOnsong reflection In the
midst OF their hardships that the domestic hearth ia
not desolGte. This is but of thousands OF similar
examples Think, YOU that our veteran soldiers would
be cOntented If you add this bitter cup to their other
take from their families the protectors that
are left them. Can it be expected that hese noble men,
whom We all cherish IN our heart will remain at their
posi- if the cries of suffering wives aud daughters de-
fenceless and solitary, reach them from their defiant
homesy Is this Of the of preventing deser.
tionsi The love Of country, which the soldier is
but an expanded love Of home. IL you throw open
Ills sacred spot where his hearts treasures to deg
ecraton-if you expose it TO the visits of the laWess
enemy, wandering uncontrolled from his own COM
noDs or thosI even more fearful of the unbridled
gro the veteran in his agony will excaim "COuld not
this last cup DO spared mey' and he will be
forced, II is to be feared to hesitate between the
claims of his family and those Of his country. 1t VIII
be mOckery to tell him that you are defending bis
aOuo when you stripping it Of its protection, tear
ing away tho aged father and immature brother, and
sending them to distant camps. or all countries on
earth ours Is the last in which levy should
ever take place. Thelarge slave population renders il
ne1pedent probably under all circumstance 10 incur
1s perils The cunning aud interruptions Yankee, in
he present instance would lose his reputation if he did
not profit by it The slave is now, to great extent,
iemoral;zed, aud discipline much relaxed. he knows
that whatever crime he may commit he has only to take
refuge with lis Yankee friends and he is safe. few
hours or most few days journey, will place him
beyoud the reach OF avengiug justice. Can it be sup
posed with the country deprived OF its men and an
asylum in reach thai the negro would hesitate to
nit any crime that his passion might prompts
But 10 another aspect of this subject the is
suicidal. Take from the country those who direct It's
labor aud production If there be no master
an estate labor is suspended On the fertile farm
in the State the negroes Of themselves would make
their own support. This Is so we'll known by every
manager Of land and negroes, that it is regarded
truism. Then, without production, what becomes of
the army! But the bill does not permit the militia to
be called out for more than month; yet there is
nothing to prevent the Governor from renewing his
cal at any moment Suppose, during tho year, they
are absent only two three monthsS Then it is fair
TO estimate the loss would be at least equal to onesxth
Or OuefOurth the usual crop. The probability is it
would be much 10 many seasoDs the loss would
be one-haf There is no surplus production, now, of
the necessaries for the army and the population Upon
the whole the loss in production would probably be
more Injurious than the gain in soldiers would be profit
able Several millions Of bushels of grain would be the
forfeit besides the heavy expenses incident to the
sure and few thousand Indifferent soldiers would be
obtained for the defence Of the State.
The youths from sixteen TO eighteen are too imma-
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