Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-11-23
RALEIGH: FRIDAY, NOV. ls, 1864.

RALEIGH: FRIDAY, NOV. ls, 1864.
The ensuing winter will be the hardest ever ex-
perienced by our people The poor-and "thelr
name is legion will suffer acutely for food and
clothing, and some of them must starve, If suitable
provision is not made for them. This must not BE-
The families of the soldiers are entitled, as we'll by
the laws Of nature as by every principle of patriot
ism, to sufciency of food and clothing, as long as
there may be any of either in the country. Those
wbo have must bestow on those who have not
County and town Efforts associated efforts of what
.oever nature, are not adequate to tn work. which
embraces large majority Of our people, There
must be some general law on the subject; and we
trust the Legislature soon to assemble will give to
this matter the most careful consideration, and de-
wise and adopt some plan by which those who may
have surplus of food and clothing may be required
bv law to contribute to the wants of the needy
The people of North Carolina have no secure hold
on "liberty" or "property," but those of them
who are at home and who are not able to enter the
army, are entitled to lfe." The soldier must take
his chances for "life" but he cannot bear to hear
that his wife and children at home are freezing and
starving. Such information would palsy his arm,
ard render him burden instead of help in the
day of battle.
We take the broad ground that those who may
have surplus should be required by the Legisla-
ture to contribute portion of that surplus for the
support of those who have little or nothing We
make no Agrarian proposition-we propose no
scheme for division of property; but in this cri-
sis, in matter of life and death, we ask that the
law shall intervene and compel the close listed,
whose barns and smoke houses will be we'll filled,
to share portion of their abundance with the needy
and forlorn. The first duty of the State is to take
care OF its poor and at the same time to provide, to
the extent of its means, for the comfort of its SOL
diers in the field. A law upon the subject would
secure uniformity as we'll as certainty in these con-
trbutions We most respectfully appeal to the
Legislature to act liz this matter and to act prompt
ly The County Courts might be invested with
discretionary powers under general law, or the
State Commlssary might be empowered to levy con-
trbutions for general distribution. Something must
be done, or the most distressing scenes of want and
wretchedness will be Witnessed ins every neighbor
hood in the State during the ensuing winter.
We have but little matter of interest from Con-
gress thus far. The two Houses have already de-
voted considerable portion of their time to secret
sessions. We presume that nearly all the leading
measures of the session will be matured and passed
with closed doors, so that the public will know but
little of the discussions and reasons that led to their
passage. There seems to be no means of prevent
ing these secret sessions, An iron handed majority,
representing States more or less occupied by the
enemy, forces them the minority from States yet
comparatively unsubdued, and still contributing
laVishly Of their means to support the war.
The three leading measures of the session appear
to be- frst the suspension Of the writ Of ha6eas
eorpm; secondly, arming the slaves; thirdly, de-
failing ministers Of the Gospel, Editors, and all
others.
One of the foundation Stones of our system is
personal liberty, and the existence in their full Wig
Or of the Courts of law. The suspension of the
writwould destroy personal liberty and suspend the
action of our Judges in vital matters.
One of the found alton stones of our social struc.
ture is slavery. To the slaves would be to de-
'troy that structure, and pave the way to emanci
patton, negro equality, and servile war.
Another of the foundation stones of our system
IS the freedom q religion an the freedom Of the
press. They are both guarded by constitutional
enacments. To make ministers of the Gospel and
Editors dependent on one man in the performance of
their duties, would be to destroy the independence,
the usefulness and the constitutional existence of
both.
These are our opinions, briefly expressed. We
DO not plead for ourselves bntfor Liberty Social Or
as7, and the Constitution Of the country. The
adoption of the above measures would radically
Change the character of our government and launch
'us on the full tide of unbrdled military despotism.
trust the Legislature of this State will speak out
IN the boldest terms on these subjects.s
Inc Legislature of this State will assemble in.
hls City on Monday next. We have made arrange.