Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-05-25
By the Governor Of North Carolina.
A PROCLAMATION.
May 12-39-2t

IEAVE WITH GREAT
w pain that there have been latterly numerous de-
sertions from the ranks OF our gallant army, and that
there are many persons in the country who inclte and
ceaI these misguided men athome, instead of cnceur-
aging them to return to duty
Now, therefore, /, ZEBUL0N B. VANCf, Govern
or of the State of North Carolina, do issue this my
Proclamation commanding all such evil disposed per-
sons to desist from such base, cowardly aud treason
iect themselves to Indictment and punishment in the
civil courts of the Confederacy as well as to the ever
lasting contempt and detestation ofal good and hon.
. Certainly no crime could be greater, no cowardice
more a6ject, no treason mere Ease, lhan dor a cltizen
without sharing its dangers, to persuade these who
have had the courage to go forth IN defenee OF their
swan e nphQla. nR1issssEraRsess dfmnt nsfsDe 2 vile,
r tnau consequences; no plea can excuse it. Tbe
laLnef or the brother who does cit should he shot IN
stead OF his deluded victim, for he drsiber.t ! IN
s1[oy ; the SOU and manhood of his own aesh Vi
Slood. And the same is done by him WIN labors sna
conceals the deserter. For who can rnsna y ana
the one or the otheri What honest man will el liner
wish or permit his own brave sons or patriotiic = I've ever
ters, who bore their parts with credit in tbis US
struggle Tor independence, to associate ayan sFeas
thlrd and fourth generations, with The yiIe ~ Tue
who skulked in the woods. or the stin III, ~ wretch
VINO aided him. while his bleeding conntrv oo"aro
ing in vain for his help Both are en nty was cali
ing, mean enemies to their country, haforn sneak
open Toes viii be infinitely preferred. Both sra f "
electrifying the wsrld by their gallant ~ II Tho are
pouring out their blood upon the field of baf;,1 ana
our strength. And woe unto you, dcserferse ,Lals OF
alders ana ~abetters, when peace being made ana ;1 u
have deserted in ts h 1oeie of oFa thei eI iPisl ss,T Thon ye.
honored aid triumphant to their homes yIstqrn
a sso9f your 6g Full guilty fsGeis by d. day, and pEowl like outlaws
noble defenders of their little means, while t6ey yor =
laraWay facing the enemy, do You think ye can eo
reckoning comes! And We that shelter. conceal ana
feed these miserable depredators and Stimulate them
to their internal deeds, think you that We viii he s1ar
ed? Nay rest as,ured, observing and never falling
EYES nave marked you every one. And when the
honorable husband TO his home, and tells him how in
the long years of his absence, in the lonely hours Of
tered nor house, robbed her and her children Of fbeir I.
bread and heaped insult aud indignities upon her de-
fenceless head, the wrath of that heroic husband viii
make you regret in the bitterness Of your cowardIv
ter or that. you were ever born. Instead Of a few
scattered militia, the land will be full Of veteran sal
dlers, before whose honest faces you viii not have
courage TO raise your eyes rom the earth. II hermit
Led to live in the State at all, you viii be INFAMOUS.
You Will be hustled from the polls. kicked in the
streets. All honest jury will not believe ysu on osth
and honest men everywhere will shun you as 3 pesti-
fence, for ne who Lacks courage and patriotism can
have no other good quality or redeeming virtue
Though many of you rejected the pardon heretofore
offered you, and l am not authorized TO promise il
yet ! am assured that no man will be shot who shall
voluntarily return to duty. This is the only chance
to redeem yourselves from the disgrace aud ippuminv
which you are mourning.
Again our troops have met the enemy and q ore,
ana glorious victory has been won: But sever
thousand Of our soldiers fell in achieving it for MS
Every man Is neeled to replace the gallant dead an
preserve an unbrokon front to our still powerful eI
NnJ. ChiOco n Il prevented. our bIr6Dpf
must depart from our armies, and desertion can neye
be stopped while either through q false and mistaken
sympathy or downright d~isloyalty, they receive sny
counten1nce or protection at home. | therefore ap-
peal to all good citizens and true patriots in the State
to assist nay officers in arresting desert rs. and to
I lrown down all those who aid and assist them. Place
the brand uponthem and make them feelthe scorn anS
contempt OF an outraged people. Unless the pood
and the patriotic all over the land arise as one m q SOt : y
arrest this dangerous evil, it viii grow until chr a.,
10y y Wen nigh ruined. The danger of stzrvstion
having happily passed away-the sopro.chinn .soa
apparenslg oolnteous harvest giving evidence 6fam.
Pe suRpncs Tor the coming year-sur great s-Tn1I
Virginia again jnbilant over a mighty Tict"-1 in
We! assured tA&teur. danger now Lies In Ihs al. LII
ganIzation producsd BY d~esertion. You c.s oasoE.
r6t e e ! r II yon will bat make . vigorous .E
greata patriotic and united commute, E s. q 2
,Jour authorities. n ala or
- In witness whereof, ZRBUIor Vs.
1SELL. Goyernor,C aptain General and Con,,a.s'
IL In-Cnlei, hath sisHed these Dreserts IA
fixed. 7t-1o be af-
4 the city OF Raleigh, this nth d., If w.
By the GoY-rnor: fANCE.
X. II. BATTLE, Jr.
Private Secretsrvt