Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-01-05
MIR, Gather on Exemptions.

In the House of Representatives, on the 9Oth De-
ember, Mr. Gather offered the following resolu-
ions:
Resolued, That the Committee on Military Affairs
be instructed to enquire into the expediency of pro-
riding by law that all persons connected with the
railroads and express companies, assistant quarter
masters and commissaries, agents and employees of
every description, justices of the peace and militia
pficers within the ages of CONSUMPTION, be immedi-
ltely enrolled in the army; and that said Commit
tee enquire into the propriety Of declaring that it
shall not be lawful to detail from the military service
ny person to work in any woolen cotton factory,
forge, furnace, foundry, or for any other company
or individual enterprise whatever, except the army
in the field,
Mr.. Gather addressed the House warmly on the
subject saying that the number of exemptions and
details was disgrace to the various States In his
own State there were nineteen hundred details for
which slave labor might be as well employed. The
resolution was passed
The Richmond Examiner makes the following re-
marks in relation to Mr.. Gathers proposition:
How TO END THE WAR IN THIRTY DAYs.-From
the character of of the propositions now made
IN Congress- one is at loss to decide whether mad
ness has indeed, seized upon their proposers, or
whether, deSparipg of the success of our cause they
are seeking the speedy termination of the war by the
ii1OuuC'lOH VI measures WHICH Will ensure the trl
umph OF the enemy by rendering US incapable of
further defence. One of these resolutions, if car
red out, would answer the end of bringing the war
to close in thirty days, by ensurng the disband-
ment or starvation of our armies eonsunlmation
we presume, not aimed at by its projector-We
allude to the resolution of the Hon. Mr. Gather of
North Carolina, which we copy from the report of
the proceedings of the House of Representatives on
Wednesday last
The Immediate effect of the passage of a law with
these provisions would be to stop every railroad in
the Confederate States and our armies would not
only De obliged to fall back from their present DO
SiAons but in fact to dsaand. Nothing but dis
persion over the country would save them from
starvation. Without the railroads, worked to their
utmost capacity, there are no points at which the
army could be fed. 1t were useless for them to
tal 0ack upon the cities, the people of which would
oe ooged to scatter over the country to obtain the
heceSSsares OF life. Stop the railroads for ten DAYS
anu she war is over; General Lee abandons the
.SaPiu Hi ann General Johnston flies from Rnggold,
ana charleston is deserted.
ins' conScrlolng the employees will Immediately
oop Tue railroads dead certainty. The railroad
onPahes T are now working their roads under great
advantages, arising from want of skilled labor:
Suu government still further reduces that labor.
~ ~ must 'aHe possession of the roads This change
" nanus would operate an instant stoppage: and a
io"g'h OF time, sufficient to be fatal to our cause
H ~ tiie manner we have indicated, must elapse be-
O'e tney could be got into running order again. It
. astonishing that members of Congress- cannot
Ma .saIze, as everybody else of common sense does
t railroads are essential to our successful nr,e
'' VI the war as cannon, or gunpowder itself"