Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-03-16

correspondent of the Chris ian Index
refers as follows, to the debste IN exemption
in the Confederate House of Representatives,
"Conrad of Louisiana for example, thought
that the proper places OF ministers was on
the battle field, where they would be much
better employed than in preaching to empty
meeting houses, or TO old maids and gran
niesF Heaven help the world, whom all the
personal excellence, the conservative social
ness, the. access to God in prevailing prayer,
which Mr.. G. c~onteraptuously slurs over in
the epithets old maids and grannies,' shall
win from the mass of men no more grateful
appreciation than be renders theml Heaven
help our country, if the messengers Of the
Prince of Peace are called away from the
sanctuaries falsely styled empty; : if Sab
bath gatherings cease, and the gospel is ST.
fenced all through the land, if the glad tt
dings of the grace of God are. forbidden to
arrest the erring steps of the stray ingl-
~Subjugation would be a righteous Judgment
| upon so Ubiquitous a state of things. Would
| err in saying that sutjucation0ugAt to be
a welcome release from it"
~I,cannot resist the temptation to wipe the
rust from my pen editorial to give this
Conrad Of Louisiana a piece Of a woman's
mind concerning his ungallant and impious
remark. He must be a crusty, equity old
bachelor, as destitute of the refining AM ell
evating influences Of a wife and daughter, as
he seems to be of the graces and virtues Of
Goodness. He seems determined to make
himself iatamously notorious, since he finds
himself incapable of being distinguished for
any good qualities. A few weeks ago he
made an onslaught upon the Press of the
country, for which he has been basted and
barbacued" as brown as his shrunken old
body corporate was capable of receiving
And now he turns upon woman, the ministry
and religion! And such a thing disgraces .
seat in the Confederate Congress. "Turn
him out"
But seriously it lily becomes any one to
attempt to cast a slur upon the women Of
the South, by denominating them "old
maids and grannies." when their labors and
sacrifices, exhortations and prayers, are re-
membered in behalf of the great struggle in
which our country is engaged. 1t is no ex
hibition of womanly vanity to say, that hel
sufferings and sacrifices, her exertions anc
patriotic devotions have not been excellet
by the lords of creation Mothers hav,
cheerful.y yielded their sons to the death
slaughter wives their husbands, and sister,
their brothers and they nave toiled will
needle and loom to clothe the army, deprived
themselves not only of luxuries but of ne
cessary comforts, in order to supply tn,
brave soldiers in the field, and in every wa,
in her power stimulated and encouraged tn
men to persevere in the contest. And for al
this, she is to be tainted by a member Q
Congress calling them old maids and gran
Mes
And not only this, but their worship {
God, to whom we owe all our successes i
this struggle, is contemptuoubly and irrevel
emily spoken of. Prayerless and Codes
must that man be who can in such a tim
as this, indulge in such remarks. Had it ne
been for the prayers and intercessions of W,
man, the God of battles would not hay
been troubled by such repeated Emporium
ties, as was the unjust Judge in the ScriI
lures for Conrad of Louisiana seems
know that the patriotic meetings appointe
for prayer for the country are much mo,
: numerously attended by women than me
> But we assure him they are not only Il
i old lhaids and grannies, '-(tYo very usef
;. classes, by the way)-but the.'mothers al
4 wives, the blooming maidens and avo, III.