Year: 1863

Ihe remedy 1or the aliments thns de-
bilitating the body polite is VOLUNTARY
ORGANIZATION Of the people, not to do
anything whatever above or against the
law, but to aid and sustain, by lawful
means, legally constituted authorities in
the performance of their arduous duties
Already, in several portions Of this depart
nent, this idea has germlnated - the
minds of ardent patriots. The design Of
the Marshall conference is simply to ac-
celerate, aud give the sanction of the
regular constitutional authorizes 10, a
movement which promised speedily to be
cone general and Spontaneous among the
people.


The name Confederate Association"
has been adopted as indicative Of the pur-
pose of the organization to sustain rbe
cause Of the Confederate States. IS it i
designed to embrace al citizens true to
the cause, formula Of mem bership has
been suggested which Is believed to be
comprehensive yet unexceptionable- The
purposes and organiza ton of the AssOcia-
tion being divested of all secresy, and
membership being wholly voluntary, %
reasonable objection can be made 70 it.
A candid explanation Of its nature and
objects will, it is confidently expected,
make it generally acceptable, and the
wider the extension of il, the greater will
b. the security for discreet management
Of its affIirs. The formula of mem bership
is arpeuded to this circula; when any
member is prevented from afhxlng lis
signature in person, the list should show
the individual by whom the signature is
written; the postoffice of each member
should be stated to facilitate the distribu


tion of documents by the Association and
the Committee Of Public Safety.


The details of organization of each As
sociation are left to the discretion Of its
members; a president and secretary are,
Of course, indispensable. 1t may be di-
vided into precinct associations, where
practicable. To facilitate its extension no
general contribution should be expected
from members, but the few expenses ne
csssary should be paid by the liberality of
the wealthy. As soon as considerable
proportion of the citizens present IN
county or parish shall have joined the
Association, it should be organized. Ii
should also select two or three of It's most
active members, men IF sound judgment
and having the confidence of their COM
muulty, as mem bers Of Committee OF
Correspondence; these, with such others
as the Governor Of their State may, if he
deem it advisable, add to their number,
will compose that Committee. The names
and postofice addresses of the officers of
the Association, and the members of its
Committee of Correspondence, should be
Immediately communicated to the Gov
ernor of their State, and also to the Chair
man Of the Committee Of Public Safety


Every Confederate Association is ex-
pected to exert itself in keeping alive the
tervid patriotism os the people by meetings
at suitable times, frequent informal gath
erirgs. aud occasional public speeches
lis officers should pay special attention to
the dissemination Of accurate intelligence
OF current events; one of the main duties
OF the Committee of Public Safety will be
to initiate measures for promptly furnish
ing these officers with such intelligence.
They should also endeavor to correct, and
prevent the diffusion of, exaggerated or
false reports coming from the enemy's lines
Or originating with his spies and secret
agents among US. To these ends they
should aid in extending the circulation Of
reliable newspapers thoroughly devoted to
our cause, and counteIact the baleful in
fuence Of those il which are to be found
the croakings or evil suggestions WHICH
alarm timid hears. Where the conduct
Of suspected spy or secret agent Of the
enemy is such that the law can reach him,
the Association or Its officers should col
lect the evidences of such conduct, and
promptly communicate them to the proper
civil or military authorities Each mem
Der should consider it his special duty to
be vieilant in discovering the discontented
or wavering, and in persuadiug them into
a just appreciation Of their duties as eiti-
zens; in visiting soldiers who are absent
without leave and pcrsous who avoid cor
scription, and in urging them to hasten to
their camps. Where reasoning fails, the
men thus neglecting their military obli-
cations should be reported to the proper
officer.


The Association can be of great use 10
giving to quartermasters and other govern
ment officials, and their agents, accurate
intelligence concerning the resources Of its
neighborhood. Especially when Impress
ments are necessary, it may BY timely
communication with the officer enable him
to malse them in the manner least incon-
venient to the people, avoid throwing the
whole burthen on liberal men, and prevent
the cunning or sordid from escaping their
Just share of it. Where charge OF fraud,
peculation, abuse Of authority, insoience,
iucompetency, or neglect Of duty, can be
clearly established against any othclal or
employee of the government, the Associa-
ton should collect the evidence and make
the charge before the proper authority,
military or civil. BY thus aiding good
officers and reporting the worthless or
evil disposed, the Association can power
t,IIv contribute towards diminishing the
oxnenses Of the war, aud Weedicg out in
etfciency, the grea. curse of our military
establishment


This organization might thus become,
in the true sense of the word and without
conflict with the Jaw, Committee Of Vigi-
lance to watch over the public safety. no