Year: 1864

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


Why do we say this? This State has already
sent one hundred and 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 again to be 4" sifed liz wheat" to
see if some Of them may not be fit for active SER
vee-the junior reserves have volunteered to go 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 word,
the whole male population of the State from II to
so, 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 abandoned-not less than two thousand farms
given up, no 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 us
consent that the last scanty remnant of fighting
men shall be conscripted and taken from US, espe-
cially when it is remembered that these men are
off a ~ kba Skofa onJ tba
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
may be answered that they are as much bound to
go as Others and that they have had comparative
ly 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 ough But
thees men, or a large proportion of them, happen
to be officers whose presence and services are need
ed at home,-this is their good luck; and besides,
they are all nOw left to u.s. and many of them are
farmers, whose abors on their farms will be indis-
pensable to save our population not merely from
suffering but from actual starvation. Some of these
State officers, admit deserve to be sent to the
front ard compelled to fight in war which they
were 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 our opinions and we are glad to OBJ
that the press of the State is coming over to
us on this subject as IL will he ohiUed IN do snonar
or later, on the subject of peace We do not wait
beat about to see what is popular, but our chief
inquiry in relation to public question always is,
Is it right We do not desire popularity based on
the advocacy of erroneous principles, supported
by appeals to the preudices of any portion of the
people. We would be gratiied to have at all times
public man. the approval and the good wishes
of fellow citizens generally but after all we
would rather be right than to be popular without
regard to right principles.