Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1864-12-01
number OF. the. Home Guard IN certain in-
terror counties holding Both civil and inili-
tary Offices, actuated either by treason or

Edeserted and fed stothe benemv.9 l earn
estly recommend that you. take such steps
for the punishment OF such crime BY
confscation ior otherwise. as may deter
others from such eowardIy and degrading
treason There should BE no more trsf-
! ing in this matter Those who seek the
I aid of our enemies should share the fate of
enemies. The blood OF oar dead heroes,
as we'll as the living who carry their lives
| in their hands every day, demands that
the punishment awarded by all ciyil lized
communities to treason should be meted
out to traitors If there is to be no pun
| ishnient for this kind of treason, loyal men
are entitled to know it. Whenever we
quietly suffer treason to attain 3 greater
immunity from dangers and hardshlps
/ than patriotism, We may expect the cause
to perish. 9,>
can see great propriety in the reten-
tion by the State OF a small military force
in time of war, and very little in transfer
/ ring absolutely all her physical power to
other hands. The time has already come
when, to say the least Of it, the assertion,
ct right as pertaining TO a sovereign State
! is worth much more if backed By some.
show of physical power TO enforce it,
Neither can regard it as III any wise
anomalous that the State should employ
militia N trying to arrest, the numerous.
bands Of deserters WHO infest the country,
robb;ng, and numbering the citizens, and
in some instances compelling a strong
| orce to be under arms TO protect the sit
lctings of the court. The anomaly if there
be in he case, might certainly be found
/ in the Government permitting these out
laws to set the civil authorities at def
4 I.I
10y citizens flee for life, and not under
taking to prevent7it, because. such preyen-
ton would increase the State taxes AS
a matter of course it is expected that the
| Confederate government will ultimately,
assume all military outlays necessarily in
CURED by the States for that, defence of
! But eve1lif 1t should not, [ submit we
must be protected nevertheless and the
| objection thati i'll protecting ourselves We
are also assisting to execute a law Of Con-
! gress, will hardly hold good, /! Doubtless
| It would be good thing, il people coufa
carry on a war and preserve interpal quiet
without any expenditure OF money at afl
! / say douGtless, because 20 my knowledge
! itshas never been tried But having be,
fore our eyes the very strongest evidence
lot the constant necessity of these troops. I
can see no way bnt to, incur tie debt and
do our utmostto protect the country and
execute the laws.uS sd r. s~,@,'.o .o' " %
Probably an arrangement might be
made with the Confederate government to
assume the payment of State forces now,
/ especially of our regulars and the, Home
!. Guard Oh duty at the front, as both are
under Confed crate officers and doing the
tserYices Of Confederate troops. .al CIV -.
- l however, concur in the Treasurer's S
recommendation, that TIE taxes will nave
TO be considerably increased for the next
fscalIyear. In addition to the Slight in
crease IN the military. appropriations aud
! some small sums hereafter. mentioned for
the securing of a proper r1sappiy Of salt,,a I
hope It will be necessary, to enlarge the
existing appropriations only in regard TO
the families Of our indigent soldiers. 1T is.
1 admitted to be our imperative duty to pro-
vide Tor these persons, and the systelnnow
pursued by the counties providing each
!. for. its own soldiers families, I conceive to
be unjust 70 Themselves A poortcounty,
possessing few Slaves, bnt a. large white
population, would be taxed With The Sup
/ port OF three OF, four times the number of
/ persons that a. wealthy county, with 4
|fsinall white population, and double the
liability to pay. swosldnhaye to. care for I
regard the snpport of these. families as
| much aspnbhc tax as that Of 1the soldier
himself, and that theitruee principleais to
levy it Upon the State at large. = sIt-is sufi
I r{1T.Y 49, a. ~ 4