Year: 1864

Will State Officers be Conscripted7


We think we can say to magistrates, officers of
the militia and home guards, and others now ex-
empted as State officers from conscription, that the
ensuing Legislature will direct the Governor still to
retain them, spd not allow them to be conscripted
This is our opinion formed after some observation
and reflection. We may be mistaken, but we do
not think we are.


Why do we say this, This State has already
sent one hundred spd eighteen thousand men to the
field. Her detailed men are now being ordered into
the ranks-the light duty men and the permanent
ly disabled are again to be "sfted like wheat" to
see if some Of them may not be fit for active Ser
vee-the junior reserves have volunteered to 60 to
the defence of Richmond-the senior reserves are
liable to be called out at any moment and kept
out-the home guard, including magistrates and
other exempts, are already in service; in a word,
the whole male population of the State from II to
30, with = small exception, is now under arms or
soon to be under arms to meet the enemy. During
the last week or two not less than five hundred
mills have been closed-not less than five hundred
tanneries have been left the leather in many in
stances to be lost-not less than five hundred work.
shops abaDdoned-not less than two thousand farms
given up, crop gathered and no crop to be put
in for next year. The members of the Legislature
will assemble deeply impressed with this condition
of things. If they shall sympatize, as they must
necessarily do with the people, and if they shall
have any reference whatever in their legislation to
the future of the State they cannot it seems to u.s.
consent that the last scanty remnant of fighting
cbon ho od nd faSyo
cially when it is remembered that these men are
officers, part of the State government and the
only reliance for enforcing the laws and maintaining
order in the various Counties


We have not changed our mind in relation to the
proposition to conscript State officers We were
the first in this State to second the action of Gov
Brown, by which these officers were retained. 1t
20 as others, and that they have had comparative
" pleasant time at home, while others have been
required to endure the privations Of the camp and
the dangers Of battle. This is all true en- ough But
thees men, or a large proportion Of them, happen
to be officers whose presence and services are need
cd at home,-ths is their good luck; and besides,
they are all now left to W, and many of them are
larnerS whose laOOrS On tnelr larInS Will oe lnQS.
pensable to save our population not merely from
suffering but from actual starvation Some of these
State officers, we admit deserve to be sent to the
front ard compelled to fight in a war which they
we're instrumental in bringing on; but the proper
and natural feeling which suggests this cannot be
grati6ed, and strict justice done, without sending
all-and to send all, as we have shown, would be
injurious and dangerous to the last degree.


These are our opinions, aud we are glad to oh.
serve that the press of the State is coming over to
on this subject it will be obliged to do, sooner
or later, on the subject of peace. We do not wait
beat about to what is popular, but our chief
inquiry in relation to public question always is,
Isit right! We do not desire popularity based on
the advocacy Of erroneous principles, supported
by appeals to the prejudices of any portion of the
people. We would be gratifed to have at all times,
as public man, the approval and the good wishes


Of our fellow citizens generally but after ALL We


would rather be right than to be popular without


regard to right principles.