The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-11-29
w EsrERN DEMOCRAT, CHARIO1rT M Q.

Though fully aware of the importance of their yo-
cation, have not felt at liberty to excuse them
under existing laws The Common Schools should
surely be kept going at every cost, and 1t sufficient
inducements cannot be offered to disabled soldiers
and educated women to take hold Of them, the ne
cessary males should be exempted. Surely, though,
it convinced of the great necessity, our patriotic
countrywomen would assist, in the absence OF these
male instructors, in preparing the minds % the
rising generation to appreciate the Government
which this one is bleeding to establish. When we
see so little doing to educate the youth sue
ceed us, and behold abroad the vicious and demon
alizibg influences everywhere blighting the land,
it is enough to fill one with shuddering for the
future. Truly the mental burrows are gaping for
the seed, and if she good be not put in, the crop
of evil will be spontaneous aud fearful 1t is with
pride that | observe the publication n our State
Of various new school books, creditabe alike to the
authors and to the public which has demanded
them. Our great system of Common Schools is,
after all, our only true and solid foundation for
public education, and demands your constant aud
fostering care.
The execution of the laws becomes more and
more difficult owing not so much to the increase
of crime, in my opinion to the want of bodness
in the civil magistrates. Many complaints con-
tinue to reach me from all parts of the State Of
depredations and outrages Of struggling soldiers,
illegal impressmeuts of property by Confederate
Agents and many high handed violations OF civil
rights by military commanders. Most of the suf
erers appeal to me for redress which | am often
unable to afford them. They forget that the law
still exists and that it is their right and duty to
apply it, whenever aud by whomsoevsr aggrieved,
in the ancient way. The General in command and
the private soldier alike may be and should be ar
rested for any offence against the rights liber-
ties of the citizen, and if resistance is made, the
whole military force of the State would be brought
to bear, to enforce submission One wrong re-
dressed by the lar would be worth twenty redress
ed by Executive appeal to the superior officer of
the offender.
In this connection call your attention to the
insuficiency Of the pay of our JUICES. Their ex-
penses should be borne whilst ccut without lim-
taon of the amount, at least. regard their situation
in this respect than any other pu bile servants,
and earnestly invite you to the remedy.
The war still drags its slow length along General |
Lee has been materially reinforced and all fears of the
early capture of Petersburg and Richmond dssi-
patcd. Our people and armies with wonderful elaS
ITCHY of spirit have recovered from the effects of
revcrscs in the Valley of Virginia nd in the South
west The campaign of 1864, the bloodiest by far of
yet fought the Continent bids fair to close with
ii particle of vantage TO our elemies If not with
positive advantage to our arms
Nobody has yet starved, and with sufficient care
nobody will, during the coming season. But the end
of this war and the return of peace seems still hid
from human vision. When it shall come, how it shall
be raised and with what body il slall come. ques
tOns it is not in my power TO answer. The gmncr-
ing prospects we thought in the spring and
early summer seem TO have vanished.
1t is a matter of sincere cOngratulation, however
that the good sense and Conservatism of our people
have rescued our State from the rum of attempting to
seek for it by separate action. Their unparalleled
nimity at the polls has put to rest all our appre-
tensions that score, and satisfied enemies and
friends that North Carolina Will share the fate for
veal of her confederate, nobcr moral
spectacle has seldom been exhibited than that of our |
army and people in ratiing anew the plighted honor
of their convention, after almost four years of such
suffering and bloodhed rarely happens to the lot Of
nations Suffering men and women and children at
home and wcared and blood-saiued soldiers their
knees in The trenches Petersburg with the enemys
shot crashing through their ranks they their
ballots Wed with each other in the noble task of up
holding the honor Of their State and the independence
of their country. If have ever maintained constant
and abiding faith in our ultimate triumph owe that
faith than skilful generals, and gallant
armies, shi of fortified cities to that and
unseish patriotism which CLOVIS in the bosom of our
people. In spite of all of the failtes of human
nature, the greed of gain, exoriion and rapacty self
ishness grinding of the poor indifference 20 the agones
of country and all the ways of the heartess and
the prophecies of the unpatriotic have yet in
years of close intercourse with the people of
my native State found a pure and undyng flame
of that bright and glorious love of country which can
make the poorest widow or the hnmbest boy kins-
of the Angels And have said it cannot be that
cd will reject all this sacrifice and count nought
all this patience and long suffering because of the
wickedness of that the little rills of patriotic
love- trickling from the mountain gorge, flowing on
ward through the plain and receiving its tributaries of
blood in every valley, must yet reach the sea, in
strength and volume mighty enough to bear in triumph
he ark of Southern freedom which arc struggling
TO launch upon its bosom. Let continue TO sustain
government in all rghtnl and necessary powers,
and give that wonderful and victorious army every
Dos sble physical and moral support; let u.s. while
ching anxously every visible and reasonable
Of peace, esohew every plausible bypath whose nile
ma rks point to ruin and dshonor; let us accept the
simple faith of the patriot in the Justice of
hch leadeth salvation aud avoid the learned skcp
ciSm of the doubter which takcth hold hell, and
he result will yet be all that the friends of good gov
eminent and human freedom could desire. nation
purified by strengthened by suffering and wise
the bloody lessons of civil war, shall yet, hum
ply trust in God, establish and Perpetuae for their
more fortunate children, government rich in all the
traditions of liberty and civilization.
ZEBULoN B. VANCE. I