Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-09-12
THE N-STATF EI'"T''
$3.50
RICHMOND WHIG.
SATURDAY nORNINls SKPT. ~, Ises.
Deserters.

Deserters.
We observe tina. tao bills have been reported in the
Senate By Gen. Randolph OF the Military Committee,
Ooe providing punishment for persons who may hAibOr
and assist dsserter aud the other imposing upon deser
tsrs the pains snl penalties Of OutAWry. IL is impOs
sbe for legsAhO TO 20 TOO far Ia this direction pro
vded il does net defeat itself by usdue severity. And
il there we're jast pubis sentiment the subject
il bard to imigue any iOrm degree q p nishment
that would be considered tol severe. SEXTON 4 the
sr. est and most dangerous crime soldier caa comm
No srmy safe in which &c is treated with lelieney, aud
10 e1us, is safe that trusted 10 any army liable to be
thus reduced aud demOrtlized. Tue al empt OF ten
Randolph TO sire g,htn the Confederate legislation on
the subj by diminishing the means Of esesPe and By
sfsKing 70 the dcser,er not ;ued for his esimr
civil disabilities aud a sO5.a aud moral stigma that Ti
follow him to his grave dsscrv The favor Of the gs
lature and the approval o. the public The iier uus
BE- mad to understand that whatever may be tbs de
privations the hard,his and the pcrs Of rVce they
are 70 be infinitely preferred 20 the condition Of de-
ssrtsr.
We had occasion, some weeks ego, TO expose 10 tie
country l.e fearful dimiuutiou OF our armies ffcm
his evil Cur objsSs vas to impress upon. all
good and true citizens lie 81 OF compelling de-
Enqq,n.s back 10 tho ranksOby the force OF pubic
Cd mon. We Hoped hat when Ibe true state of the
case was put tsiOss the people, they would be 50
awakened 10 tie perloas eondition which NC have
BEEN reduced BY the popular liberation Of AbseEtees
from d army that they would in sstdstence if from
no higher motive, brig their HhO moral influence to
bear upon the skuisefs aud fairly shame them out Of
their qus. country nooss and restore them to heir
wasted regiments.
Wsregcet TO say that our efforts have proved less
eaec,u4l than "a had anticipated. Too many young
men are permitted to loer abolt home the plea OF
siekuess lIng after they are evidently we'll, and too
much nsucy is shJSu to wandering soldiers who have
oly the merest 10 provo that they are not de-
ssrters. There is an apathy tie part of the people
in egud these matters. which oughS not to exist
aud which are happy 10 knOE will soon be rndely
broken BY the strong aim Of tie h"'
Bu: 10 the deserters themselves wish nov 70
aIdrees a tiLely Sord Of warning. Il may be that on:
remarks will 10, reach the half OF those shO might
prod, By their perusa bg lheg viii reach many, aud,
We Or, S. save Ghe hives BJt ies. What We have 10
say is this the dAy Of eemsney TO deserters is Sst
The President and the Commanding Generals 81 all eur
armies have lat become convinced that the toeraton
Of Ls eime Of dsseriOu has been carried 10 ruinous
Lng.h AID th4ts radical change must occur, AID al
entirely Different system be adopted r tenderness Of
tie President is we'll nigh ine1hAu5liOe, but no has
yIed TO the demands OF his officers and consents now
g tls rigid execution Of AitAry lAN. Already We sec
the FRS. f. s-of the system Ten men we're sho,
a one day in Gen. Lee army not more than week
egJ and since then twolVe fifteen soldicr5 from
General Eselis corps have been sentenced TO
be confined in tho Penilentialy Tor peiOdl Of not
les5 than Eve, and In many instances as high as
ten years. This we are assured, is ba. the begin
uing Of tha. nas1ibe eirlls which Is hereafter
obtain In every army il tie COnf,dsraay. Ii necessary
not ouy ten bat ten limes tn, gill be shot in
DAY. and will be dOle DAY ater day until tee
reat evil abates aud altogether. Discretionary
depend upon it that no more pariOus, more mercy
no mitigation Of punishment leuieni construction Of
The Lag need DO hoped for the future. short trial and
prompt execution 70 the DO rule This may harsh
bat is imperstivsly necessary 10 Of the danger
10 the cause which hls followed the old system There
will be 10 moro amnes.ss. Certain death viii be the
penalty OF deserloa in all where deseriOn is clear
ly proved, uahl the eims becomes amy IN
common as in the regular ARMIES Of Europe.
We know Cf but che mode OF escape, and that will
be Of long continuance. Il is for tbs deserter TO
return at once aud Of his accord - the ranks Il
be does this be will save bis life if be does not be
viii inevitably lOss il. II the deserer is caught at
homo in the woods and IS forced back to the army
be has nothing to hops fcOm the trial by martial
for The disposition Of all the officers is male ED
Of deserOns by the only left ghem viz: death
Of the euprit and tbe people everysberO approve the
decision But the opportunity Of returning, OF his own
accord viii be taken away from the deserEer. for
the Legislature Of Yrgni, and Ohsr States will at the
earliest day. pass laws compelling the people to turn
out o. naS5s and hunt him up. The people have failed
70 DO this for no other in he world than that
thSy we're not authorized b. La. Having tie law on
their side the dssertsr will fad very different reeep
ton hon what he las heretofore received. Once
caught Ike fox in hs den, the will 60 hard with
him and far otherwise tha If be had, without deoe
tiOn or eOmpulhOn. returned to TIE path Of duty. We
therefore dsserters now while there is chance,
30 avail themselves Of IL without mOmenEs delay. If
they pu. 1. OF day after day, will soon DO too late
The Whols body Of the people Will b. armed against
them, and they win be lost Ost!l
North ern Finances.