| From the Richmond Dispatch |
| |
| January 8, 1864 |
| |
| Mechanics |
| are as essential to the South in her
present struggle as soldiers, and no law should be enacted to drive
them away, or force them into the field. Many of the best mechanics in
the Confederacy are Northern men, who have settled here to make money,
and who have very little care as to the result of the present
struggle, so long as they are not required to march to the
battle-field. They are willing to work for the Confederacy as long as
they are paid, and many of them are willing to contribute of their
means to our cause, but they will not go to war under any
circumstances. These being the facts, is it not bad policy to drive
them away — to deprive railroads, cotton factories, and foundries of
their skill and labor, when we have no men of our own to supply their
places without detailing them from the army? Some of the railroads
find great difficulty now in keeping up their rolling
stock, and not a few important factories have lost large
numbers of their best workmen, who have fled the country to escape the
conscript officers. Sound discretion is necessary at this time to keep
the Government machinery in motion, and we trust it will be exercised. |
|