Year: 1864

Mr. EDefoR ask short space inyour columns to
defend class of the community, not inferior to. any


in patriotism and devotion to country against the


just ipputations east upon them blythe following par
graph of the Charleston Courier andby other squibs
of similar spirit and calbre: :.


The people Of the Confederate States are lit
tie aware, as the Dfspatch remarks, of the eX-
tent to which the country has been imposed
upon in the matter Of details and exemptions.
From good authority, we learn that an i'm
mense army-an army which, if enrolled, dis,
cipincd, and led by proper officers and prop
er GenefaI, would be able to plant the South
,ern cross on thespires of Philadelphia before
the ides of Novembcr--an army of one hun
.dred and fourteen thousand men-seeks, and
has secured, exemption from service as agri-
euithris:s sncaking, under that plea, out of the
defence of their country-lcaving under that
plea others to fight their battles for them
good Confederates, brave patriots, worthy citi-
zens, delighted TO hear of the brave deeds of
our gallant army, provided they be not called
on to share in tie glory, willing to be free pro.
'vided it cost them nothing. One hundred and
fourteen thousand men detailed as agricultu-
rists, and all these Of conscript age, in a poru-
lation of Sve millions Oh shame; where is
thy blush!


Now these exemptions were neither offered nor ac-
copied as acts of favor. The subsistence OF the army
and of the country required that the negro labor of the
plantations should be left under the direction oil skill
lu and efficient managers. For obvious reasons COM
parativey few Of the class exempt from military ser.
vice BY age or nfirmity, were Qualified to be such
managers and the deficiency could only be supplied by
exeinpting or detailing for such employments, the
persons within conscript age, who were actually SO
employed before the passage of the law, and who
have continued without nermission to be so employed
since. And the congress took care TO impose upon
the persons exempted such obligations as must
der theirservces, in the capacity Of agrcuturists
quite as valuable TO the Coniederacy as the services
Of an equal number ofconscrpts can be in the field
Nay their services in this capacity were Indispensable
10 the welfare of the country, nor could their places
have been filed from any class, less exempt than
themselves from military service. How then is their
service less honorable than that of Quartermasters
Commissares and other employees Of the Government
whose duties do not expose them to danger elbow
is it less honorable than that osoldiersln the field if
is clear their services in that capacity ndispcn
sible to the country?


One hundred and fourteen thousand vgorousrecruits
such most ofthe class referred to- ae would indeed
be invaluable in the army, and might cause the bal
ance of waro preponderate decisvely in our favor if
famine and INSTRUMENTATION all over the land thrown
into the opposite scale did not make it more speedily
and dsastrousy against u.s. Who to determine this
point-the congress the President and Secretary of
War, or tho Courier and Dtspatcha Or wheretis the
ground for complaint and reason for shame by which
the Courier is SO exesised as at the risk of foment


ing discomfort in the army to traduce respectable and
patriotic class of citizens, and cast upon them foul
august, and unjustifabe amputations2 Does it con-
sist in their having accepted unsolicited exemption,
rendered by the highest authority notas acts of pr
vate favor but for public and patriotic purposes9 If
it were so; fhe agricultural exempt who faithfully
discharges the obligations imposed upon him by law is