The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-10-06
THE SOBER SECOND THOUGHT.

We continue to receive information of reae
tlonary movements, in those parts of the Stat
where some of the people have been led to believ
that by holding the so-called peace meetings. tn
war could be brought to close, and the halcyol
days of tranquility and prosperity be at once re
deinsion and to learn that the only road to peace
| is determined and persistent resistance to th.
vile enemy who comes to seek our ruin, and viii
certain visit it upon if we fall into his power
whether it be by subjugation while nobly fghtine
| tor our rights, or by base and cowardly submis
sion to bis fendsh designs.
We eonversed with gentleman from Randolph
county, few days since, who assured us of re-
dictionary movement of this kind in that county
He also gives us an account of the most deplorable
state OF affairs there, brought about BY deserters
from the army and men of conscript age who were
skulking from duty. Our informant stated that
they were going through the country day and
night, robbing, stealing and committing all man.
ner. Of depredations. He mentioned the name OF
Alfred Brewer, Esq who has often represented
the county in the Legislature, whose house was
visited and he forced to surrender all his fire.
arms. On the next day squad OF the same gang
returned to his house and literally sacked it-tak-
ing almost every particle Of wearing apparel and
bed clothing, and carrying off large quantity of
provisions And they are roaming all through the
couuIJ slsitiuS IKE OutTdgeS uPon aii "iInih tncF
reach.
Such state of things has aroused the people to
state Of sefdefence, and they are turning out in
large bodies to arrest the thievng scoundrels and
turn them over to the conscript officers. Several
have been shot, two or three killed, and a good
pany arrested.
The people are beginning to understand this
state of things one of the fruits of those meet
ngs that refused obedienceto the laws of the
country, induced soldiers to leave the army and
give up the contest, and encouraged men OF the
conscript age to take to the woods rather than go
into the ranks of their country. And the indus
trial and frugal class Of citizens who have homes
and provisions for their families, now see that
these men must be arrested, and the sentiment and
feeling which brought about this state of things,
must be put down, and these lawless mercenaries
dispersed, or their property will be taken from
them, their homes be desolated, and the whole
country be ransacked and ruined No wonder there
is reaction there. -a'.-
And as it is in Randolph so it will and must be
in other counties, where deserters and skulking
conscripts allowed to remain unmolested. They
are compelled to remain in the woods and conse-
quently cannot earn living by honest industry;
hence they are forced to steal and plunder, and
those who refuse or decline to arrest them are the
houses and beds are stripped of
clothing their smoke houses and cribs robbed, and
their families exposed to their ravages at all times.
The safety of every mans home, family and prop
erty, now calls upon him to arrest these fellows
and rid the country Of their dangerous and thiev
ing presence.-Rnleigh Spirit Of Age.