Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-03-07


ted he felt that it was the Governments war, and
that he no longer freeman, but the slave of alb
solnte power. This was not the freedom be set out
to fight for and thousands Of men rather than sub
init to it and remain in service feeling that they wore
the collar OF power upon their nccks, have left the
army without leave. Hence the Presidents COM
paint the of which has been the necessary re-
suit OF bis own policy He has mistaken the genius
and spirit OF our people, and the material of which
his armirs are composed. The high toned spirited
Southern man will revolt when you attempt to re-
duce him to an automaton of power
lrlor to the passage of this fatal act men. taxed
their ingenuity to devise plans to induce the President
TO receive them into service. So sDOn, however, as
the act was passed, which denied them the right in
future to form their organizations, and service as
willing freemen, with their neghbors and friends,
and gave the President the power seize them and
appoint their officers, the whole feeling changed
and men have resorted TO every imaginable shift to
keep out Of the service.
The excuse that CONSUMPTION was necessary to keep
the twelve months men IN service, or to ill their
place cannot avail.
The President knew months before when the term
of these men would expire, AID made M effort TO
organize troops to take their places ill was in
troduced into the Provisional Congress Nv distn-
- 81 Z G2orgi ~ but short time before . exnra-
ton in February 1862, authorizing rcside;t
call forth the militia any extent necessary by re-
QUESTION upon the States, and to call for them for
three years at his discretion. This would have left
the appointment of the officers with the States where
the Constitution leaves it. The Influence of the
President actively used to defeat this bill, on the
ground that he did not need the law he had more
troops rendered than he could accept aud arm.
Early in April following he called fer the coIscrbt
act on the ground Of necessity to fiji up the amy,
and the bill passed giving him the patronage
and power above mentioned. If Col inscription had
beer necessary to keep the twelve months men in
service till their places could be filled, that afforded
reason why the act should have embraced the
whole population Of the Conleleracy within military
age. a special act applicable only to the twelve
months MN for short period. till tr'"ips could
have been furnished 10y the Stat to take III If Places
would lave met that necessity. This, however,
would ucL have given TIE President the appointment
Of the officers for all the troops to he urgluized.-
His neglect to call upCn the States for troops to fill
the places f the twelve months men was made the
OCCASION for vcstrg immense power and patronage in
him and fastening cons. riFti with all lis evils upon
the country.
The President has been as unfortunate in his gen.
erashp, planning military campaigns as he has in
his policy Of recruiting bis armies. All remember
his first appearance the field as Cnmmander-n
Chief at The close Of the battle Of 1st Manassas when
Gf reports are reliably he prevented our Generals
from taking advantage of the complete demoraiza-
lion of the Federal army to march upon Washington
City, when it must have fallen into cur hands with
little resistance. He visited the army in Middle
Tennessee aud divided it, sending part Of it to Mis-
sssippi, TOO late to accomplish any good suit there,
and left General Bragg weak that he forced
to evacuate Tennessee. which, together with Vlcks-
burg, fell iuto the hands Of the enemy. He again
appeared upon tie field at Missionary Ridge and d.
videi the army when SUI erinr force was being
masse'l in It's front. General LOrg-reels corps
sent into East Tennessee. General Grant waited till
be was out Of reach, when he fell upon the remnant
Of Bragg's army and drove it back into Georgia,
opening the way for the advance into this State, aud
then sent truors and drove Lnrgstr,et out Of East
Tennessee, aud made himself master Oi that nvalua-
SlS stronghold of the ClnfeGeracy,S
The Presidents last appearance upon the field vas
with General Hoods army in Ills State, which was
followed by the movement of that army ito Ten
nessee. The country knows the result. Hood has
been driven cut of Tennessee with great calamity
and Georgia which was left completely uncovered
has been destroyed by Sherman at his leisure.
Instead of rapid concentration If NssIypieS at Vi
tai points TO strike the enemy stunning blows, our
policy has been TO divide and scatter forces in the
face of superior numbers. aud receive blows which
have well nigh cost our existence a Conlederacy.
Our people have endured this mis- ue With remark
able furDearance ard patIiotisn. But the time has
come when we must deal with stern realities, aud to
lock facts full in the face. We longer profit
10y huggng deuson TO our bosoms. Our Govern
meIt is now a military despotism whenever the pri-
viicge OF the writ Of hdJedS corpus is suspended
obICt to which the Presidents earnest efforts con-
stauty directed. The tendency TO anarchy is rapid
and fearful.
The Lincoln dynasty informs us distinctly that re-
construction subjugatiOu are the only alternatives
to be presented to us.
The present policy if persisted in must terminate
in reconstruction either with without su jugltoI.
I accuse no supporter Of the measures Of the lmil-
isration of any such design. But entertaining the
opinions which do of its results, If l favored
construction or SuhjulatiOn 10 both Of which am
utterly opposed, | would give an earnest support to
the Presidents policy, the surest e Of dimin-
ishug our armies CxhausDg our resources breaking
the spirit Of our people, aud driving them to despair
to seek refuge from worse tyranny, by placing
themselves under the protection If Government,
which they Oathe aud detest, because it hes wrong
ed ard tyrannizd them, led their property
AMI slaughtered their sons.
These are sad truths, which it is exceedingly I'M
pleasant to announce But true craftsmanship re-
qucs that the ruler do the best that be done Tor
his people under all circumstances 10y which they are
at the time surrounded. And the statesman who
sees nothing but ruin in the pursuit Of line Of poll
cy aud does not warn hrs cOuntryman against 1t, Is
unworthy the high trust cou6ded to his care.
But you may ask, do despair Of tho Justice Of
cur cause OF ability to succeed. answer en-
phalically No. But policy has been and much
| as we have wasted Of men aud means, we still have
| enough Of both, if properly used, 10 contuu" the
! struggle til! we a.hcive our independence and re-
! establish il Es States constitutional liberty which
| has been FIR the time completely crushed.
TO enable us TO do this the conscription act mus
he repealed aud the policy abandoned, and we must
return to the clnsutloual mode Of raising troops by
the States. The States cannot do this successful
while CONSUMPTION is practiced and they thwarted il
their Efforts by conflict aud collision with Confederate
officers. In word the two systems cannot work to
/ gether.
Our armies, composed Of the militia of armsbear
ing people Of the SIaIeS, must be reorganiZah unde
officers appointed by the respective States the Con
sttution directs This would enable the States il
the reorganization to put into the ranks all Superuu
merary ufisers, including the large number IF Con
fcterate enrolling officers, who, without commands
arc now supported by the government, and to dis
pla.e such now in c1mmand Of troops tyrhn-
ui;al and inefficient, aud fill their places with thOs
who have shown themselves competent, aud whC
have the confidence of the troops to be commando
by them. The State in the reorganization Cf thcS
troops coud also put into the service the large num-
Der Of able bodied young men within their limits
who, now at home, hold appointments under tn
Confederacy which serve the purpose of protection
l l. . Al