Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-03-08
RENARKS.
Sl.993

1t is conjectured that nearly an equal number
have gone into the service, and been placed rolls
who are not recorded in theGamps of instruction.
Z be returns are accurate in the four States of Vr
ginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
In the month of June, 1868, the matter of con.
scrpton in the States of Florida, Alabama, Missis.
sppi and Tennessee, was taken from the control of
this bureau ard placed in the hands of Brig. Gen.
Pillow, who continued to administer it until Janu-
arv, 1864. This bureau has never been able to
obtain any record or report of the operation of con
scrptionn those States during that period Of seven
months l.: is believed none exist Much of the
year 1864 was exhausted in the endeavor to get rid
Of the system of General Pillow and establish
more uniform and efficient service. 1t is believed
the returns, since March, 1864, from those States
are nearly correct.
In the States of Florida, Alabama, Tennessee.
and Mississippi there has been failure" to exc
cute the law of CONSUMPTION for the reasons stated
above In the other States it has been executed
with as much uniformity and vigor, as the agencies
assigned to the duty and the circumstances OF the
country would allow.
Where there have appeared diversties, they have
resulted from the difference in the efficiency of off
GERS the opposition of State authorities, the resis
lance of communities, and the exercise Of the dis
erection vested in. the Executive. In many cases
localities bordering the lines of the enemy, have
required different proceedings from those applca-
BILE to the interior. In some of these, great lenen
cy was necessary, in some, such rigor as induced
the Executive to charge military commanders with
the service In some sections the condition of the
populations demanded leniency, others admitted the
utmost rigor Since January, 1864, in all the
States east of the Mississippi the same general sys
ten has prevailed.
Instructions to local officers have been uniform
with the special variations Indicated The differ
ence in the returns of four Eastern States IS fully
accounted for, thus: Ir Virginia and South Caro-
lima there has never been exhibited the slightest
opposition 10 the consumption law and after its pas
sage large numbers of men passed into the service
without being compelled to 60 through b. the camps,
thus evadng the law on one point to obey it in
another way. In North Carolina and Georgia,
there was popular and constituted resistance. The
consequence was that while in Virginia there were
but IA 900 conscripts there supposed-to be 49,,
900 quasi volunteers While in North: Carolina,
there are 81 500 conscrpts and perhaps less than
5000 quasi volunteers. In Georgia the case is diff
ferent, and presents this aspect: That SO violent
was the prejudice against CONSUMPTION. that only
about 900 have been returned, and yet, the peo-
| pie choosing their own mode Of going Tito service,
have sent it is supposed about g. 900 quasi volun.
| teers The constant and persistent effort of this
bureau has been TO preserve uniformity, and palll-
ate all inevitable disturbances in the administration
| of the law.
l remain most respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
| JNO. A. PRESTON,
Brig Gen. & Supt.