Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-10-18
From the Progress
THE COTTON STATES

lew men remaining at home may be sent
to the field, some of the Cotton States
seem to be taking things coolly. Similar
measures were urged in Alabama, the
Legislature was convened and the Govern
or called for the I" last man." but after an
extra session Of twelve days the body adj
journS without having passed any military
bill or put 4 man in the field. And vet
Alabama is for war, for "tighting it ont
now her people, or many of them, are
opposed to peace, that is any peace that
we are likely to get-the Legislature lays
peace resolutions on the table, and yet of
all that body of patriots and all their able
bodied constituents throughout the State
there is not one soul that is willing to help
fight the battles Of the war which they re-
soioe shall 20 on. And we learn from
good authority that nota volunteer is like
ly to be had from Georgia or Mississippi
during the remainder of the war. Yet
they say we must eight it ont" Who
fight it outl Do they mean the bronzed
veterans whom they have sent to Virginia
and elsewhere and who for three years
have barred their breasts TO the steel and
lead Of the foe, must fight it ont, q5Oa,e D.?
If so the Cotton States Will soon be subiu-
gated provinces, for gallant, heroic, and
invmcible as they are, the Old Guard will
be forced to succumb to the numbers of
the enemy, and at last abandon all.
Detailed men, Reserves and Home
Guards are all being hunted up in this
State 10 be sent to the trenches, and yet
Alabama, the home of Yancey and the
birthplace of the " knights of the Golden
Circle" and of Secession, has no more
men to furnish! If this is to be the policy
| of the Cotton States who cannot see the
end! Nonh- Carolina and Virginia can
not maintain this unequal stnggla always,
and unless Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi and Louisiana 1--WE mean the
people left at home, not their soldiers i'll
! tield) do better than they have been do
ing, the end, caiamitous and disgraceful
end, is nigh.
But to return to the Alabama Legisla-
iatnre. The APPEAL of the OH thus no.
tees the adjournment of the extra SEES
sion
The extra session closed last night, after
twelve DAYS consultation. 1t seems to be
generally regretted that the principal OBJ
iect for Which the session was called, some
reformation of tine militia laws of the State,
failed to be worked ont, rs it is admitted
thar as at present organized the militia
service IS radically defective, as set forth
by Gov. Watts in his message. Both
houses adopted bills, and neither wouid
yield its measure. nor cnuld any compro-
mise be effected The Adrertja@r men,
tons one difference. The Senate bill pro-
posed 10 put in every ab!e-b0died man be-
tween the ages of seventeen and fifty, and
10 authorize the Governor to grant fur
loug.ls and details The HOUSE proposed
to put those in between seventeen and
fifty. but declared who should be exempt.
1t is also stated that a difficulty which
presented Itself to the Legislature, was to
lind material upon which to make any law
operative they might enact. large major
ity being Of the opinion that the laws of
Congress had taken nearly all the men ont
of which it would have been Just or wise
to form militia" This is not a valid eX-
cuse. Travellers through the State have
, frequently remarked i'll our presence that
! Alabama had a large reserve at home,
! Judging from the number of loiterers to be
constantly seen about the railroad sta
tiOnS, etc.
, The same journal says "most of the
! legislation was of a local nature, but sew
j eral bills of general interest were passed !;
, the most important OF these, which occurs
! to us is the bill appropriating two millions to
! the INDECENT families Of soldiers, TO be paid
! in November; for the arrest Of stragglcrs
! and deserters; to punish certain offences
! robbing, burglary and arson, making the
penalty death or imprisonment in the pen
; itentiary for not less than twenty live
years and to prevent the oppression of
! the people of Alabama by the illegal exc
cution OF the inpressmcnt laws Of Con
gress."
The peace resolutions were laid on the
| table and not resuTrected.
TROUBLE, THE HEARTS TEsT.-The river
! bottom cannot be tested as long rs it is
! covered by the stream. 1t may be OF