Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-09-18

and these persons availed themselves
LOT il, and were discharged from liz
bility to all military services IN the Confed
crate army. regard this provision al
substantially violation Of the Consttu'
ton. inasmuch as it grants exemptions t
certain classes of persons. which are no
granted to others,
In this war, all classes who reside
amongst us should be required to perform
/. duty Of some sort. If they are within tn
military age. Ifthey are unwilling to bea'
arms. there are various other duties con
nected with the army and the general de
fence which they can perform, aud which
they should be required to perform. TheI
are citizens. property holders TO laIge ex
tent. interested therefore ii all chat con
Germs other citizens. and should b re
CURED to perform their part. 10 som,
countries this class Of persons are required
to aid in the construction Of Notifications
and zee no just reason why they shoult
not be rquired to do SO here. This branch
of defence must be maintained By some.
body; and If their religious convictions
will not allow them to go into the ranks
| Tor the defence and maintenance of the
common cause, why csnnot they do this /?
It will not do to say that they are op
posed to war. and can do nothing that vii
tend to its prosecution The law is based
npon the principle that they are bound tc
do something otherwise they would not
be taxed the sum Of $500 each. That mo-
my goes into the treasury, and is drawn
therefore to defrav the expenses Of the wal
land to this extent at least. they are aid,
ing and supporting it. If they can aid t.
the extent Of Eve hundred dollars in money
can they not aid by labor or other service
A state OF war imposes personal obi
gstios upon every citizen within: the mill.
tary age, and he snoald be required to dis
Charge It, When the country is invaded
our dwellings burned, our lands laid waste.
our property destroyed or carried away, our
citizens imprisoned, it is their duty to step
forward promptly and aid in repelling the
invader Ministers and members of other
religious denominations, equally as con
scientious, are in the field I recon-
mend, therefore that this law Be repealed. .
Besides these provisions. stringent regu-
ls.ions should be adopted to prevent deser-
ton OF Struggling from service without
leave It ought to be made the duty of
the local militia to arrest any officer Or sol
der found abroad from his corps without q
furlough, aud cause him to be forthwith
returned TO his position or delivered to the
nearest provost marshal. The officers in
command in an, city or county through
which such persons might be passing or 50
journing, might be invested with like au-
thority, aud be clothed with power to de
! tail a sufficient nu.nber of men to make the
ares effective, and to- compel the parties
| in default to render the service TO which
they are liable. It might also with pro-
priety be made the duty Of company off
GERS. at regular intervals. toreport all per
sons who have not been exempted and who
| are liable to CONSUMPTION. that our srtnfes
may be kept full and efficient, and at all
times be prepared to meet aud repel the en-
envy ANY act you may pass should pro-
vide for the speedy and certain punishment
Of all who fail or refuse to obey lawful or
doris, and prescribe SOME mode for the re-
Ercmoyal Of Incompetent or uufaithful Off
GERS The experience Of the last two years
Ireuders legislation upon this subject ueces-
sary.
The tfnae has come when it is absolutely
Indispensable that we should omit nothing
which promises protection to our people
and success to our cause An unscrupu-
lous enemy is pursuing us with a spirit of
nsalignity aud vindictiveness that respects
neither the rights of persons nor Of proper
ty. We must be active aud untiring in our
efforts to repel him and 10 accomplish
this, we must call forth all our able bodied
men. and prepare them for the r1oss eff
cient service.
Of success. We may, nay we must expect
to meet rsverses, aud we must be prepared
for them Instead Of discouraging, they
should only stimulate us to increased eff
forts should call forth redoubled energy
should bind US more closely together.
and inspire US with a more determined
spirit and courage four forefathers had
permitted reverses TO crash their spirit or
paralyze their energies and efforts, the
American revolution never would have
proved success. and the independence Of
our country would never have been acIiev-
ed. They passed through storms and iris
ais far greater than any that have fallen to
US 10 this contest The men, old aud
young, sustained and supported the cause
with hearty good will ard as the clouds
gathered and the prospect Of success seem
ed to grow more desperate aud hopeless,
they became more and more resolved and
The noble womeno OF that day.
while their fsthers, husbands and sons were
engaged in fighting the battles and driving
back the invader. planted and gathered the
crops by which the army was sustained.
We have net been reduced to such straits
yet, nor is it probable we shah be But
the women Of the present day have shown
self-sacri6cing spirit, inducing them IN
cessantly to work, and showing that they
are ready to emulate such al example
They have displayed generous devotion.
which should awake the sluggards and
animate and cheer the gloomy and despond-
ing
There are in all communities some peo-
pie whose eyes always fall upon the dark
eide of every picture. and who are disposed
to suecumb at even the Indications Of disas-
ter 1t would be remarkable we had not
some such amongst US but it is gratifying
to know that the number is very small,