The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-02-26

81. =
VTTHEREAS, I HAVE LEARAED WITH
w great pain that there have been iafsly mn
merous desertions from the ranks of our gallRnt
army, and that there arc many persons In the
country who iEcitc and encourage these deser-
lions and harbor and conceal these misguided
men at home, instead OF encouraging them to
Now therefore, IzEBULoN B. VANCE, Gov.
ern0r Of the State OF North Carolina, do issue
this my proclamation, commanding all such evil
disposed persons to desist from such base, COW.
ardly and reasonable conduct, and warning them
that they will subject themselves to Indictment
and punishment in the civil courts of the Con-
federacy, as well as to the everlasting contempt
and detestation of all good and honorable men.
Certainly no crime could be greater. no cow.
ardice more abject, no treason more base, than
for citizen OF the State enjoying Its privileges
and protection without sharing its dangers, to,
persuade those who have had the courage to go
forth in defence oil their country, vilely to desert
the colors which they have sworn to uphold,
when miserable death or vile and ignomini.
Gus existence must be the inevitable consequen.
ccs. Noplea can excuse it. The father or the
brother who does it should be shot instead OF his
deludcd victim, for he deliberately destroys the
soul and manhood of his own frsh and blood.
And the same is done BY him who harbors and
conceals the deserter. For who can respect
will ever wish or permit his own brave sons or
patriotic daughters, who bore thrir parts with
credit in this great struggle for independence, to
associate even to the third and fouth generations
with the vile wretch who skulked in The woods,
or the still viler coward who aided him, while his
bleeding country was calling in vain for his help
Both are rnemics-dangerous EN- mics to their
country, before whom our open foes will be In
fnitcly preferred. Both are foes to their own
kindred and noble countrymcn who are electri-
! ing ont their blood uKsa9tae field Of battle TO
protect those very men who are sapping the vi.
tails of our strength. And woe unto you deser-
tiers, and your aiders and abettors, when peace
being made and independence secured, these
brave comrades whom We have deserted In the
hour of their trial shall return honored and tri-
umphant to their homes Ye that hide your
guilty faces by day, and prowl like outlaws about
| by night robbing the wives and mothers of your
noble defenders Of their little MEANS while they
are far away facing the enemy, do you think &c
can escape Just and damning vengeance when
the day OF reckoning comes? And ye that shelter,
| conceal, and feed these miserable depredators
and stimulate them to their deeds, think 700
| that ye Will be spareds Nay rest assured, OBJ
serving and never failing eyes have marked you,
every one. And when the OverjOyed wife wei
| comes once more her brave and honored hus-
| band to his home, and tells him how in the long
years OF hs absence, 10 tn. lonely hours of the
| night, ye who had been bis comrades rudely en-
tered her house. robbed her and her children oil
their bread, and heaped insults and indignitiea
| upon uSISuCciSes uchu, ine WTdtn OF that ne.
| roc husband will make you regret in the bitter.
| ness OF your cowsrdy terror that you were ever
| born. Instead of few scattered militia, the
land will be full Of veteran soldiers before whose
| honest faces you will not have courage to raise
| your eyes from the earth. Ifpermitted live II
the State at all You will be Infamous. You will
be hustled from the polls insulted in the streets,
| jury ofyour countrymen will not believe You
| on oath, and honest men everywhere will shun
! You as pestilence; for he who lacks courage
| and patriotism can have no other good quality
! or redeeming vir NE. Though many OF you re-.
| jected the pardon heretofore offered you, and |
am now not authorized to promise it, yet am
| assured that no man will be shot who shall vol
UNFAIRLY return to duty. This Is the only chance
to redeem yourselves from the disgrace aud ig.
| nominy which you are mourning
Again our troops have met the enemy and q
great and glorious victory has been won. But sew.
eral thousand of our soldiers fell in achieving il
| for us. Every man is needed to replace the gal.
liant dead, and preserve an unbroken front to oul
| still powerful enemy. Unless desertion is pre-.
| vented our strength must depart from our ar.
| mics, and desertiOn eau never be stopped while
| either through false and mistaken sympathy OF
| downright diSloyalty, they receive any countc-
nance or protection at home. therefore appeal
to all good citizens and true patriots in the State
| to assist my officers in arresting deserters, and
| tOfrOwn down all those who aid and assist them.
| Place the brand upon them and make them feel
|
Unless the good and patriotic all over the land
arise as one man to arrest this dangerous evil il
may grow until our army Is well nigh ruined
| The danger OF starvation having happily passed
away-the approaching and apparently b0unte-
Gus harvest giving evidence OF ample supplies fol
the coming ycar-our great army in Virgins
| again jubilant over mighty yictory-I am well
assured that our danger now lies n the disorgan
izatiOn produced by desertion. You can arrest
it, my c0nntrymen, if you will but make Wig
orous eff 'rt, if you will but bring to bear the
weight of great, patriotic and united commu
nifty in aid of YOUR authorities.
| 49, In witness whereof. ZEBULoN p. VANCE
| L. 8. fGOvernor, Captain General and Com
| ~ mander-in Chief, hath signed these pres
ents and caused the great seal of the State to b.
| affixed.
| Done at the City of Ralesgh, this 18th day o
May, A. D., 1868. z. B. VANCE.
| By the Governor:
Z. II. BATTLE, DR.,
| Private Secretary.