Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-07-01

The Common Hansman Of The Enquirer.
The Richmond Eaqsirsr is Of opinion, because
we published In afecent issae the following extrsct
from . letter from Davidson County, in this State,
that We ought to be hanged: -. ss.:s:.
II see that President Davis has called upon Gov
ernor Vance for seven thQpsand. militia for State
defence. Wo have not now single man to spare
in ths.p of the State and the full execution of
the eonscrpt act will leave us still less think the
Legislature which will meet in extra session soon,
should adopt resolutions instructing the Governor
not to comply. These ere the sentiments OF every
body here, except one or two crazy Destructives
who are themselves exempt and who live from the
labor of their slaves. But if this call is complied
with, Godonly knows what is to become Of the many
thousands Of poor women md children who viii be
lett helpless and penhyless We believe you are
their friend, and we therefore expect you to take
decided stand against this call Of the President"
We now emphatically endorse every word Of the
above. 1t is from the pen Of as true man and as
pure patriot Us the State contains North-Car
ma has sent,nore troops TO the field than any other
State in proportion to her population. Her troops
have turned the tide, and thus every important
battle which has been fought in the Atlantic States
She has been literally swept for conscripts from 1s
to 40; and the Secretary Of War has even gone SO
far to seize exempts in defiance of the decisions
Of our Judges, and force them into camp. The con-
script law, in which our people have acquiesced,
not because they regard it as constitutional or hu-
name, or just but on account Of their devotion to
the cause still cas for men up to 45. the Pres
ident needs troops, let him call for them but our
militia belong to the State, and our Governor is
their constitutional commander in chief The call
of the President embraces, under our laws, magis-
trates, militia officers many persons who have fur
nished substitutes, and State and County officers
not specially exempted. II these should be taken,
what militia will remains How will the civil law
be enforcedf How will deserters be arresteds-
How will insnrrection and violence of certain
character be guarded against and prevented How
will our Governor, in his necessary struggles with
an administration which appears to devote itself GO.
pecially to usurpations of power in this State, be
able 20 hold up his head andmake good his promise
that he will maintain the decisions Of our Courts,
and protect the liberties Of citizens against these
usurpations? These militia once raised and trans
.ferred to the President will become Confederate
troops. They win thus pass absolutely under the
command of.the President His oath will bind him
to control them, and to use them when and where
he pleasez The Governor will be powefless Be-
Sides at the end of their SIX months service, they
~iN be eonscripted The call is for them, as well
as enough of the conscrpts up to 45 to raise 1000
men. The conscripts already liable for the war,
and the militia, being thus mingled with the con.
scripts, will be held The idea that the Confederate
government will disband 900 trained troops these
will be at the end of six months is absurd 1t will
DO no such thing Again, some four or five months
since our Legislature made effort at the call Of
the Governor, to raise ten thousand troops for State
offence. That effort was defeated by the President
and his partizans, the Enquirer among them. It
wss denounced as treason to the cause. Its advo-
Gates were villifed and held up as Lincolnites and
enemies of the government If that effort lad sac
ceeded, those men would low have been in the field
As uoluntecrs with the Governor at their head and
they would have beaten back any twenty thousand
Of the enemy sent against thssL But NO, that
would not do. 1t would have deprived the admin
istration at Richmond Of patronage and power, snd
it smacked too strongly Of State rights and State
independence. 81
Such are some Of the reasons why we are not
willing to see the remnant Of militia drafted and cali
Cd out by the President Wemay add another, that
the drain upon our white population is already SO
great in many localities that there is dangerin thefu
ture not only of pinching want but Of absolute star
vation among the poor. We are not willing to see
any one white child starve to death in North Caro-
lima on account Of this war, while the negroes
fat and sleek and we would not give the thanks
and the gratitude Of the humblest widow Of any one
of our soldiers who has fallen for all lthecompments
and all the honors that President Davis could be-
stow. Let Mr.. Davis, if he needs troops, call for
conscripts. Let the "pound of flesh " be cut of; !;
but LET him first see that that law is fairly enforced
in other States-that Mississippi sends her full
quota, ard that the law is not allowed to be sus-
pended in one whole District in the State of Gear-
gia. And let him also direct his Secretary Of War
to cease to insult this State by rejecting upon our
Courts and by arresting persons discharged by cur
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