Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-09-16

regular business, should be exempt. re.
commend, therefore, that in your legisla-
ton upon this subject, the second class
above referred to, shall be clearly and dis.
tinctly embraced.
On this subject desire to present an
other Recommendation in regard to the act
passed by your spredecessors on the goth
day of November, 1862, authorizing per-
sons of certaid religious denominations in
the State to exempt themselves from mill
itary service inithe by the payment of
Eve hundred dollars each. Subsequently
Congress passed an act of like character,
and these persons ayailed themselves OF It
and were discharged from liability to all
military service in the Confederate army.
| regard this provision as substantially
violation Of the constitutions, inasmuch as
it grants exemptions to certain classes of
persons which are not granted to others.
In this war, lIclasses who reside among
us should be required 70 perform duty Of
some sort, If they tife within the military
age. If they are unwilling to bear arms,
there are various other duties eonneeted
with the army and the general defense
which they can perform and which they
should be required to perform. They are
citizens-property holders, to a large ex-
tent, interested, therefore, in all that con-
Germs other citizens, and should be required
to perform their part. In some countries
this class of persons are required to aid in
the construction of Notifications, and L see
no just reason why they should not be re-
auired to do SO here. This branch of de-
fense must be maintained by somebody,
and if their religious convictions will not
allow them to go into the ranks for the
defense and maintenance of the common
cause, why cannot they do this2
1t will not do to say that they are OPP
posed to war, and can do nothing that will
tend to its prosecution. The law IS based
upon the principle that they are bound to
do something, otherwise they could not be
taxed the sam of FIVE hundred dollars
each. That money goes into the treasury,
and is drawn therefrom to defray the ex-
penses of the war; and to this extent. at
least, they are aiding and supporting It
If they can aid to the extent of five hun
dred dollars in money. can they not aid by
labor or other service?
q A state of war imposes personal obli-
cation upon every citizen within the mill
tary age, and he should be required to
discharge it. When the country in iuvad.
ed, our dwellings burned, our lands laid
waste, our property destroyed or carried
away, our citizens imprisoned. 1t is their
duty to step forward promptly and aid in
repelling the invader. Ministers and mem-
bers of other religious denominations,
equally as conscientious, are in the field.
recommend, therefore that this law be
repealed.
The time has come when it is absolutely
indispensable that we should omit nothing
which promises protection TO our people
ana success to our cause. An unserupu-
lous enemy is pursuing us with spirit of
malignity and yindictiveness that respects
neither the rights of persons nor of prop
erty. We must be active and untiring in
our efforts to repel him, and to accomplish
this, we must call forth all our able bodied
meu, and prepare them for the most eff
cient service.
No army can expect continued current
OF success. We may, nay we must expect
TO meet reverses, aud we must be prepared
for them. Instead of discouraging, they
should only stimulate US to increased ef-
forts-shouId call forth redoubled energy
should bind us more closely together,
and inspire us with more determined
spirit and courage. II our fOrefatheFs had
permitted reverses to crush 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 achiev-
ed. They passed through storms and tri-
ais far greater than any that have fallen to
us in this contest. The men, old and
young, sustained and supported the cause
with hearty good will; and as the clouds
gathered and the prospect of success seem
ed to grow more desperate and hopeless,
they became more aud more resolved and
determined. The noble women of that
day, while their fathers, husbands and sons
were engaged in fighting the battles and
driving back the invader, planted and gath
cred the crops by which the army was sus.
tanned. We have uOtbeen reduced to such
straits yet, nor is'lt probable we shall be.
But the women of the present day have
shown q self-sacFi6ciug spirit, inducing
them necessarily to work, and showing
that they are ready to emeulate such an
example. They have displayed generous
devotion, which should awake the slug
CARDS and animate and cheer the gloomy
aud despondiug. ~
There are in all Commodities some peo-
Pile whose eyes always fall upon the dark
side of every picture, aud who are dis
posed to succumb at even the indications
of disaster. It would be remarkable If We
had not some such amongst us but II IS
gratifying to know that the number Is very
small, even IN thoSe porItous oi our 0GAIe
which have been oVerrun by the enemy
The spirit and courage ofthe large mass OF
the people has never tagged. Each new
wrong has inspired new resolution. Each
dew outrage has but nefVed them for q
more determined aud desperate struggle in
behalf of the cause. Virginia went into this
contest after the most serious and calm
cousideration-with firm resolve to do
her whole duty to herself and her confede-
rate sisters-to take all the CO co1sequeuces,
however horrible they might be. Her Peo.
Pile never quailed, nor have they muFmured
under the repeated wrongs and aggressions
they have suffered. She was not the hrst
to enter the struggle, nor will she be the
first to sue for peace, unless that peace
shall be accompanied by an unqualified re-