Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-09-08

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-, d, s,ne,cenc, in IA Ills EIiTS. The war has nov
hsan IN uogr, IS for thJn two years and hal
and has Teen rro-eeu'ed against Us with ieroclty un-
n,relsd in all pas struggles betSeen contending par
lea IL has been conducted upon the avowed principle
of subius atng u.s. either by force OF arms or by visit
IN unon our people the horrors Of famine Hence it g.
ta foiled aud defeated sgan and again upon the heo
Of te they have adopted the policy OF desoasng our
farms, destroying our CROPS, puinDg our oW'n-
n.ys stealing and carrying away our properly,
leaving our wives ard children to perish by 'ne
slow torture Of starvation. 1t Is no longer war
for the preservation Of the old Union, ID IL was
originally proclaimed TO be, but 1t has dege nsracu mo
war for the emancipation of our slaves ana tnls Pu
DO the administration at Washington propose 10 ac-
=, npsb even If the extsrmibatioj OF tho Whte rsce
OF all ages sexes AID conditions, OF the Soutnefn Ooh
f-dera shall q the Ie5Ul, We have no ALTERNATIVE
therefore but to defend ourselves with all the power
tT,rtgy and ability VIC can ooumano We must suceeeo,
# NE would be free and independent people, worthy
80 M, illstrious ancestry from which We descended -
To succeed We must have union harmony concert con-
Iation courage, energy and determined resolution On
tie mart of rulers and people. We must cultivate one
another the noble virtues Of prudence, toefa-
ton. CHARITY and ioTbearance.
With these general reu axis proceed to the consic
Grafton Cf such subjects Us Of special interest at
this time and in my judgment demand legislative ac-
ton.
The subj5c. Erst in importance, so far as the COM
)uweah is concerned is the best means OF providing
An
AGAINST invasion or raIds and for the execution Of the
laws IN case resort TO force shall at any time become
,cessary The entire military force OF the state has
BEEN absorbed by the CONSUMPTION Law, and We are thus
eit in time Of greatest peril, with no mlilI organi-
luton for the. d, f.Ics OF the commonwealth: Tnis
want can be aud must be supplied with as little delay
practicable.
AS to the pas of raising tn Cree, am aware there
il much diversity Of option. The difference, however
is rCclncable if the subject considered ard discussed
in patriotic spirit.
Let force TO consis, Of all ab'eboied persons, be-
tween the ages Of 10 and 60 not in the confederate
service be organized corresponding with the for
orosn Eed in the cilies of Richmond, Petersburg and
LyhohbuIg Let them be reg llariy enrolled, formed
into companies, blttahons and regiments and differed
IN such manner will re most likely TO secure efficient
intelligent aud energetic Taey should be drilled
At proper intervals to be well instructed in the
eyoiutiOns and the manual aud prepared for efficient
seIy ce' whenever the necessity shall arise. The act
should aso define what local defence as there much
coutrarety Of opinion 10 regard to it. Some hk local
deerce consists in remaining at home, and under 10
Circumstances 10 be taken out Of the city or county in
which the company is organized. This 10 my view, is
most mistaken notion OF the meaning Of the term "ocal
defence and if il is 70 prevail will work great mis-
cef and render the organization Of little value in CIV
rg protection to people. NJ opinion Is that il the
city Of Richmond can be defended more certainly ty
miles from it than Immediately around il or in it. that
LEGALITY is the proper place for is defence and the local
militia should be quired to make the defence there
Tue o1cer charged with the defence Of sny particular
locality is presumed to be better acquainted with the
mode Of defending it, aad the best point for defending
il successfully be should direct all troops 80 as best
10 secure the end desired.
The object such organizations should be- to give
ADEQUATE prott elton to all paris Of the commonwealth
We must not only provide for the defence of the couu
es cities aud towns by the local forces in and immc
dately around them, but must under the law which
proposed be passed. have authority 10 order others
from contiguous counties 10 their aid and support A
force vhCs operations to be confined by county city
boundar es prove CT but little value in check
raids or in executing aud enforcing obedience to
the laws.
This organization shoUll be made to embrace the
foreign population who are located amongst US. This
foreign population may be said 10 consist of three
ca First, those who have tee1 regularly natural
zed ami who therefore citizens embraced by the
laws relating to the pabc defence; second those who
q, mced amongst Us, and hSying teen liU in our
Il ls aud prosecuting various branches Of business and
who eft er native land With purpose or intention
Of returuin it, and lastly, those who are temporarily
Jour lag amongst THe FIRST class are in the er-
vice under military laws and the second cars should
be required TO 90 into service fer public defence OF the
soil on which they res &c Tie latter class who are So
uusIes e'gaged in yular business should be e1.
empt l recommend therefore, tina: in your legislation
upon this subject the second class above referred TO
; all b cleaIy AID distinctly embraced
Ga this subject desire TO present another recommen.
dalton in regard the act by your predecessors
tie 2Jh day Of November, 1862 authorizing persons
OF certain gious denominations in the Stare to ex-
emit themselves from military service in the war; by the
payment Of five bundled dollars each. Subsequently
LCnges passed act OF Ike character; ard those per
ms ayaed themselves Of it, and were discharged from
liability TO all military service in the Confederate army
regard this provision substantially violation fthe
Constitution, inasmuch as lie grants exemptions to
tai classes Of persons which sire not grantedaothers
III a.. -
be required perform dUty o: sort if they are
within toe military age. Il they are unwilling to bosr
aIm there various other du connected with the
army and the general defence which they perform
aud which they should be required to perform. They
are citizens property holders large extent interest
ed therefore i'll all that concerns other citizens and
should be required to perform their part. In some
countries this class OF persons required to AID in the
construct on o. Notifications, ard Just
why they snonld not be required TO do 30 here This
b Gnch Of defence must be maintained by somebody;
and # their religious convictions will not allow them TO
go into the ranks for the defence and maintenance Of
Tue common cause why cannot they do This!
It viii not DO to say that ihCy are opposed to war
and can do nothing that will tend TO It's prosecution
The law ia based upon the principle that they bound
10 do neutrality-suspicious. they would not be taxed
the sum of. $500 each. That money goes into the
treasury and drawn hererom to delray the expenses
the War-snd TO This extent at least they aiding
and supporting it. If they aid 10 the extent Of
uYe huhOfeu uOAhTe can not Dy "a.
Dor other service
A state Ct war imposes a personal obligation upon
every citizen within the military age, and he should be
qpred discharge it. When the country Is Invaded
dwellings burned our lands laid waste, property
DESTROYED or carried away citizens imprisoned il s
their duty step forward promptly aud aid in repelng
the invader. Ministers and members of other religious
deuomnat ons, equally conscientious in the
field. recommend, therefore, that this law be re-
pea.ed.
Besides these provisions stringent regulations should
be adopted prevent 6esertion Struggling from ser
vcs without lave. IL ought to be made the duty Of
the local militia to arrest Any officer soldier found
abroad from his corps without urlougb, and cause him
10 be orhWith II turned his position delivered
the nearest provost marshal The officers in command
u any city or county through which such persons might
be passing sojourn'ng, might be invested With like
authority and be clothed with power TO detail sIf-
eeni number OF men make the arrest effective, aud
compel the parties in defsult render the service to
which they liable. IL might also with propriety be