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

" take III payment properly taken lIOm
them by its impressmeut officers
We must abandon the policy of supporting the
armies by impreSsments fOrcibe seizure of proper
ty, and must adopt the policy of purchasing what
we need except In extreme which justify i'm
pressment, and then must pay the constitution
requires, just compensation for the properly taken
This equalizss the burdens by dividing the whole
among the entire number of tax payers, in proper
ton to the amount Of property owned by each.
representatives without constituency must no
longer DC allowed; nor must laws be dictated to
by the votes Of representatives, without accountable
ty to those who share in the burdens imposed ty the
legislation enacted by them,
Secret sessions of Congress- except in cases where
legislation efccting the movements of our armies are
pending, must be abandoned and the people must
know, as they have right to know, how their rep
resentaves act and vote upon all affecting
their vital interest, their rights and their honor.
Discipline must he restored and enforced in our
armies. One Of the reasons given by its advocates
for the enactment Of the coDscript law that bet
ter discipline would he maintained by giving the ap-
pOlntment of the officers t. the President. Results
have shown the reverse to be true. Prior to the
adoption Of that plan, the officers selected by the
troops themselves aud appointed by the States, kept
the men in the Held, and triun. phed gloriousy in
almost every engagement with The euemv Since
i1-i'.. oii'ceLs appo tel u; the President has
neither maintained discipline Kept tins men III
the field. IL the Presidents statement IS reaBle,
they have only one-thrd Of them there And fear
the discipline of that third is loose compared with
that exhibited by the Federal army, in its march
through this State.
Tn" President having failed 10 his military ad-
mustratiOn and brought the country to the verge OF
ruin ty his military policy, should be relieved of that
part of his duties, by all amendments of the Consti-
tuition to provide for the appoint nent of Com
mander-in-C Chief to the armies Of the Coultderacy
ty the President, by and with the consent of two
thirds of the Srnate, wh) shall be entirely free from
the control of the President and removable only by
the same power By which he was appointed. This
would place the best military talent in the country
10 command of our armies, not in only, but iu
iact and would save us in future from the heavy
amicS which have befallen US 10y the capricious
mGVal OF great commander, at a most critical juno
ture of an ably conducted defensive campaign
Tie late act Of Congress did not and could not
take from the President his constitutional power
Commander in Cchicf. 1t provides for the appoint
ment # aGeRerdl-in-Chief Robert E. Lee as Gen
erat-nChef is subject TO the orders of the Pras-
dent rs he before the act of Congress- and his
appointment under it, ard the President may at any
moment Illustrate his plans by orders which he is
obliged to obey. Congress cannot dvest the Presi-
dent Of this power all the Generals in Confeder-
ate SERVICE including the General-in-C Chief This
power is conferred by the institution and can only
| be taken away y an amendment of thatinstrument
| Those changes may be made without the evils of
revolution within revolution. The constitution pro-
vides for its own amendment. The remedy is peace
ful. 1t declares that upon the demand Of any three
States legally assembled in their several conventions,
| the Congress shall summon convention of all the
| States to take into consideration such amendments
to the constitution the said States shall in
suggesting, at the time when the demand is made.
1t is perfectly legitimate and proper for three States
| to demand such convention, whenever in the opin-
ion of their people the public good or the common
| SAT- In fba mfr IF
the cuutry requires that such convention meet with
as little delay as possible, to propose such amend
| mems to the constitution will reform abuses by
settling disputed points, agd effect a speedy and
thorough change of policy IN conducting the war
and filling up and sustaining our armies. I am not
afraid to trust the people in convention. therefore
recommend the calling Of q convention of the people
of this State for the purpose of proposing such
amendments to the constitution will relieve the
President Of his responsibility COmmander-in-C Chief
Of the armies and will provide for the appointment
of Commander-n-Chefint time Of war, and to pro-
pose such other amendments and do such other acts
will correct the abuses and afford remedies for the
| grievances herein before stated.
| also recommend that this General Assembly ap
point commissioners to each other States of the Con-
federacy requesting them to assemble in Convention
at an early day to demand OF Congress the call of a
convention Of all the States, for the purposes above
| specified
.
ment indispensable to the achievement Of our inde-
pendenCe, and the maintenance of the great princi-
PICS of State sovereignty and constitutional liberty
which undere the foundations of our ederative ST
| tenn of gOvernmeut-glve being to otr present con-
federation of States-aGd are absolutely necessary
to the future prosperity and happiness of our people
BY the construction placed UPON the constitution as
it now stands, by those who almiuster the COnfed
crate government, these great principles have been
dSrega. ded, and the sovereignty of the States auC
rights of the people lost sight of u the struggle fol-
independence.
The achievement Of orr independence seems to be
the great and only good aimed at by those who welC
the power at Richmond. We have been told from
the halls Of Congress that courts must be closed, and
State lines oblitcrated, is necessary to accomplish
this oil Ct ll,lecd, pers in authority seem
TO have forgotten that we are fighting for anything
but independence. 1t 81 the whole struggle is il
vain, for we had that in the old government, which
our government, consecrated by the blood of ou
ancestors and transmitted from sire TO We
independent of all other powers. But the people o.
the Northern States got control of that g'Torhment
and 50 administered 1t as t. imperil not inde'
pendcnce but riJh:s We then separated from
them aud are fighting for our rights and liber
ties and a Of maintaining aud securing
those rights and Derties we declared ihdepend-
enCe. Independence with these is worth all tn
sacrifice which we have made or can make. Gu
rights and liberties nes secondary to our indie
pendeuce, but independence is ouly necessary
protect rights and our liberties. Russia, is in
dependent Of all the world, so is Turkey, while tn
government Of each is deSpotisrn aud the peopl
heve only the rights and liberties which the soVGr-
eigu chooses to permit them to exercise. If this i
the sort of independence for which fghtDI
great sacrifices have been made to but little pur
pose. The recognition by foreign powers of the in
dependence Of our rulers and Of their right to nver
us, without the recognition Of our rights and liber
ties by our rulers is not worth the hood Of the hum
blest citizen. We must gain more than this in th
struggle we have made a most unfortunate ex
change. The further pursuit of our present polio
not only eudangers rights and our liberties bu
independence ais, by destroying the institution
and breaking the spirits Of our beople. Let US be
how we trile with the rights the liberties, an
the happiness Of millions.
am aware that the freedom and plai1ness, whc
sense Of duty to my country has compelled me
exercise in discussing the measures Of the admin;
tratou and the policy OF the government, may sub
ject my motive to miSconStructioh leel the prou
constiousn IS, however, shat have been actuate
only by desire to promote the cause so dear to eI
cry patriots heart, and thereby secure the ndeper
i - kho fV,l