The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-09-20

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mild weather to enable the members to sit without
with but little fire, apd fuel will be spared against
the demands of winter for the necessitous who are
obliged to remain here The vegetables win not be
| exhausted in October poultry, butter and eggs will
still be in the market and supplies of food will be
more readily obtained. These matters that in
ordinary times would not be of sufficient Importance
to attract attention, but in view of the coming win
ter, with the suffering and privaon it must neces-
sarly engender, they ought to be considered"
| And another reason is this
1.-THE Legislature, if in session. could provide to
furnish Gen. Lee with reinforcements. It could
make thorough examination of all the shady places
which have invoked SO much denunciation, and
could to it that the able bodied transferred
to the field, and their places filled by those equally
capable of light duty but untitled for field service
The Legislature could provide for furnishing to the
Confederacy the militia officers and justices of the
peace. whose presence in the army would not only
add to its strength. but would dissatisfaction
from among the soldiers and from among their kim
dred at home. 1t could do much.to aid in the re-
storation of the finances; it could make successful
war on boarding and extortien all of which ques-
tons press for immediate legislation"
The suggestions of the Confederate worthy of
serious consideration. 1t is the province of editors
to make such suggestions they make think the
good of the cause demands. Some persons may
think that editors who not themselves in the
field have right to make suggestions as to what
class should be put in service; but they entirely
misunderstood the duties of public journalist. 1t
is his duty to point out and advocate such
form in the management of public affairs as he may
think good for the cause and for the people at
large.
We agree with the Confederate that it would be
we'll to assemble the Legislature earlier this year
than usual, but we do not entirely agree with its
suggestion in regard to putting militia officers and
justices of the peace in Confederate SERVICE. The
large majority of these officers are farmers; and in
asmuch as some sections of the country al
ready too much stripped of agricultural labor, we
think it would be better to exhaust all other means
of reinforcing armies before taking more far
mers 1t may become necessary to take militia Of
fcers and magistrates, but before that is dono we
think reinforcements can be procured from another
quarter. It is believed that there too many
useless officers and hangers In State and Confed-
crate Government employ. located at the different
towns and posts. We do not suppose that Governor
Vance or President Davis is to blame for this, for
certainly they have no idea of the hundreds and
thousands of men CONSUMERS. not producers) kept
from field service in this way. Everybody knows
that some of these officers necessary but it is
thought that the number could be reduced one
half without injury to the public service. The
Provost offices might be abolished and if there are
any necessary duties connected with them they
could be performed by the enrolling officers; the
medical purveying establishments, the nitro and
mining bureau, the quartermaster and commissary
departments. the ttling department, and contract
establishments, could be shorn of many who
are not actually necessary. Let an effort be made
to reinforce the army from these places before
making further drafts upon the producing classes. |
If it is found impossible to get enough in that
way, then take all militia officers and magistrates
under 40 years of age.
We do not advocate the exemption of any man
because he happens to be militia officer magis-
trate, but that class generally producers and
as they exempt by special enactment of the Le-
gisature, we suggest that, before conscribing Them
trial be made to see how many men can be procured
from other classes; then if it is really necessary
take more farmers, let it be done. But whether |
militia officers and justices conscribed not,
unless something is done to diminish the number of |
what are called shade officers, the cause will con-
tinue to suffer for the want of men and the be
prolonged.
But what can the State Legislatures do towards |
the evils generally complained of! |
Why appoint committee of civilians (good bust
ness men who will attend to the matter to investigate
the management of the State offices, and let this
committee ask the Secretary of War for authority to
investigate the Offices of the Confederate Govern
ment and let fair report be made of the number of
white men employed in the various offices and their
duties. And let this investigation take place i'm
and if such large number of men are
now employed in these Offices and travelling the
country as s'agents', found to be actually ne
cessary. let the places be filled by details from the
Senior Reserve class, and thus save the old men
from service in the field
We are friend of the Admnistration--no one
has been more forward than have been in givng1
a cordial support to authorites-and it IS be-
cause we are friend, and desire the early success
of the southern cause that make the Suggestions
we do. We have spite to crafty against sim
gle State Confederate officer. but we do complain,
in behalf of the people at large, at the manner in
which armies are deprived of men for field SER
vice. The armies need soldiers and soldiers must be
had. Some of the heads of departments appear to
strive to do their duty and employ as few
possible while others determined to keep
many mon out of the army they 1t is strange
that Government officers. and men who have great
interest at stake in the successful termination of the
war, will act so as to deprive the army of the SER
vices of these who really liable. If erybody
1T home combines to prevent recruits from going to
the army. how is independence to be achieved!
u The mails are decidedly irregular We don't
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