Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1864-05-26
@ WINsToN NORTH CARoITNA THURSDAY May ae 1854 s.n

:, THURSDAY, May 30, ,,elss4.. .r.s
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Ihesrf1esa. .'.,..' sai :. s''$ ,.9 ~ e"5sa'
+ I have ,nrged in vain upon ) the authori.
ties Of the sslC lConfederacy t. check this evil, !,
10 myself. Use But It seems , to grow row worse, 70 Sc
and as the supplies Of our people become
more scant they feel more sensibly this un
| jnst deprivation of their property, which
reduces them almost to the verge of star
vation. 1t must be stopped, if possible, and
| I earnestly recommend such action on
your part as you may think best calculat-
ed to aid me IN remedying the evil. My
correspondence with the war Department
ON this subject is submitted for your con-
sideration. desire to call your attention
specially t5sertain ,enactlnents of the last
Congress of the Confederate States. A..
mong them is one extending the age of
conscrlption from II to Is and from As to
so years, which force is to be organized as
a State reserve-their cofnpan officers to
be elected, and the field officers appointed
by the President, and all to be under his
command. *5 go S
In addition to the great injury to be ap-
pretended to tae agricultural interests OF
the country, should these men be ordered
into actual service, have to remind you
that it will absorb the entire militia force
Of the State, and would leave the Execu-
tive with no force whatever except State
oficers-a condition dangerous at once to
the peace and order of the State, aud to
its sovereignty and dignity There can
scarcely be a doubt of the inexpediency Of
this act as to this State; since the same
men, with the exception of boys from II
to 1S, are now very thoroughly organized
as Home Guards under State authority,
and have been heretofore and would be
again promptly turned out in cases OF
great public danger. Grave doubts are
also entertained of it's constitutionality !;
the forces raised under it being to all in
tents and purposes militia, the control OF
which cannot be legally taken from the
Executive of the State government-at
least SO far as the appointment and com,
| 1nissioning OF officers is concerned. should
| you, however, in the absence of judicial
decision as to the coustitutienality of the
act, decline to take the responsibility OF re-
fusing assent to it, there will be an indls-
pensa5le necessity OF your constituting
some militia for the preservation OF law
/ and order in the State--by extending the
/ age of service in the militia, and BY some
new organization of the remnants of the
militia aud Home Guard organizations ;
otherwise l shall have on my hands the
officers of two distinct organizations, pow
erless tor the want of men. ln this con-
nection ], would mention that the same act
OF Congress has again conferred upon me,
/ without reference to. the Legislature, the
power to, claim the exemption OF such
State officers as I may deem necessary for
the due administl alton Of the laws. :. Not
| wishing to take 80 important a response
bility .apon my, shoulders without consult
| ing representatives Of the people, | have
so far claimed the exemption Of all civil
and military officers of the State together
with the indispensable employees OF the
different departments Of the State govern
ment, as enumerated by your body at ita
| late extra session. And I now respectful
| lJ ask that you indicate to me by resolu-
ton, what you regard as proper subjects
| for exemption. 4. ~5+F..E.....-, g.e
have taken the ground that exenp-
| ticn IF State officers from conscription IN
| to the Confederate service, is not by favor
of Congress, but is a matter Of right inhe-
/ rent in sovereign State, and that for the
same reason tile State has an indispensa-
BILE right to the service Of laborers and 9th.
! er persons who are necessarily in her ern-
| n1nvl fhourhs tfIev he not f,1cceyS within