Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-01-14
10 the Senate ard House of Representatives

" of the Confederate States
The propositions pending before the Houses of Con
gress at it's present session. to conscrbe for military
service the mechanics, ageuts andempoyees of Rail-
road Companies without exception will, if executed,
Inevitably produce consequences which must prove
most disastrous to the military operations of the Con
federacy 1t is well known to all persons tolerably
we'll informed on such subjects, that from the com
mencement of this war, the supply of mechanics n the
Confederate States have been wholly inadequate to the
wants of the country, for military purposes.
large portion Of the mechanics in the Southern States
probably much the larger portion of them-were al
ways Northern men by birth and education.-
OF these very great numbers, the
breaking out OF the war, at returned to the
Northern States leaving still further destitute of me,
chanca labor and skill the Southern States who, even
acah their aid had imported so much the largest por
ton of the machinery and mechanical products used by
it from the Northern States. Few can be wholly ig
norant of the fact that throughout this war; the great
est difficulties with which our armies have had to
contend, have resulted from the total want made
quae supply of the products of mechanical skill and
labor and OF the means Of rapid and efficient ranspor
tation Fewer sill are aware of the erent to which
those difficulties have been tet and of their effect upon
military operations. 1t is scarcely any eXaggeratOn to
say, that good a1d efficient mechanic experienced
Railroad officer or agent is worth to our armies pla
toon if not company OF soldiers. How many admra
BILE plans have failed-how many campaigns have been
lost, for want of adequate supplies OF clothing, anmu
milton, railroad machinery and means OF transportation.
But the country is now mena3ed with further depe-
ton of these necessary classes OF labor by an attempt
to transfer men to the ranks who ten-f0ld more
useful to the army where they To very consider
able extent this titort will certainly fa. These men,
whether natives of the North, OF the South, or Of
Europe, feel that their services of tentod more
value to the ary in the positions they occupy, than
they would be III the army and that, having for m1s
reason been heretofore by the Government exempted
from military eervice tey have lost the advantage they
would otherwise have had by an ealer enlistment, n
selecting their associates in arms and IN opportunities
tor promotion and command, and must now be thrust
privaes, into any service which the Government may
ass ign to them. Never to have been exempted many
esteem less hardship. Influenced by considerations
such these many OF these men will leave the country
rather than be exposed to the of what they
deeply feel to be u1wse, unnecessary and to them
unjust measure. Nor car their exodus be prevented
by any precautions which our authorities take
Our frontier is tOO extensive to be efectuay guarded
10y any police Or picket force which be employed,
to prevent tue escape OF one out OF ten attempting
it. Daily experience proves this. These are en-
numbered with little property and that they would
cretIy into specie producing further injury to
the country by it's portation ALI this has been done
already by very considerable number o. mechanics in
the COuederacy. Every encouragement and facility
has been and Will be extended to them Dy the enemy
who know but too well, however blind tc the important
fact authorities may be, that tney infc5 upon
the COntederacy the most vital blow, by deprViDg OF
any of lis mechanical force. Gen Grant is said to have
shown his RpDr6ClaElOD IulS e1utlelt or
ening army, by eatclng from Atlanta or MGmphIs
considerable number Of valuable and skiliul mechanics
so far from 1Cttjg wise and safe policy would
eTpand the scope OF exemptions OF mechanics and rail
road r1eE c0nmeLsurately with the extension of tie
conscriptIon. When the conscciption limited,
it scarcely possloe 10 obtain sufficient number OF
conduct efficiently railroads, which are so
essential to military How then caa they
be possibly procured, wnen the conzcrpon s extended
over eli those who baG been with great difficulty OBJ
taned without the pale OF the former con8cription
It is the idle dream OF theorists aud decaimers to
substitute disabled soldiers Others incapable Of mill
tarv service Tor men educated for, and employed in
these pursuits The simplest OF them requires far
peculiar skill and experience than inexperienced can
be made to understand. And nothing is more certain
than that men unfit for military service are wholly u06
for the employment Oh railroads. Actual experience
has established this beyond doubt This bind zeal tC
put every male IN th7 urmy oly increase the nun
ber to be ed armed and clothed while it destroys the
only resources for transporting troops, food
clothes for them-already nadq for the armies
the field At this time. with the existing laws ant
military regulations, the efficiency aud capacity ever
railroad in the Contederacy ID very greatly diminished
for want of suitable TO operate ard keep them Il
repair. The employment of inexperienced men pro
duces co6fnsion, ana muupies collisions and az
cdenta, while the want OF mechanics keeps arg
portion of machinery aud cars useless tor want Q
repairs. lake any considerable Bhmber OF the ran
road employees remaining, and the operations OF 10
railroads MUST CEASE Lat the Government undertak