Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-01
CONGRESSIONAL NOMINATIONS.
mExemptions from Drafts

The Journal assumes the duty of wet nurse
for the Governors reputation. 1t charges that
copying an article from the Cincinnati Enquirer,
contrasting the course of the Governors of Ohio
and Indiana in reference to conscientious"
exempts, was an attempt on our part to injure
the reputation and impair the influence of Gov.
MoRrox We are exceedingly sorry that the
Governors reputation and influence are so easily
impaired.
Let us examine the matter little, as the
Journal by its criticisms has invited investiga
ton That print says:
Now the Enquirer may have been ignorant of
the fact that persons conscienLously opposed to
bearing arms are exempt from militia duty, by
a provision of the State Constitution, (see section
6, article l2.) and that the Governors orders
only declared an exemption which he had no
power to annul, but the Sentinel knew better. 1t
knew that the exemption was made by the
Constitution, yet it was willing to lay upon the
Governor the rdicule of making it upon his own
auth Jrity.
The State Constitution says "nO person con-
scientously opposed to bearing arms shall be
compelled to do military duty Under this pro-
vision the Governor assumes to determine who
have eonscences and who have not. In his or
der he thus defines the conscentiOus-''al men,
bers in good standing of any religious denomina-
ton, who make opposition to bearing arms an
article of faith, are exempt from military duty"
So we must conclude, then. accepting the Gov
ernOr's authority therefore, that no one can have
a conscience unless member in good standing
of some religious denomination. Nobody but this
class, the Governor by order declares, can be
conscientious-all others are minus this moral
attribute, which we have been led to believe was
a part of every mans moral nature. This edict
of the Governor will relieve a large portion of
mankind from heavy load Of responsibility.
But there is another point in this Exemption
of Drafts" which is worthy of consideration.
The provision quoted from our Constitution re-
fers solely to liability to military duty under
State law The draft is ordered under United
States law, and unless the Governor desires to
carry out the Southern doctrine of State rights,
he can emily exempt from military duty those
whom the United States laws exempt. As we
understand it, the Governor has no authority
Whatever to make any exempts except those thus
exempted ne CONSTITUTION Oh tue Ohlteu
States does not make conscience or conscientious
scruples an exemption from military duty tdOes
not even exclude himself from the same liability
to military duty as the humbest citizen. If his
name is not enrolled, unless physically or by age
disabled, the Commissioner has failed to do his
duty Every le-bodied male citizen of the
United States, between the ages of eighteen and
forty five, are subject to military duty, and only
certain employees OF the Federal Govern
ment, enumerated by law, are exempt
therefrOm. This is Governor TOPS view of the
law Such should be the common sense con-
structon of il. But the Governor sets up his
authority against law, places the Constitution of
Indiana above the Constitution of the United
States, and issues bis prOnunciamentO as to who
are exempt from military duty, without regard to
the latter instrument or the laws under il. And
he goes a step still further by declaring no man
has right conscientious scrupes, unless a
a member of some religious denomination in good
standing. ebeg the Journal to understand that
in making these comments, we have not the
slightest intention to njure the reputation, or i'm
pair the influence of His Excellency; but, other
wise. to show what wonderful man we have to
rule over Us.