Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-01-07
The COnscription.

The Richmond EsYatrT and the pestructivas,
have labored to make the impression, that the OBJ
ect of the Conservatives in desiring to pass the ten
regiment bill, was to break down and prevent the
execution of the last conscription So far as we
know, there is no foundation for this.
The position of the Conservatives Of North Caro-
lima in regard to the conscrption, is simply this:
North Carolina aequiesced in the first conscrip
ticn bill as nscessity-a dernier resort to meet
pressing exigency which the foresight Of the govern
ment had failed to provide against But North Ca
rona has never ac9uesced in the principle Of con
scription, and neoer UiM She regards it as uncon-
stitutonal, despotc and dangerous to liberty. Nor
does she recognize the right duty of Congress to
pass such law. except under an overruling neces-
sity, such as was said to exist when the first bill
was passed. Her people never have given their
sanction to the second conscription BILL to the
bill of exemptions passed at the late session Of
Congress. Those of her Senators and Representa-
tives who voted for those bills will be made to feel
at the proper time, at the hands Of their con
sttuents, their stern and unqualified disapproval Of
those votes. Mark what we say. .
But while we say thus much, we are opposed to
any factious opposition to, or any unlawful proce
dure against their enforcement: We hold That it is
the duty of good citizens to obey even bad law,
until it can be egitimately repealed. But we hon.
estly believe that it would be unwise, unjust and
deeply injurious to North Carolina to enforce these
laws, especially in our Western Counties, where
there are comparatively slaves, and where their
overflowing patriotism has nearly emptied them Of
fighting or working men.
Believing this, we hoped that the Legislature at
an early day, without endorsing the principle OF
conscrption, would respectfully urge upon the
President the proprety of suspending the execution
of the law in this State, as he is authorized by the
act to do-at least until imperous necessity de-
manded it, and until all the other States had an
equal pro rata representation IN the Confederate
army with North Carolina. .
But the proposition to raise ten regiments OF State
reserves. was. an independent one, and had nothing
to do with the conscription. 1t originated solsty
in desire on the part Of tho Gonserua ices to pro-
tect Qua: deteaceless Eastern brethren from utter
ruin The Destructves have never seemed to care
fig about the condition of our Eastern Counties.
They hare opposed ecery State measure chich has
looked TO their protection. The bill originated trst,
in the conoiction and assurance that the Abolition
sorernment ras determined to suljuqate North Car
otina, If it took 100000 men to do it. They had
almost positive evidence Of this. Secondly in the
taeit admission Of the highest Confederate author
ty of its inability to afford the amount Of protection
which our authorities felt our Eastern people re.
qured. This is the gist Of the whole matter
In view of the above facts, it will be apparent to
every one, that the passage Of the ten regiment bill
is still demanded by the necessities Of the case.
The failure of Foster in his recent raid must not
be understood to mean an abandonment of Lincotns s
design. A large hostile force is certainly concen
trated on our Eastern border, and we know not the
hour when an advance of the enemy may be made
Forewarned, let us be forearmed.