The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-08-09
About Drafsing-Ets Probable
NGcessity-HONV il is Done.

There is growing opinion that drafting
will have to be resorted ia in the various
States, in order to raise the 100000 addi-
/ tional troops that are called for, in time to
| be Of material service The opinion is very
general in its favor Three hundred thous-
and men is a large force to raise, and, in tie
present condition of the country, that num-
Der of volunteers cannot be Immediately Sc.
cured. In truth, if volunteering is solely
relied upon, The summer, the autumn. and
perhaps the winter will pass away before
the new army can be brought in to the field
By resorting to the draft the whole 300
900 could be placed in camp within a short
time We all know that if the design is to
crush the rebellion, the new army is wanted
Immediately. Why not. then, take the ON.
ly sure step for promptly enlisting the men
and placing them in the field?
No serious objection can be raised against
the draft. 1t makes no more hardship up.
on one man than another. Every citizen is
under, equal obligations to take up arm, in
defense of the Republic, and the system of
drafting sustains this equality. All classes
are alike subjected to it, positive physical
in capacity being the only exception. Every
citizen, high or low. rich or poor, must take
an equal chance of going to war.
Some of our people are OF the opinion that
there is no law authorizing a draft, beyond
those laws which authorize forcible service
within the State for limited time. This is
mistake. The father of the Republic, as
early as 1872, made ample provision for
such an emergency as the present The
law is entitled, 1.-The act to provide for the
National Defense, by establishing an uni
form Militia throughout the United States.
1t was afterward amended, and applies to
all arms-bearing citizens Of the country. 1t
is believed that without special laws in the
different States, the Government might le-
gally assume the organization of the militia.
Drafting is provided for and troops thus
raised employed at any point within the
territory of the United States. In all, or
nearly all, the States, regulations to facili-
tate movements of the national defense have
been adopted; enrolment of militia are
authorized or actually made. and any
part or the whole of the population of the
Union, subject to military duty, may be le-
gally called on to bear arms.
The processes of drafting all the States
are simple and do not materially vary
The names borne ON the rolls ii is decid-
ed to draw upon, whether oforganized COM
panies or regiments, or ofthe able-bodied,
arms-bearing citizens, are taken by lot, in
the presence OF prescribed officials the per-
sons drawn are notified, and giving an OPP
portunity to prove themselves exempt, or
provide acceptable substitutes, failing in
which they are compelled to serve, or sub
NIT to heavy penalties, generally imprison-
ment. aG
While we trust that there will be no ne
cessity to make draft, we presume that
but few citizens capable of bearing arms
would object to submitting to their lot,
should they be thus selected to serve in the
grand army Of the Union, against the enc
mics ofthe Republic, who are also the enc
mics of each one of US, and Of our homes
and of Vur every earthly interest. - Chicago
Journal. lsa5 9 sf@ itt@ $50 '