Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-01-16
For the Standard.
THE TEN REGIMENT BILE.

This bill does not appear to be understood by the
people generally. There is nothing compulsory in
the bill. 1t is bi raise troops by volunteering,
and if the people do not volunteer for the defence
of the State, is contemplated the matter is at an
end People ask how are the men to be spared p
The answer is that is not the question. The con-
scripts between the ages of eighteen and forty
now being enrolled, and will soon be called out
The remaining conscriptS, up to forty five, will soon
be called for and if these do not volunteer for
the defence of the State the President will compel
them to enter the armies of the Confederate States
The main features of the ten regiment bill are
these the Governor may accept the services Of ten
thousand volunteers of any age eighteen who
are not in the actual service of this State of
the Confederate States. These volunteers are to
serve one year. unless sooner discharged; are to
receive bounty Of fifty dollars, and to be SUBJ
iect to the command of the Governor They are to
be organized as speedily possible, into companies
battali0ns, regiments, divisions, &C. electing their
company officers, the Governor appointing and COM
missioning all other officers. The pay, equppage,
etc, is to be the same that of the Confederate
State troops. Immediately after each battalion,
regiment brigade or division, shall have been or
gauized the Governor shall tender it to the Presi-
dent Of the Confederate States for special service
and local defence to serue o3y 6it%R the LIMITS of
this State except ia cases where the Governor shall
deem it advisable for the defence Of the State to re-
probable that the half of the ten thousand men can
be raised by volunteering Those exempted by the
conscript law will not volunteer to any extent and
when reflect that according to Adiutant General
Martins report only seven thousand one hundred
and thirty-nine conscriptS had been sent to the
army on the 10Th of November, 1862, under the
first conScrpt law il probable that there are
more than five thousand left between the ages of
thirty-fve and forty-6Ve, capable of bearing arms
1t is probable, however, that the conscripts will
volunteer for State defence the alternative being
that if they do not they will be compelled to 90
into the regular service
But it is said that if the bill passes conflict will
ensue between the State and Confederate govern
ment How can this be? The troops are to be
rendered to the President for the defence the State
And does not the President want troops, and is 1t
not his duty to defend the State? The object the
President should have and the Governor has is the
same-the defence Of the State. But it is said the
President has other States to defend besides North
Carolina. That is granted, and we reply that we
have given him. from first to last about eigktv thou
sand mon for TINT purpose and after making every
deduction for those killed in battle discharged and
sick, or who have died from disease we have vet
as the records show, fully sixty.seven thousand
North Carolina soldiers at his command 1t is con-
ceded that the conscrpt law has been more success
fully executed III North Carolina than in any other
State. But after all this is said, how, we ask has
North Carolina been defended? Let Hatteras Rua-
noke Island, Newbern, Kinston, and the Whining
ton and eldon Rail Road answer 1t is true troops
were sent to KinSton and Goldsboro' for defence.
but they arrived too late they too far off the
damage had been done and the enemy had retired
before the reinforcementS arrived.
But Congress has passed a conscript law. and
claims the conscrpts for the common defence. ana
the Legislature is about to pass bill which will
authorize these conscripts to evade the claims of
Congress by volunteering under the State law. for
State service which is right and which party is en-
titled to obedience? Without subscribing TO the
doctrine that the State is sovereign il is nexerthe-
less clear that the State harightS and those rights
reserUed rights therefore they are constitution
al rights The States have given up the right to
keep troops or ships of war in time of peace but
they have not given up the right to keep both in
time Of war; But how are the States to keep either
If the President can take all their fighting men p
The Governor of the State has the right to call out
the militia IN case OF Instruction or invasion; but
how can this be done if the President has taken the
whole militia by CONSUMPTION? The facts being as
stated, the Confederate government has no consti-
tutional right to cOnscrpt men, aoihout the consent
OF the States. But who is to Judge between the
Confederate government and the States upon this
constitutional question: We are sorry to say that
there is no tribunal constituted for that purpose -
We have no Supreme Confederate States court
The constitution says there shall be one; but Con-
greSs says there shall not be one The Confederate
government is not complete 1t has no judiciary
department except the circuit courts and these NAV
give variant and conflicting decisions. The govern
ment is one in two instead OF one in three and the
Legislature may abolish the Executive or Uice Uersa
and all the elements of tyranny are in one depart
ment, because If any body or individual can make
judge and execute the laws, all that is wanting to
play the tyrant is the will. Congress then having
denied the States supreme judicial tribunal, has
already violated the constitution, and the inference
e AZ khaksk 1oyO lrvoo TX
their own rights, under the constitution.
1t is then a mere question of expediency and
policy, whether the State shall permit its soldiers
TO volunteer under this bill not II further proof
of this is ncedcd it may be found in the fact that
the conscrpt laws are defended upon the ground Of