Newbern progress., 1863-01-24
The Conscription,

The Richmond Enquirer and Destructives
have labored to make the impression that the
object 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
Carolina, in regard to the conscrptlon, is
simply this:
North Carolina acquiesced in the first con-
scription bill as a necessity-a dernier resort to
meet pressing exigency, which the foresight
of the government had failed to provide against.
But North Carolina has never acquiesced in
the principle of conscription, and neUer aoiU.
She regards it as unconstitutional, despotc
and dangerous to liberty. Nor does she recog.
nize the right or duty of Congress to pass such
a law, except under an overruling necessity,
such as was said to exist when the first bill
was passed. Her people never have given
their sanction to the second conscription bill,
nor to the bill of exemptions passed at the late
session of Congress. Those of her Senators
and Representatives who voted for those bills,
will be made to feel at the proper time, at the
hands of their constituents, their stern and
unqualified disapproyal of those votes. Mark
what we say. ....-
But while we say thus much, we are OPP
posed to any factious opposition to, or any un-
lawful procedure against their enforcement.
We hold that it is the duty of good citizens to
obey even bad law, until it can be legiti-
mately repealed. But we honestly believe that
it would be unwise unjust and deeply injurious
to North Carolina to enforce those laws, es-
pecially in our western counties, where there
are comparatively no slaves. and where their
las naakl 4haIn
of fighting or working men. -.-.
Believing this, we hoped that the Legislature
at an early day, without endorsing the princi-
- f(,,l1r
upon the President the propriety of suspend
ing the execution OF the law in this State, as
he is authorized by the act to do-at least,
until an imperious necessity demanded 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 soLeEy in q de- re on the part Of the
Conservatives to protect oar detenceless Eastern
brethren from utter ruin. The Destructives
have never seemed to care fig about the con-
dition of our Eastern counties. They hare
opposed eUery State measure a0hich has looked
to their protection. The bill originated first,
IN the conuiction and assurance that the A6o-
Htion GODernnent soGs Determined to su67ugdte
North Carolina, if it took 90, 900 men TO do 1t.
They bad almost positive evidence of this.
Secondly, in the tdcit admission of the highest
Confederate authority of its inability to afford
the amount Of protection which our authorities
felt our Eastern people required 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 reg-
ment 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 aban-
donment of Lincoln's design. A large hostile
iS lu cd Ea
border, and we know not the hour when an
advance of the enemy may be made. Fore
warned, let US be forearmed-Raleigh Stand
ard