Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-01-26
Message of Gov. Vance.


With the flight of tine great events have
sccnrred and are now crowding upon u.s.
Since your Adjournment in December, the
invaders Of our State have concentrated 4
large force upon our coast, and are again
threatening our remaining seaports'and lines
ST communication. Every preparation pos
fiole has been ruadc To receive them, and 1t
j. hoped net witaout success.
Sill much remains 20 be done to strength
en- our army andadt to es efficiency. | beg
leave respectfully TO offer a few suggestions
40 you on this subject. The most serious
avis with which our Generals have to coli
send are the inefficient execution OF tho con
scrlpt law and the alarming increase of de-
Fertions in the army. A long absence from
home, amid the hardships of our rapid and
wonderful campaigns, naturally TENDS to-
produce these effects during a p'otracted
war. To arrest these delinqnents and return
'hem to duty, the militia have heretofore
seen employed with some degree OF success.
hi latteriy they have been found incfti Gent,
ewing to the many obstacles lnterposed by
she law. Should an officer start ont to ar |
test a deserter, the friends of the latter have
only To give the alarm and spirit him out OF
she way, or thesofficer is resisted with open
violence.
AS ucSeTllOu IS nVG q tIlINt Nioh Ii W viz
laws of this State, these persons who thus
shield the deserter from arrest, are Liable to
40 punishment. The consequence is that
numbers Of 1~eserters are concealed IN many
parts of the State, and banding together for
company and mutual protection, depredate
upon the citizens near shem, thus forming a
kind Of outlawed population in the midst Of
our quiet and orderly people.
This state nf thippS ruiDouS alike to the
; .iscipline of our army and the morals of our
people, ought not to be suffered to continue
~nd ought to be prevented, in ~ opinion,
Ivy a little prudent legislation. With tide
consent of the highest military authorities
from whose commands they are absent, | pro-
pose to give absentees from the army with
cut leave, by proclamation, thirty days in
which they alay return to duty free OF pun
lShment, and then after that time to make
tshem liable, for their delinquency, to the
everest penalties of the law. To enable the
authorities to effect their arrest, | recon-
.nend, las | had the honor 10 do so IN my
regular message to YOU that militia laws be
: 0 amended as to subject both officers and
,~rlVates Of any particular company or regi-
lnent of the militia to the articles of war
when ordered TO perform any duty Of this
Lind, at the discretion of the Executive, or
wing the Executive power summary to
rop from the rolls, officers guilty Of gross
or " ilful neglect Of duty, and that it be made
!, crime to shield Or narbor deserters, Or to
: ssist them to avoid arrest. Should it be
deemed best to continue to use the militia of
ne State for executing the conscript law,
these amendments will be indispensable, AS
Dongress has failed in these respects, to pro-
vide for the enforcement Of its own acts.
L have been applied to in several instances,
ks the appointing power Of the regimental
Ulcers OF our regiments raised originally for
three years or the war, to promote men for
gallant and merltorious conduct, but on close
Examination of the law, | fear | have no an-
.hority to deviate from the regular order of
promotion by seniority in the appointment
IF company officers. This power ought. to
reside somewhere. The good of the service
requires it. The humblest private in the
tanks of the army ought to feel that there is
ihs power and the will to lift him above his
humble position, as a reward for gallantry.and
..eroism. I therefore recommend that this au.
thority be vested in the Executive, to be ex.
ercised upon proper recommendations OF
commanding officers in the field.
The subject of arresting citizens upon
charges of disloyalty, | beg leave again tt
sllude to. Many have been recently taker
up by Confederate officers, and with a spiri
of cour esq and respect for State authorit,
turned over to me for investigation. [ al
ut a loss how to dispose of them. Icanno'
examine them myself, and of course I regart
It inconsistent with my duty to set them a
liberty without examination | am yet NOR
unwilling to see them placed in the Con
federate prison at Salisbury, when the track
of the accused all lead In one direction. an
the light of old English liberty is neve
seen. [ therefore recommend the eStablishin
If a commission for the investigation {
charges against all such persons, with tn
power to commit for trial before the prope
tribunals, if sufficient cause appears.
In this connection [ take great pleasure i
transmitting a letter from the Hon. JAS. A
seldom, Secretary Of War, in citation to til
case of Il. j. Graves, and in response to til
demand for his delivery to the authorities
this State, made III obedience of q Joint re
~olutien of your two Houses. Admirable
spirit, ample in explanation of the circumsta1
ces under which the arrest was made, and
expressions of regard for the rights and SOW
!. a~reignty of the State, / am sure that, accom-
panying as it did, the prompt surrender
the accused, it cannot fail to give you tt
satisfaction [ experienced on its persual.
:. In view of the threatened invasion of tt
, State, I have been advised by the War De
!, partment, to call out the militia to assist i
, repelling it. Having consulted with th
General in command of this Department,
concluded to do SO, but am at least doubtt,
= Of my authority to the step, while your bod
{ IS in session. Not wishing to exercise. an
. doubtful authority, when your presence an
appreciation may so easily make it certain,
!. most respectfully recommend that | be al
: thorized Immediately to call ont such portion