Year: 1863

civil liberty as the recent Convention of Army Off
GERS, held at Orange Courthouse, Va.


A free people have always been jealous of the pow
er of army, and that jealousy has always been
increased into fearful apprehension, when the army
began to interfere with the civil policy of the coun
=, try History will show that such apprehensions
have never been groundleSs. 1t speaks TO US from
the ruins of former republics and if we act wisely
we must listen to its eloquent warnings.


a large army formed by forcible enlistment and
conscrpton, is always dangerous to a republic,
and it is doubly in the midst of revolution. Its
organization necessarily makes it military despot
ism. No one has any freedom of opinion or OF ac
ton, except the officers and even among the OIL
/ GERS, prudence and desire Of promotion, often
make the SubalternS SILENT unless they reflect the
opinions and wishes of their superiors in command.
private may not be put under arrest for any epn
ion which he may entertain and express but he
knows full well that there are great many petty
tyrannieS in reserve for him if ne dares to thwart
the wishes of his officers. SThe private who acts
upon his own free political opinion, will always
find it difficult to get furlough and new hardShlps
and privations will beset his line Of duty. From
the very nature of the case political army con-
vention will never express the free and unbiased
opinion of the great mass of the army.


When we remember how this revolution began
who appointed most Of the officers and who alone
can put them on horseback increase the collar stars
and open up the bloody pathway of glory-it is but
natural that the people should oeg;n to feel that
army conventions are dangerous, and fear that if
they dictate public opinion, political power will
soon steal from the many to the JeoO."


The Army Convention certainly entered upon
bold coup de man. 1t struck at oSce at two of the
great fundamental principles of American liberty
tile right Of The people to express their opinions in
PrtGTy meetings, and the freedom Of the press to
enltghteR public opiaiOn.


Can the people, entertaining just sense of their
rights, submit quietly to such dictation, even if
tt,.n ,l.K,, Al
mdhyGStO purports to come from our noble and gal
liant army Sl honor greatly our glorious army
1t has won an Immortality of fame, and deserves
the gratitude and love Of the whole country and
desire to pay due respect to its political action.
have high admiration for every officer, no mat
ter what may be his political opinions, who by
bravery, fidelity to duty, and genius, has won re-
nown and confidence. hope that his life may be
spared, and that be may receive his just rewards;
out cannot concede to him the right to denouDce the
opinions and wishes OF the people as treason and to
counsel the violent suppression of free press. In
abundant charity can believe that he has not been
influenced by parttzGH zeai, but that military en-
thusiaSm has Tor the time, outstripped his better
Judgment Upon cool and calm reelection, hope
that he NAY some day come back to the old doc
trines of free speech and free press" which once
he so devOuty hOEOred


While | honor the good officer, lJFe the Noble
private. He fights not for fame or fortune but on





perIlS of war, he will have none of its trophies bat
Its mutIlItionS and sears and the proud conscious
Of having fulfilled his truSs if ne dies on the
bloody Leld, in camp or hospital, his last resting
place will be an unknown grave, and soon he will
be forgotten by dtk the 1o0rId save the broken
hearted ones at home, The private syldler out sell
dom knows any thing Of the tricks of party" and
he has nothing to win in the struggle for political
honor ANA power. The people LOOK to his stout
arm and brave heart for defence against their foes
and they are willing TO trust their liberties 20 his
Tree and unbiased action at the ballot-box Ii the
Army Convention will allow the griUates to express
their opinions by ballot the people will hear
with great satisfaction, and listen with respect to
the voice from the army" They know that the
soldier will cast no insult or diShonOr upon his
parents and kindred; and IN the gt tij6rty has
not forgotten the sacred principles which alone
make the struggle just, and right and holy.


" hat Is there ia the proceedings of the public
meetings TO call down the GRdthemds of the Army
Convention, and that can give aid and comfort "
to the cnemyI people who will tamely submit
to insult oppression and outrage can be easily con-
quered; but those who know their ri ghtS and fear
ltSS assert them, will at every haz lrd dare MAIN
tain them. The enemy know luil well these truths
Of history, and the action OF trGsHast can give him
no substantial comfort.


In what resolution Of the people turks there any
treason to the Confederate States Can it be trea-
son for North Caro!inianS to claim that North Car
DINA Is a peer among her Southern sisters? Is it
because her treasures have been so freely expended
In the common defence, and the blood OF her brave
has coHSecrated the soil of tue other States,
while her Own has been left TO desolaOn, that she
is not worthy of equal honor? Can it be treason
in North CatO,naus to insist that they have men
of capacity intelligence and patriotism sufficient to
fill the Offices IN their own State and to lead their
own soldIerS into battle? Must ability, integrity
and loyalty forever be imported from other States
Will uiDgg1; FIRE fLOySJDH hray,, hearts amOnO'
the living and the dead, satisfy the administration
that North Carolnians can be trusted any aOhere
Can 1t be treason for claw loving and law abiding
people" to IsBlan2 that the decisions Of their high
est judicial tribunal shall not be annulled by the
hasIy orders of a mere Executive officer; and that
the ma eSty of their laws shall not be inSuted by
every one who happens to have star on his collar,
or straps his shoulders ? North Carolina has
given every evidence of her loyalty and devotion to
the South, and yet she is regarded as |" nest of
traitors" What other sacrifice must North Caro-
lima offer to make her equal of the "Cotton
States" " and the Old Dominion? In what Jordan
must she wash to free herself from the eprOuS tdiRt
Of having loved the old Union so ardenty and so
long? The old State has given up her peace, her
happiness, her wealth, her children-but she will
never surrender her sovereignty, her liberty and
her honor. Upon all the points contained in the
foregoing inquiries, would be pleased if the people
derive full and satisfactory information from the
forthcoming address of the Army Convention.


| am opposed to soma of the resolutions adopted
in few vi the public meetings" L cannot sane
ton that resolution which advises resistance to the
t5the Ln0 This JSwSh law is extremely odious,
but still it is the law of the land. The Jew has
higE seat in our national SanhedriIn, and generous
confidence Ill the government ought TO induce our
people to submit to the law while in force; and
punctualy and faithfully pay their tithes, even to
the last ephlh of barley, to the political priests
ani LeDjtes Bat the Mosaic dispe4nSation has long
since passei away before higher light, and our
people oosr to demand a repeat OF this odiouS law,
even ii il does give offence to the powers that
be-" and the Army Convention


cannot favor any resolution which at this time
advises a reconstruction of the old government;
but still do not regard such resolution as trea-
sonable. IF it was not reasonable in men in pub
lie meetings boldly to advocate the overthrow Of
the old government rendered sacred by many
i -. e L.,