Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-24
60 nnrv 80 TEIE meUR.

EDITORS APPEAL; Our present struggle seenls % D9
cuIninating to crisis in the condition Of our enemy
and he seems to be putting forth every effort to meet 1t
successfaliy An immense armament of land and naval
forces is collected to descend the Mississippi and satisfy
~ camors Of their Northwestern allies by opening that
river to their trade These clamors loud and deeD
Tbev begin to starte Lincoln by threats that if they
are not soon successful causing their wish to be accom-
nshed that section viii abandon Lincoln to his Ysukee
sles and unite E4sh the South To avert this blow
ian, effort is shortly be made upon Fieksburg The
Northwest is to be appeased Mississippi s 10 oe oeso-
iated with fre and sword by Hessians and Yankee
brutss and the ConfedeTacy Is to be severed o cutuS
off communication between Texas Louisiana ana MIS-
sissippi and the eastern part Of the Contederaey.
In aid OF tae same plan the enemy is massipg all ms
aaiiahie toaps in Tennessee to supply h0secfnA Win
an overyv vheinng force, in orderto oVerrun Tennessee
North Alabama and North MISSISSIPPI anu 20 Sut On
communication with Virginia through East Tennessee
These plans, the successful execution OF either OF
which would be disastrous 70 our cause, are unlih
takablv indicated by the movements OF the enemy ana
tbev are pressed with all the energy demanded by a
ela1orous and almost rebellious people The ConIed-
crate government is alive 20 their pressing emergency
and is urging every that can be spared from home
into the army of the Conederacy. Orderstrom the war
Department call into service all persons TO the age OF
ferfv liable 10 conscipon and the reQuison has Deeu
issued by the copscrpt officer in this State President
Davis III kis patriotic address at Jackson, earnest
urged that m eonscrpis should be sent to the Conted
notwithstanding all this is Mississippi meeting this
solemn crisis involving everything dear 20 her, she
on t 10 dor This question which fills many anxious
heart meets response in the negative Tor the follow
ing reascnsi
State militia aad many others in the country ana
about the towns, under excuses and dspensations
granted By officers Of the State militia An these ought
to be in the army Of the Confederate STATES uoeI he
drI and discipline Of experienced officers, and subject
to be sent whatever point the necessities Of our com
mon cause might require, in the Judgment Of aJe com
uauders That this is the dictate Of prudence and of
duty and the demand Of an enlightened and patriotic
pubic opinion there be no doubt Yet "a this ter
Tble crisis when all the forces and the best drilled Iorces
we can possibly produce, may at any moment oe re-
CURED for our salvation, these men are kept out Of the
Confederate army and in the state Iniii unaet oeers
incom peteit 10 drill them properly IN naots OF loose
discipline AID where they do no efficient service
In tie name of prudence and public dnty why is this
system Of State militia camps kept upf
We are engaged in public, tional war Ihe forces
REQUIRED are for the purpose of carrying on that war
It is a war of immense proportions, calng Ior an our
ssourees II l. war for the management OF which the
Confederate government glona is responsible we have
no private State war, to be carried on as byplay
by militia and no military eageney Whatever except %
throw all power for ohense and detenseho tne n1s
of tn 30 charged by the Confederate government with
this war drill troops, and dispose 0l then a such
places as the exgencies OF our ealse may IN thelr
iIeroent raquirs be il ia or out of Mississippi Two
distinct military organizations ct the same te ana ior
the same use viii produce confusion ard that has been
the case ia this State The only other danger at al to
be feared Or provided against that could require the mi
s is one that could be much better mel by the men IN
the militia above the age OF eonserpts eaieo lot remain
ing at home and preserving that order and obedience
among the saves which their authority ana constant
presence would easily commands aud, Indeed the ab-
sence Of such men in the militia has stroBg tendency
to promote insubordinRtion among slaves.
Every. consideration of duty and OF safety would,
therefore demand that militia who are liable as con
seripts should be- thout delay, transferred 10 the
army of the Confederate States.
But besides this, ibe militia organization is heavy
expsnse to the State We have a 1nsjOrgeneral, brig
diergeneras apd other officers who are TO receive the
nav OF officers Of the same rank in the Confederate
srnv while in active service This causes heavy ex
Dnse either TO the State the Confederate States,
il is assumed by them But ia either case, TINS heavy
expense is wholly unneces ary. Oar troops. if trans
fered TO the Confederate camps Of instruction, woud
soon be sent forward to i'll up companies already Ia
service whose numbers hsve been reduced by disease
or death Csnd there IS abundance Of such vacancies
10 receive All that would be from the mita and
Tins no additional expense for officers would be Gre
aed by he militia ing put into the Confederate army
At all events forces thus sent would not amount TO
more ehan sufficient to make brigade, and tha large
expense for other superhu0Hs officers now IN our mir
tia would be avoided Our troops would be placed IN
der experienced and more competent officers which
would add @ thsir efficiency for it is well known that
the greater part Of militia generals, though ineii-
gent and worthy men, not men Of military eduea-
ton or experience.
10 many respects tEerefore it is wrong 70 beep mp
this state militia organz alton and thereby keep our sol
diers oat Of the regular Confederate army. 1t is a
wrong TO our common cause, wrong TO ourselves a
wrong public duty and wrong TO enlightened pub
lie opinion
Its hoped that those whose duty it is VIII take heed
of thegs considerations before it is too late.