The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-02-02


on the 18th inst, and according to the Constitution
the new Congress would not meet until December
next but the special law just adopted requires it to
assemble in May. We hope the new Congress will
transact business more promptly than the old one
has done. -
On Thursday last, Mr. Hilton. from the Judiciary
committee, reported bill to amend the Act putting
principals of substitutes in the army. The amend
ment provides that farmers and planters who have
substitutes in the army and who have been engaged
for the past in raising grain and provisions by
their manual labor, shall be exempt on the con-
dtons 1st, that they devote their labor exclusively
to the production of food; Cd, that they shall pay
the Government additional tenth of bacon or
pork 3d. if required they shall sell all their surplus
provisions now on hand, or hereafter made, to SOL
ders families at not more than government prices ;;
and 4th. the benefits of this amendment shall not
apply to persons plantations where there is any
male adult not liable to CONSUMPTION.
On Friday, bill was introduced in the House to
pay non-commissioned officers and privates 100 per
cent more than pre- sent rates. The Senate has
passed bill in favor of exchanging free negroes,
such as are citizens of the Northern States, and
who have been captured by our troops. The Sen
ate has passed military bill, but the House has
not yet taken action it there is no telling what
will be its shape. The synopsis sent by telegraph
is evidently incorrect in several particulars.
In the House, on the Odd, Mr. Conrad of La, Of
fered resolution nstructing the committee on the
Quartermaster and Coufmissary departments to in
quire into and report the facts connected with
certain contract made by Maj. A. B. Magruder with
parties at Linccnton, N c., to supply beef to the
forces stationed at Wilmington, and ascertain why
said contract dsapproved by the Commissary
General.
On the 25th. the committee appointed to investi-
gate the charge. made by the Richmond Examiner
that members of Congress had been bribed to pro-
cure passports for persons to leave the country,
ported that thereewas not the least evidence to
tain such a charge.
1--WE begin to indulge the hope that the present
Congress may act with more prudence than
pected some weeks ce."-Raleigh Standard.
Then why continue to arouse the fears of the
people and excite them against the Government, or
Congress and the Administration Why hunt up
trouble! Sufficient unto the day is the, evil there
Of A ''public meeting was recently held in
Johnston county, in accordance with the advice of
the Standard, and the basis of the resolutions of
complaint against the Government: was grounded in
what the movers supposed would be action of Con-
gress. Similar meetings have been called to re-
spond to the Johnston county meeting. Now,
where is the necessity for these meetings, and why
should they be held. when it is evident that their
only tendency is to stir up strife among those who
should be friends? We friend to peace-we
want peace between the Confederate and the United
States, peace which will secure our independence
and prosperity as people-we want peace among
the people of North Carolina, and no discord and
contention-we want to encourage THAT noble emu
lation of who can best work and best agree while
our land is being invaded and assaed by malig-
nant and inhuman foe-we are opposed to exciting
the feelings of the people against the Government
or any portion of our citizens-therefore we disap-
prove of the recommendation of the Standard to
hold meetings and call State Convention.
We dsapprove of holding such meetings as re-
commended by the Standard because we honestly
believe they will produce bad feeling in the differ
ent neighborhoods and counties and build up con-
tending parties at time when all should be united
and CO operating together for the common good.
We are opposed to calling State Convention be-
cause a Convention can do nothing at all towards
securing peace. We are in favor of negotiating
for peace. and Government is ready and anxious
to commence negotiations the enemy will
assent to hear propositions; but State Convention
cannot commence negotiations hold any cores
pondence with Lincon's Governmental would be
treason to attempt such tting-North Carolina
adopted the Confederate Constitution and agreed
to abide by its provisions that Constitution places
the matter Of making treaties of peace entirely in
the hands of our National authorities. A State Con-
vention might pass an Ordinance of secession from
the Confederacy, it might nulify, attempt to
nufy some of the acts of Congress; but that would
not give US peace-it would involve US deeper in
trouble and war-it would bring the contendng
armies into our State, and then our fields and
comfortable homes would be laid in wa ste like those
of northern Virginia. Is any man foolish enough
to believe that the people of North Carolina oc-
cupy neutral position in this contest 1t seems
impossible that any one of the least intelligence
can entertain such an absurd idea. Each man is
bound take sides either for the Confederate
or for the Lincoln invaders he that is for us is
against US. As Convention do good, but
State extraordinary expense, hope all good
men will discourage the movement.
We have always INDUCED the hope that Congress
would act with prudence" and we can see neither
reason propriety in raising great hue and cry
against the Government because some proposes
an unnecessary or imprudent measure. All the
talk about our being placed under military
despotism" is the worst sort of humbuggery. and.
we fear is indulged in from bad motives. The only
despotism we have to fear is that of Lincoln
We are glad to that the Standard INDUCES q
'hope' in regard to Congress, and if it will now
oI.1Il L