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time left Camp Mangum and has gone either to Wilmington or Goldsboro. I have felt vey great misgivings about his going into the army. I am afraid his health and constitution will break down under ^the exposure and hardship of camp life, but I would not dis courage him in his purpose, for I saw he would not be happy and con tented if he remained at home. We have no news just now. The house is discussing the proposition to repeal all [impast?] duties and we have before us the president's recommen dation for a "Conscription." It is said [word blotted out] the friends of the ^latter measure to be the only means of saving the country but I [word blotted out] confess I fear the first will be the in auguration of the free trade system and the latter that of a strong military government.
Please present my kindest regards to Mrs B and babies that I remain yrs most truly Thos. P. Ashe
[top right margin] Asheville N.C. April 10th 1862.
My Dear Sir:
I have not yet received from Col Coleman the amended Cerf't. in favor of our client Stewart. I do not know when I will, for Coleman dislikes him so much that he will do his [postion?] slowly, I will forward it as soon as I get it.
Cap't. Strong will not aid Stewart in making out his claim for equipping in part, his Company. He won't certify for him and refuses to give him any aid. See the Adjt. Genl. & learn [begin underline] how [end underline] he will have S. establish his claim. If he will, he can request [marked out word] a [end marked out word] the authorities of the Confed. States to [begin underline] command [end underline] Col. Strong to give Stewart proper certificate. Try this method of procedure.
I am not an inattentive viewer of passing events. I am looking with the deepest in
terests to the result of the great revolution that spreads out over country. I believe that we will succeed, if our [begin underline] rulers [end underline] will allow the people to do so. There is reason to fear however, that they are incompetent to the successful discharge of the duties that devolve upon them. Many of them have proved their imbecility and have expressed their childlike weakness. Possibly we may get over the difficulty. I hope we will.
While we are pressing on, we should not forget to keep the great [begin underline] loved works [end underline] of popular liberty in view. We should stand by the constitution and those public men who love it and reverence it. There are those who care but little for it and there is reason to fear those President Davis is one of this class. His last message on the subject of [begin underline] conscription [end undline] certainly looks [begin underline] over [end underline] the Constitu tion as he has been smart to interpret it. It looks to [?] out state lines and organizations. It is a proposition to exercise a shelter of power that the States ought not to submit.
to. It remains to be seen what Congress will do & if this body comply with Davis' request, what the States will do.--It seems to me that the necessity for such a measure does not exist, if there was no other difficulty in the way.
Our Convention ought to protect against this measure. Let the Con. first declare that Congress has no such power under the Constitution,--next instruct our members of Congress to vote against the measure, and then declare that this State will submit to no such law if, passed. This is the proper way to dispose of such a proposition.
It will be acting on the part of this State, contragressly, if our [?][?] ment [begin underline] forced [end underline] by Act of Congress to continue longer in the services against their will. The state cannot allow this [sentence?] the grossest breach of good faith. See to this.
Pres. Davis has done what I thought him capable of, in ignoreing & [?] [scratched out word, illegible] the whole conservation element of the Country. And be sure of this, there is
in this conduct there appears upon the [begin underline] surface [end underline] officers as you will see [begin underline] by & by [end underline].
Our people are greatly elated at the news from the west. I confidently hear our Army has been fully successful in the neighborhood of Corinth. If any thing is done about Candidate for Sucession, advise me at once.
I beg that you will visit me soon and tell me the prospect of affairs for the [comeing?] surrender. Pardon this hasty letter. I have written in great haste. I am [vtys?], friend. A.S. Merrimon
K.P. Battle Esq. Raleigh, N.C.
[sideways in lower left margin] A.S. Merrimon Student State of Country