| From the Western Democrat (Charlotte,
N.C.) |
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| April 21, 1863 |
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| The Prospect |
| If the people of the
Confederate States will put their surplus food on the market and sell it
at a fair remunerating price, and thus assist in sustaining our armies,
the time is not far distant when our enemies will be forced to make
peace and acknowledge the independence of the Confederacy. North
Carolina and Virginia must furnish the food to sustain the troops in the
field in Virginia and Eastern North Carolina. If we fail to do this,
those troops may be compelled to fall back for the lack of bread and
meat; and then what will become of our fields and property and
storehouses of grain and provisions? They will all be seized or
destroyed by the brutal, invading foe, and our men, women and children
subjected to the most savage and inhuman treatment. This calamity can be
averted if all will do their duty and quit striving to make fortunes off
of the war. Our brave troops, if properly fed, can whip any Lincoln army
that may be brought against them; they have no dread of being defeated
by the Northern army; but they cannot fight and endure toil without
proper food. |
| In view of these facts, does
it not seem to be the best policy, even in a pecuniary point of view,
for every one who has more corn, flour and meat than is necessary for
his own use until next Fall, to sell it to the Government or put it on
the market to supply the demands of the public at large? There is plenty
of food in the South to last us all until the next crop is gathered, and
it would be an everlasting shame and disgrace to permit our armies to
suffer and be compelled to evacuate their present positions for the want
of something to eat. |
| And while the people are
bringing forward their provisions for the army, it would be well for the
Government at Richmond to hold its Agents to a stricter account and see
that they discharge their duties promptly, and send forward to the army
corn and meat instead of allowing it to waste and rot in warehouses and
at Railroad stations. We have heard that it was difficult to get
transportation for food. We do not understand how that is unless it is
because our Railroads are blocked up with cotton, tobacco and other
articles in which speculators are dealing. If the superintendents of our
Railroads will not transport army supplies in preference to other
things, let the Government take charge of the Roads for one month and
transport the needful articles. Let some thorough business man, with
energy and industry, be appointed to superintend, in person, the
transportation of army supplies over each of our Railroads, and let him
have power to force the transportation if the managers of the Roads are
unwilling to do it. In this way an abundance of food for our armies can
be immediately supplied. |
| Furthermore, let every
Government Quartermaster, officer or agent, be unhorsed where it is not
absolutely necessary to use a horse in transacting his duties. Why
should any of these men be allowed to keep two, or three or four horses,
eating corn, when such food is necessary for the soldiers? Reform is
demanded in this respect. If a Captain or Colonel on detached service is
entitled by the army regulations to a certain number of horses, it would
be far better to pay him commutation money and dispense with the horses.
We hear the complaint made, and believe it well founded, that there are
more government horses kept here in Charlotte eating Government corn,
than are absolutely necessary. |
| If all -- Government officers
and the people -- will resolve to do their whole duty, the prospect of
an early peace is good; but if they do not, we may expect long
war, for the war can never, never end until the Confederacy is
established as an independent nation. |
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