The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1863-07-24
Our Duly.

Ailei ihoIe tuan IWo years OF dreary and un-
parallelcd war, there are, as yet, no signs to in
dicate that the storm has spent its force. Eve
rything points to the contrary. Our enemies
have called out, in addition to their already
enormous levies, 100000 additional men, while
President DAVIS, by proclamation, has extend
ed the operation of the Conscript Act, so as to
include all residents not legally exempt, between
the ages of eighteen and forty-ive Under
the influence of the successes which they have
recently gained, the voice of the peace party
is drowned and unheard. The Yankee heart
is exnltant with foolish rejoicings, and elated
with baseess hopes. The 'tug of war" has
come, in truth, and it behoovcs us to admit #
and to meet it like men,
AS for the recent riots in New York and
other places, we consider that toe much stress
has been laid upon them by the press and the
people, and that hopes based upon them, like
so many antecedent ones, on other equally
plausible grounds, will prove delusion and
snare. We are rejoiced to see these disturb
ances, and consider their occurrence as eviden
cling, very plainly, what we knew before, that
change is gradually making its way in the
Northern mind; and the antipathy to serving
in the army is gradually becoming more open
and divided. Should the war continue lonc
enough, and we be able to hold our own in the
future as In the past similar scenes will be en-
acted in every town and village in the North,
and the result will be peace. But this can be
the work of time only, and in the interval we
must prepare we'll for the onset, surely com
ing, by their forces Which arc already laroe
and which if not increased by the full amount
called out, will certainly be added to i'm.
mcnsely.
Our duty, under the circumstances. is plain.
We need no lectures on despair and despondeo.
cy We cannot despair and give up, any more
than the planter under the pressure of bad sea.
sons and untoward circumstances. can pive nm
in lstless inactivity all excrtions in his ayoca.
ton, without the just imputation of insanity.
Despair IS ruin; and what worse can the most
desperate and unsuccessful struggle bring with
1t! What we need is, that every man who is
able to bear arms should Immediately be placed
In the field. The exemption act should, if
possible, be so amended, as to leave without
tne pale OF its protecting power large numbers
OF "ole-bodied men, now sheltered by it, and
should supply their places with the infirm and
disabled five should now be unable to meet
the enemy with a force sufficiently great to
thwart and to check him, it will ultimately
come to this, that all must 90. But with tho
great disadvantage to us, OF then having lost
valuable and vital points in the mad experiment
to say nothing of the loss of life tbus on
tailed. We know not whether the scbeme ho
ieasable or not; there are great difficulties IN
framing an exemption act, which will do Justice
at once, to all classes and interests. Bnt ;f
possible, the attempt should be made, aud TINS
add largely to our forces in the field. Forciblv
taking by this means, those who have this rc.
fuge, and adding those who will come forward
voluntarily from patriotic motives, our armv
will be so strengthened that it will be able to
maintain its past reputation and add to it fresh
lanrols in the future.